Free Self Hosted Website Builders from Softaculous

No matter what type of website you are creating, there is a builder that will suit almost any type of layout you can image.

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal have seized a large market share. But some other website builders will do equally well. Some even better depending on your requirements.

In this guide we will list some of the more uncommon "Self Hosted Website Builders" or "Content Management Systems" available for the projects that you might have. These CMS's are great options, especially if you're just starting out.

What Is Softaculous

Softaculous is a commercial script library that automates the installation of commercial and open source web applications to a website. Listing 1115 PHP classes and over 380 apps like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, etc. which integrates with several control panels like cPanel, Plesk, Webuzo, Interworx, Directadmin, ispmanager and more. Along with installing scripts, you can also try out demos for the scripts, keep your installs up to date, backups, and even create a staging site where you can test any changes and try out different apps.

What is a CMS?

A Content Management System "CMS" Or a "Website Builder" is software that allows you to manage, manipulate, enhance, and publish content on the web in a very easy way. Most CMS will enable you to create websites with no coding knowledge at all. It is the best option for when you want to "Do It Yourself".

With a Content Management System you are able to publish digital content including web pages, landing pages, blog posts, images. All with a user friendly interface. Customizing the design and functionality of your website with templates and extensions rather than learning a bunch of coding. You may also have multiple users working on the back-end of your CMS website.

WordPress

WordPress is a powerful, open-source content management system that enables users to build and manage websites with complete flexibility and control. Designed for both beginners and developers, it combines intuitive publishing tools with advanced customization options, allowing anything from blogs to enterprise-level platforms to be created without licensing costs. Its extensive ecosystem of themes and plugins makes it possible to tailor functionality, enhance performance, and optimize for search engines, all while maintaining full ownership of your data and digital assets.

Built on a foundation of freedom and scalability, WordPress continues to power over 40% of websites worldwide, making it the industry standard for modern web publishing. Its open-source framework encourages innovation, enabling businesses and creators to adapt quickly as technology evolves while benefiting from a global community of contributors. With built-in SEO-friendly architecture, user management, and seamless content publishing, WordPress remains a future-ready solution for anyone seeking a reliable, customizable, and growth-focused online presence..
WordPress Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
WordPress on Softaculous
WordPress Home Page

SilverStripe

SilverStripe is a modern, open-source content management system designed for organizations that require flexibility, security, and full control over their digital infrastructure. Built on a robust PHP framework, it separates content management from development, allowing editors to manage pages easily while developers retain complete freedom over design and functionality. Its intuitive interface, drag-and-drop structure, and customizable workflows make content updates efficient without sacrificing performance or scalability. With built-in SEO tools, multilingual support, and precise URL management, SilverStripe ensures websites remain both user-friendly and search engine optimized.

Engineered for scalability, SilverStripe supports everything from business websites to complex web applications through its modular architecture and extensive add-on ecosystem. It offers enterprise-level security, version control, and role-based permissions, ensuring data integrity and controlled publishing processes. Its decoupled capabilities also allow seamless API integrations for headless or hybrid deployments, making it adaptable to evolving digital strategies. As a community-driven platform with continuous updates, SilverStripe delivers a reliable, future-focused solution for teams seeking a customizable and performance-driven CMS.
SilverStripe Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
SilverStripe on Softaculous
SilverStripe Home Page

CMS Made Simple

CMSimple is a lightweight, open-source content management system built for simplicity, speed, and low maintenance. Unlike traditional platforms, it operates without a database, storing all content directly in files, which significantly reduces setup complexity and hosting requirements. This flat-file approach allows users to deploy and manage websites quickly while maintaining full control over their data and structure. With a single installation, multiple websites can be managed in subdirectories, making it an efficient solution for small businesses, personal sites, and streamlined web projects.

