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Craft CMS vs OpenCms vs Story Chief Comparison

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Craft CMS

4.2(32 reviews)

Starting at $199

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Craft is flexible and powerful content management software that helps manage website; from writing, to publishing, to editing and refinement. Craft features a simple content editing interface for users who are not as fam…

OpenCms

3.7(17 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

OpenCms from Alkacon Software is a powerful, user-friendly platform to create and manage impressive websites with speed and precision. The Content Management System provides you with an intuitive browser-based interface…

Story Chief

4.8(22 reviews)

Starting at $12 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

StoryChief is a cloud-based content management system that allows editors and designers to manage and automate the process of creating brand-specific content for editorial and marketing teams within an organization. Stor…

Craft CMS leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 32 reviews.

Craft CMS vs OpenCms vs Story Chief — at a glance

FeatureCraft CMSOpenCmsStory Chief
Rating4.2 / 53.7 / 54.8 / 5
Reviews321722
Starting price$199Contact for pricing$12 /Month
Free trial No No Yes
Free version No No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryContent Management SoftwareContent Management SoftwareContent Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyUSGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Craft CMS and OpenCms

  • Pricing: Craft CMS starts at $199. OpenCms pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Craft CMS is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while OpenCms targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Craft CMS scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
  • Deployment: Craft CMS supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; OpenCms supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Craft CMS vs OpenCms vs Story Chief — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Content Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Craft CMS - Content Management Software
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OpenCms - Content Management Software
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Craft CMS, OpenCms vs Story Chief: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Craft CMS

Best for developers needing flexible, customizable CMS with intuitive editing.

Choose if
  • You require a highly flexible and customizable data structure for complex sites.
  • Your team includes developers and designers collaborating on intricate website builds.
  • You want a user-friendly back-end editor with live preview for content editors.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a non-technical user without developer support for setup and maintenance.
  • You need extensive out-of-the-box front-end features like advanced form handling.

OpenCms

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Story Chief

Best for streamlined multi-channel content creation and SEO guidance.

Choose if
  • You need simple, intuitive content editing with built-in SEO tips.
  • Your team requires easy distribution across multiple social and publishing channels.
  • You are a small to medium business focused on content or digital marketing.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization demands extensive template design customization.
  • You require real-time simultaneous collaboration on content creation.

Craft CMS typically suits Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants. OpenCms tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Craft is flexible and powerful content management software that helps manage website; from writing, to publishing, to editing and refinement. Craft features a simple content editing ... Read More about Craft CMS

OpenCms from Alkacon Software is a powerful, user-friendly platform to create and manage impressive websites with speed and precision. The Content Management System provides you with an ... Read More about OpenCms

StoryChief is a cloud-based content management system that allows editors and designers to manage and automate the process of creating brand-specific content for editorial and marketing ... Read More about Story Chief

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $199
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $12 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.1/10

8.4/10

9.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.23

(32)

3.74

(17)

4.77

(22)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
Small BusinessMedium Business
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Craft CMS has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

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  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

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How do Craft CMS, OpenCms and Story Chief Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Craft CMS, OpenCms and Story Chief on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $199
        • Not Available
        • $12 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        • Free

          • World-class online editor

          • Invite team members & guest writers

          • Get approval from stakeholders

          Show more +

        • Essential

          • Unlimited Stories & Social Updates

          • Measure Article Performance

          • Removed StoryChief Branding

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Includes featurtes of Essential plan, plus

          • Smart Content Calendar

          • Editorial Briefing

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Craft CMS pricing

        Pricing information not available

        Story Chief pricing

        Craft CMS, OpenCms vs Story Chief: Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Not Available
        • Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Craft CMS, OpenCms vs Story Chief Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🌐 Global

        Craft CMS vs OpenCms User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        17

        11

        3

        1

        0

        4

        10

        2

        1

        2

        20

        1

        1

        0

        0

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlighting flexibility and developer-friendliness, tempered by concerns about bugs and pricing.

        What buyers like

        • Flexibility and customization
        • Intuitive content editing interface
        • Active community support

        Common complaints

        • Bugs and stability issues
        • Pricing concerns

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 19 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

        What buyers like

        • User-friendly interface
        • WYSIWYG editing
        • Structured content management

        Common complaints

        • Limited to web content
        • May require technical setup
        • Not ideal for non-technical users

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally express high satisfaction with StoryChief’s ease of use, SEO features, and multi-channel distribution, though some desire more customization and collaboration capabilities.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • SEO guidance
        • Multi-channel publishing

        Common complaints

        • Limited template customization
        • Lack of simultaneous collaboration

        Pros and Cons

        • Highly flexible and customizable data structure

        • User-friendly back-end editor with live preview

        • Strong support and active developer community

        • Occasional bugs and stability issues, especially with text formatting and asset management

        • Pricing can be a barrier for smaller businesses

        • Intuitive editing tools simplify website management.

        • Structured content enhances organization and retrieval.

        • Powerful templates ensure consistent design.

        • May require technical expertise for setup.

        • Limited to web content management.

        • Intuitive editor with collaboration tools

        • SEO guidance and readability analysis

        • Seamless multi-channel content distribution

        • Limited customization options in design and templates

        • Restricted native posting channels (e.g., no Vkontakte or Telegram)

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Negative Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Used Craft CMS, OpenCms, or Story Chief? Tell buyers what actually differs.

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Settings

        8 Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        Videos

        No videos available.

        video-0

        3 Videos

        Alternatives to Craft CMS, OpenCms, Story Chief

        Expand your comparison

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Craft CMS or OpenCms?
        Craft CMS edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Craft CMS and OpenCms offer a free trial?
        Neither Craft CMS nor OpenCms currently lists a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Craft CMS vs OpenCms?
        Craft CMS starts at $199. OpenCms starts at Contact for pricing.
        What are the top alternatives to Craft CMS?
        Top alternatives to Craft CMS include Story Chief, Paperflite, Umbraco CMS, Concrete5, Statamic.
        What are the top alternatives to OpenCms?
        Top alternatives to OpenCms include Story Chief, Paperflite, QuickSilk, Umbraco CMS, Craft CMS.