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Craft CMS is listed as starting at $279, with a free plan, and is aimed at structured content and custom authoring workflows. The alternatives below suit different needs: .NET teams, custom builds, Drupal organizations, multichannel marketing and hosted publishing. Reddit discussions point to two reasons to reconsider Craft: some developers want a different framework, while editors may still need help with everyday tasks. Switching only helps if the replacement fits both the team and its work.
01Why people leave Craft CMS
Framework fit and developer comfort
In one Reddit thread, commenters welcomed Craft moving toward Laravel and criticized reliance on a framework they considered poorly supported.
Editors still need developer help
A Reddit discussion advises testing a real page update with a junior editor; a new CMS alone may not fix day-to-day usability.
A rebuild may not fix the workflow
Commenters note that CMS pain can come from implementation. Check the authoring setup and team needs before switching platforms.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Customizable .NET CMS
Umbraco CMSUmbraco CMSUmbraco is a fit if your team wants a customizable CMS built for .NET rather than choosing Craft for structured content and custom workflows. The listing also names self-hosting and multilingual content tools as strengths. Its listed starting price is $45, with a free plan, so it gives you a public price to compare against Craft’s listed $279 starting point.
Trade-off: Check managed-plan caps and add-on prices before comparing total cost.
7.0/10from
€45/mofree plan - Custom marketing sites
MODXMODXMODX is worth considering when custom templates matter more than Craft’s structured-content positioning. The listing calls out managed CMS hosting, staging and rollback, which may fit teams that want those capabilities in a custom build. Its stated starting price is $90 per month on an annual plan, so compare that commitment with your expected hosting and support needs.
Trade-off: The listed $90 monthly starting price requires annual billing.
6.3/10from
$90/mo - Governed Drupal teams
AcquiaAcquiaAcquia makes more sense if your organization is already committed to Drupal or needs governed content workflows and managed Drupal hosting. That is a different reason to switch than wanting Craft’s flexible structured content. Acquia has no listed starting price, so ask for a detailed quote before treating it as a cost-effective alternative.
Trade-off: Pricing is not published in the listing; get a detailed quote.
6.0/10from
Custom - Multichannel marketing
KenticoKenticoKentico is a candidate if your main requirement is coordinating content across channels, campaigns and assets, rather than Craft’s custom authoring workflows. Its listed strengths include audience personalization. The listing gives no starting price, so it is difficult to compare with Craft on cost without a detailed quote and a clear scope.
Trade-off: No public starting price is listed; request a detailed quote.
6.8/10from
Custom - Enterprise content delivery
Progress SitefinityProgress SitefinityProgress Sitefinity is aimed at organizations with enterprise CMS needs, including teams delivering headless content and marketers seeking personalization and insights. Consider it when those are explicit requirements, not simply as a replacement for Craft’s structured content. The listing does not provide public pricing, so value is hard to assess before getting a quote.
Trade-off: No public pricing is listed to judge its value.
6.2/10from
Custom - Hosted blog publishing
HashnodeHashnodeHashnode is a narrower option if your Craft project is mainly a blog and you want hosted publishing rather than a CMS chosen for structured content and custom authoring. The listing names tools for tracking AI citations and a $5 starting price with a free plan. Weigh that low listed price against user-reported trust concerns.
Trade-off: A narrower publishing fit, with user-reported trust concerns.
6.3/10from
$5/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Craft CMS Craft CMS (current) | 7.3 | $279/mo | Yes | Teams building structured content sites |
| Umbraco CMS Umbraco CMS | 7.0 | €45/mo | Yes | .NET teams wanting a customizable CMS |
| MODX MODX | 6.3 | $90/mo | No | Marketing sites needing custom templates |
| Acquia Acquia | 6.0 | Custom | No | Teams committed to Drupal |
| Kentico Kentico | 6.8 | Custom | No | Teams managing content across channels |
| Progress Sitefinity Progress Sitefinity | 6.2 | Custom | No | Organizations with enterprise CMS needs |
| Hashnode Hashnode | 6.3 | $5/mo | Yes | Developers starting a blog |
Questions people ask
What is the closest Craft CMS alternative?
It depends on why you are leaving. Umbraco is listed for customizable .NET CMS work, self-hosting and multilingual content tools. MODX is listed for custom templates and managed hosting. If your priority is Drupal governance, multichannel marketing or hosted blogging, Acquia, Kentico or Hashnode may fit better.
Which Craft CMS alternatives have a free plan?
The pricing page show free plans for Umbraco and Hashnode. Craft CMS is also listed with a free plan. The material does not specify the limits or conditions of those free plans, so check each provider’s pricing page before comparing what you can actually use.
How much do Craft CMS alternatives cost?
The pricing page start Umbraco at $45, Hashnode at $5 and MODX at $90 per month on an annual plan. Acquia, Kentico and Progress Sitefinity have no listed starting price. Craft is listed from $279 with a free plan; billing periods are not specified for every price.