Designed for flexibility, CMSimple includes an easy template system that enables customization using basic HTML and CSS, along with a plugin architecture that expands functionality with features like blogs, galleries, and comment systems. Its built-in tools, such as a plugin manager, backup options, and multilingual support, ensure reliable performance without unnecessary complexity. This makes CMSimple an ideal choice for users seeking a fast, SEO-friendly CMS that prioritizes efficiency, portability, and straightforward website management.
CMS Made Simple Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
CMS Made Simple on Softaculous
CMS Made Simple Home Page

Modx

MODX is a flexible, open-source content management system and application framework built for developers who need full creative control without restrictive templates or forced structures. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, it delivers clean, semantic output and allows you to define exactly how content is structured and presented. Its modular architecture - featuring resources, templates, chunks, and plugins - makes it easy to build anything from simple websites to complex digital applications. With built-in caching, strong security design, and customizable access controls, MODX is engineered for performance, scalability, and precision-driven development.

Designed as a “no-bloat” framework, MODX separates content, design, and functionality, enabling faster workflows and pixel-perfect customization using any front-end technology. It supports multi-site management, multilingual content, and advanced content modeling without sacrificing speed or usability. Backed by an active community and over two decades of development, MODX remains a powerful solution for agencies and developers seeking a secure, SEO-friendly CMS that adapts to evolving web standards while maintaining complete control over every aspect of the user experience.
Modx Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
Modx on Softaculous
Modx Home Page

Composr

Composr is a feature-rich, open-source content management system designed to build highly interactive, community-driven websites without relying heavily on third-party plugins. Available through Composr CMS, it combines traditional CMS capabilities with integrated social networking tools such as forums, chat, galleries, and eCommerce features. Its modular, component-based architecture allows users to manage content, user interactions, and site functionality from a single interface, making it efficient for both developers and content managers. With hundreds of built-in features and strong customization options, Composr enables the creation of anything from simple websites to complex online platforms.

Built for flexibility and control, Composr emphasizes data ownership, security, and scalability. It supports multilingual content, advanced permissions, and seamless integration with external systems, while maintaining high performance through built-in optimization tools. Its “all-in-one” approach reduces dependency on external extensions, helping streamline development and long-term maintenance. As a free and open-source platform, Composr continues to evolve with active development and a focus on user autonomy, making it a practical choice for organizations seeking a customizable, SEO-ready CMS with integrated community functionality.
Composr Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
Composr on Softaculous
Composr Home Page

e107

e107 is a time-tested and open source CMS powered by MySQL and PHP. With e107, you can create, modify, or delete your Website's content without needing to be a professional at coding. With e107, you have everything you need to launch an interactive, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly (responsive) website in the least possible time. Whether you're thinking of creating a simple blog or a more demanding corporate website, e107 has a solution for you.

Features include Easy manipulation. Modifying, copying, or erasing massive records simultaneously became more comfortable with the solution that e107 offers. This is made possible via the Admin interface, where you get to check all unwanted data and perform a mass action on them with just a click. Save time editing records. Tweak blog posts; modify database records, upload, and download items from e107's overview page.
e107 on Softaculous
e107 Hosting Solutions
e107 Home Page

Concrete CMS

When we think of ConcreteCMS, we think of intuitive editing. The makers of this great CMS boast of its ability to customize any site based on user preferences. With ConcreteCMS, you can; Do in-context editing. Control themes easily. Retain layout across various devices (high responsiveness). Manage media perfectly. Drag and Drop Content. A powerful and extendable with a wide variety of add-ons to extend your website and broaden your functionality.

Features include Simple Installation, One-click version update, Add-on support, Quick installs, Automatic add-on update notification, 1000s of add-ons at your fingertips.
Other uses for Concrete. E-magazines and newspapers. E-Commerce sites. Extranets and Intranets. Government websites. Small and large Business Websites. NGO websites. Any school, college, or university website.
Concrete on Softaculous
Concrete Hosting Solutions
Concrete Home Page

ImpressCMS

ImpressCMS is a flexible, open-source content management system built for creating dynamic websites with a strong focus on security, scalability, and community-driven functionality. Developed using PHP and MySQL, it provides a modular framework that allows users to extend core capabilities through add-on modules such as forums, eCommerce, news systems, and media galleries. Its intuitive interface simplifies content management, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers while maintaining full control over site structure and data.

