MODX

Custom open-source CMS platform with total creative freedom

About MODX

MODX is an open-source content management platform for building fast, secure websites and digital experiences without theme or template constraints. Its templating system fully separates presentation, content and functionality, so designers can use any markup, CSS framework or JavaScript they like, while editors get powerful access controls, content staging with rollback, and built-in caching for speed. Agencies and developers who find other CMSs bloated or limiting use MODX, optionally paired with its fully managed MODX Cloud hosting.

MODX website preview

Live preview of modx.com via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.

MODX: strengths & things to check

Strengths

Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
Covers cms, open source, php, website builder — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.

Things to check

Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
It is one of 1164 tools in the Developer Tools category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.

Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.

MODX pricing

Pricing model	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Free access	Yes — fully free
Current plan prices	Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale.
Official site	modx.com

MODX key facts

Category: Developer Tools
Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas: cms, open source, php, website builder
Official site: modx.com

MODX FAQ

How much does MODX cost?

Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (modx.com).

What is MODX used for?

Custom open-source CMS platform with total creative freedom Its focus areas in the Developer Tools category: cms, open source, php, website builder.

Where can I try MODX?

On its official site, modx.com — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.

MODX vs alternatives

	MODX	CouchCMS	HTMLy	PluXml
Pricing	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas	cms, open source, php, website builder	cms, php, web design, open source	cms, blogging, php, open source	cms, blogging, php, open source
Official site	modx.com	couchcms.com	htmly.com	pluxml.org
Directory status	Listed	Listed	Listed	Listed

Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.

About the Developer Tools category

Editors, platforms, and services developers rely on to build and ship software. The Developer Tools category on Tools Hub currently lists 1164 tools. Alongside MODX, it includes S-Cart, LocalAI, Google Colab, Havoptic.

FreeDeveloper Toolscmsopen-sourcephpwebsite-builder

Alternatives to MODX

Tools in the same Developer Tools category that share focus areas with MODX — worth comparing before you commit:

Developer Tools

CouchCMS

A simple, designer-friendly CMS you can bolt onto existing HTML sites

Freecmsphpweb-designopen-source

Developer Tools

HTMLy

Databaseless PHP blogging platform and flat-file CMS

Freecmsbloggingphpopen-source

Developer Tools

PluXml

Database-free XML blog and CMS platform

Freecmsbloggingphpopen-source

Developer Tools

REDAXO

Simple, flexible, open-source content management system in PHP

Freecmsphpopen-sourceself-hosted

Developer Tools

WonderCMS

Smallest flat-file CMS — one file, no database

Freecmsflat-filephpopen-source

Developer Tools

ApostropheCMS

Open source CMS for modern websites

Freecmsopen-sourceheadlessnodejs

More in Developer Tools

Comparing tools in the Developer Tools category? These related listings are worth a look: S-Cart — Free, open-source online store software built on Laravel; LocalAI — Run AI models locally with an OpenAI-compatible API; Google Colab — Hosted Jupyter notebooks that run Python in your browser.