Backdrop CMS and Silverstripe CMS are both free, open-source PHP CMS platforms, but differ in scale and commercial backing. Backdrop is a GPL v2-licensed fork…
Best for Backdrop CMS: Backdrop suits smaller, budget-conscious teams, especially those migrating from Drupal 7, who want a no-code-friendly CMS that runs on modest shared hosting with zero paid tiers.
Best for Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe CMS suits organizations wanting a larger module ecosystem (2,500+), a track record with enterprise names like Lenovo and Westpac, and the option of certified managed cloud hosting through Silverstripe Limited.
At a Glance
Backdrop CMS
Silverstripe CMS
Primary category
CMS
CMS
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Free (open source)
Free / open source (commercial support, hosting and development available)
Starting price
Free
Free
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Not documented
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Not documented
Key Differences
License Type
Backdrop CMS: Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL v2 (or later), a copyleft license.
Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe CMS is licensed under BSD, a permissive license.
Copyleft versus permissive licensing affects how derivative code can be redistributed.
Installation Base
Backdrop CMS: Backdrop reports about 3,600 known sites.
Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe.org reports over 50,000 live installations.
A larger install base often means more third-party expertise, documentation, and battle-tested modules.
Managed Cloud Hosting
Backdrop CMS: Backdrop has no official managed cloud hosting product.
Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe Cloud offers ISO/IEC 27001-certified managed hosting via Silverstripe Limited, though pricing is quote-based, not publicly listed.
A certified managed-hosting option can matter for compliance-sensitive organizations, even without published pricing.
Module Ecosystem Size
Backdrop CMS: Backdrop has 1,300+ modules and add-ons.
Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe has 2,500+ community modules.
A larger module library reduces custom development for common features.
No-Code vs. Developer-Led Customization
Backdrop CMS: Backdrop's features emphasize no-code content creation without programming knowledge.
Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe's cons note it requires PHP development expertise to customize beyond out-of-the-box functionality.
This affects how much a non-technical team can do without hiring developers.
Feature-by-Feature
Licensing & Governance
Feature
Backdrop CMS
Silverstripe CMS
Open-source license
Available
Available
Nonprofit/community governance
Available
Unavailable
Commercial backer offering paid support
Not documented
Available
Hosting & Deployment
Feature
Backdrop CMS
Silverstripe CMS
Runs well on modest/shared hosting
Available
Not documented
Official managed cloud hosting
Unavailable
Available
Built-in Drupal 7 upgrade path
Available
Unavailable
Ecosystem & Notable Users
Feature
Backdrop CMS
Silverstripe CMS
Community modules
Available
Available
Reported live installations
Available
Available
Named enterprise customers
Not documented
Available
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Commercial Support and Hosting — Custom Project or contract based
Pros & Cons
Backdrop CMS
Pros
Free and open source with no licensing costs
Runs well on modest or shared hosting
Familiar migration path for Drupal 7 site owners
Actively maintained by a community governance model
Cons
Smaller ecosystem and community than Drupal or WordPress
Fewer commercial hosting and support vendors available
Not designed for the most complex, large-scale enterprise deployments
Silverstripe CMS
Pros
Free and open source with no software licensing cost
Over two decades of active development and a mature codebase
Strong track record with government and large enterprise deployments
API-first architecture supports headless and multi-channel content delivery
Large ecosystem of modules and an established partner network
Cons
Requires PHP development expertise to customize beyond out-of-the-box functionality
Smaller global market share and community than WordPress or Drupal
Self-hosting means the organization is responsible for infrastructure, updates, and security patching unless using a managed partner
Learning curve for content editors coming from simpler page builders
Commercial support and custom development costs vary and are not fixed like a SaaS subscription
Use Cases
Choose Backdrop CMS: Backdrop suits smaller, budget-conscious teams, especially those migrating from Drupal 7, who want a no-code-friendly CMS that runs on modest shared hosting with zero paid tiers.
Choose Silverstripe CMS: Silverstripe CMS suits organizations wanting a larger module ecosystem (2,500+), a track record with enterprise names like Lenovo and Westpac, and the option of certified managed cloud hosting through Silverstripe Limited.
Need both: There's no realistic scenario for using both together since they're competing full CMS platforms for the same PHP-based website. An agency supporting many small-business clients might keep both in its toolkit, deploying Backdrop for lean budget sites and Silverstripe for larger sites needing its bigger module ecosystem.
Backdrop CMS
Nonprofit and education websites — Affordable, easy-to-manage websites for nonprofits and educational institutions.
Drupal 7 migration — Site owners moving off end-of-life Drupal 7 without adopting Drupal 8/9/10's added complexity.
Small business websites — Small and medium businesses wanting a capable CMS without licensing costs.
Silverstripe CMS
Government and public sector websites — Government agencies use Silverstripe CMS for its security features, approval workflows, and track record on public sector projects.
Enterprise multi-channel content delivery — Large organizations use Silverstripe's API-first, headless capabilities to deliver the same content to a website, mobile app, and other digital channels.
Agency-built custom websites — Web development agencies use Silverstripe's flexible framework to build custom, developer-controlled websites for clients that need more than a template-based builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more live installations, Backdrop or Silverstripe?
Silverstripe reports over 50,000 live installations, while Backdrop reports about 3,600 known sites.
Are both free and open source?
Yes. Backdrop is GPL v2 (or later) licensed, and Silverstripe is BSD licensed. Both are free to self-host.
Does either offer official managed hosting?
Silverstripe Cloud exists as an ISO/IEC 27001-certified managed hosting product from Silverstripe Limited, though pricing requires a quote. Backdrop has no official managed cloud product.
Which is easier for non-developers to use?
Backdrop emphasizes no-code content creation without programming knowledge. Silverstripe's cons note it requires PHP development expertise to customize beyond default functionality.
How many modules does each have?
Backdrop has 1,300+ modules and add-ons; Silverstripe has 2,500+ community modules.
What organizations use Silverstripe?
Silverstripe cites Lenovo, Westpac, and Lord's Cricket Ground as users. Backdrop's facts don't document named enterprise customers.