Designed for performance and adaptability, ImpressCMS includes advanced features like granular user permissions, multilingual support, customizable themes, and built-in security tools to protect against common threats. Its scalable architecture makes it suitable for everything from small business websites to large enterprise intranets, while its open-source nature ensures continuous improvement from a global development community. With its balance of flexibility, ease of use, and extensibility, ImpressCMS remains a reliable, SEO-friendly solution for building secure and fully customizable web platforms.
ImpressCMS Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
ImpressCMS on Softaculous
ImpressCMS Home Page

TYPO3

An Enterprise Content Management System for creating, managing, and publishing any digital content. TYPO3 developers claim that even if your business grows bigger, No need to ever opt for another CMS because it has everything to satisfy your specific project needs.

What will you get with TYPO3? Zero license cost. This CMS is free of charge, being open-source software under the GNU General Public License. What this means is that it is free to use any day and anytime. TYPO3 offers excellent rendering capabilities. TYPO3 has been providing users with excellent image manipulation functionality for decades. Hence, users can scale and crop images easily. TYPO3 provides extensive CDN support. TYPO3s master class file abstraction architecture makes allocating your assets across the globe as simple as uploading a file. Either you or your editors won't need any professional training to use CDNs like Akamai or Amazon's Cloud Front.
TYPO3 on Softaculous
TYPO3 Hosting Solutions
TYPO3 Home Page

Xoops

Yet another great CMS to choose from, Xoops is also open-source, user-friendly, and secure. With XOOPS, you get an object-oriented, extensible, easy to use, and dynamic web content management system encoded in the popular PHP language. Whether for a small or large website, XOOOS has what it takes to create something exceptional and perfect for individual preferences.
Some feature are: Fully Modularized. You can install, uninstall, activate, or deactivate modules with a click using the XOOPS MAS (module administration system).

Database Driven: For web-based CMS, XOOPS utilizes a MySQL database to store data required for running a web-based content management system.
User Management: It comes with the functionality of searching for users by various criteria. You can even send an email and private messages to users through a messaging system.
Theme-based GUI: Coming with a robust theme system, users and admin can customize the entire interface at one click.
Publisher: The publisher Module is useful when it comes to managing news, updates, or articles. This module is helpful for those who run news portals or blogs.
EXTGallery: Want to create a photo community? If yes, it allows users to upload photos and create their galleries.
XOOPS on Softaculous
XOOPS Hosting Solutions
XOOPS Home Page

CMS Made Simple

With CMS Made Simple, it's goodbye to complicated Content Management Systems. It doesn't matter if you're a complete newcomer in the area of website development and content management. CMS Made Simple will provide you a simple way of doing great things on the web. From changing texts to adding news items and images on a page, you can do it all with no confusion and no need to understand all the complex HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Coming with a powerful and intuitive UI and an easy-to-use WYSIWYG page editor, it's all simplicity from start to finish when you choose CMS Made Simple.
Features include: Intuitive user interface. Integrated and online help. Group-based permissions system. User independence. Satisfying user experience. Efficient editing capabilities. If you have ever craved managing your website without having to face technical challenges or a rambling admin system, then look no further than CMS Made Simple.
CMS Made Simple on Softaculous
CMS Made Simple Hosting Solutions
CMS Made Simple Home Page

Jamroom

Jamroom is a powerful, open-source content management system and social networking framework built for creating highly interactive, community-driven websites. Developed using PHP and MySQL, it stands out for its modular architecture, allowing users to extend functionality through hundreds of modules and customizable “skins” that control both design and behavior. Designed as a complete platform rather than a basic CMS, Jamroom enables features like blogs, forums, media sharing, and user profiles to be integrated seamlessly, making it ideal for building niche social networks and content-rich platforms.

Engineered for flexibility and scalability, Jamroom supports advanced features such as audio and video streaming, eCommerce tools, and real-time community interaction, all within a single system. Its template-driven structure and developer tools allow full customization without restrictive frameworks, while built-in caching and performance optimizations ensure fast, responsive websites. With its focus on user engagement and extensibility, Jamroom provides a robust, SEO-friendly solution for creators, businesses, and developers seeking to build dynamic online communities with complete control over functionality and growth.
Jamroom Hosting Solutions with RSH Web Services
Jamroom on Softaculous
Jamroom Home Page

Bolt CMS

Bolt claims to be the best CMS available to editors, developers, and newbies. Some of its great features and functionality are Powerful Content Types. Bolt structures all content in "Content Types". A Content Type establishes the design of your website content. "News Articles", "Blog Posts", "Pages", "Testimonials" are "Content Types". By adding the page's content type to your layout, Bolt will automatically; Add the content type to the admin area of your site. Give access to editors, letting you create, edit and delete pages.
Symfony based development. Bolt runs on Symfony, which is a PHP framework through which you can make your web application highly user-oriented. No language barriers. Want to make the content of your site available to the world in different languages? If yes, Bolt can help. With a single line of code, your entire page or site becomes translatable.
Bolt CMS on Softaculous
Bolt CMS Hosting Solutions

WebsiteBaker

WebsiteBaker enables you to create any website of your choice with ease. Flexibility, maximum security, ease-of-use, and open source CMS is Website Baker. Create new templates within minutes with auto-integrated languages like XHTML, CSS, and jQuery. But you do not need to know these programming languages. With WebsiteBaker, your site is W3C-valid, SEO-friendly and there are zero limitations to what you can do with it. WebsiteBaker is an excellent option for web designers and web developers. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate user, or a professional, WebsiteBaker will convince you.

Features include: Easy to use interface. WYSIWYG-editors in backend. Support of multiple languages. Management of files and media. Adjustable due to its template system. Infinite extensible because of add-ons. Group-based Access Privilege System. Also, it is incorporated with lots of add-ons for your specific needs.
WebsiteBaker on Softaculous
WebsiteBaker Hosting Solutions
WebsiteBaker Home Page

WonderCMS

WonderCMS, unlike others mentioned above, is exceptionally lightweight, small, does not use databases like MySQL, yet easy to set up and maintain. Are you looking for a Simple website builder? WonderCMS is the smallest flat-file CMS, and it is free. It is oriented towards privacy, and it ships without unwanted ads, tracking, or any "powered by" links. This CMS aims to be one of the smallest and lightest Content Management Systems.

Features include: 1-click updates and backups. Themes /plugins installer. Responsive, user-friendly, in-place editing, SEO, and more.
Whether you're building a simple website or a blog, WonderCMS is carefully developed to bring you a minimalistic and straightforward user experience.
WonderCMS on Softaculous
WonderCMS Hosting Solutions
WonderCMS Home Page

ProcessWire

Are you looking for a friendly and powerful open source CMS with a well scalable API? This is what you need. ProcessWire is a free CMS and CMF (content management framework), specifically built to save time. With all custom fields, addon modules for a secure foundation, and high scalability. ProcessWire launches your content seamlessly, quickly, and efficiently.

It's all about having a simple solution, and with ProcessWire, it's relatively easy working either from the Admin back-end or from the API.
Its API delivers your request to the system and sends the system's response back to you fast and efficiently. It is the best and most powerful API in its class, and it is simplest to learn and use. Highly Scalable: ProcessWire is designed to scale. It is powerful enough to handle both websites with a small or unlimited number of pages.
Stable: Having been in continuous development since 2006 and as an open-source since 2010, it is undoubtedly a mature and exceptionally stable platform.
ProcessWire on Softaculous
ProcessWire Hosting Solutions
ProcessWire Home Page

Sitemagic

It's all about trying to make a difference when it comes to web development and CMS technology. That being said, Sitemagic CMS is fantastic, user-friendly and brings with it tons of beautiful design templates for you to get started.

Features include Modular, fast & lightweight. A fully extensible and superfast CMS that functions well both on small and large servers. Sitemagic runs without the regular MySQL database system. Data is stored in secure XML files by a default setting, and backing up and moving websites from host to host is effortless.
Sitemagic CMS is a very comprehensive CMS that lets anyone manage pages, files, forms, and external modules such as maps, social media plugins, and videos easily.
Sitemagic on Softaculous
Sitemagic Hosting Solutions
Sitemagic Home Page

Summary

Content Management Systems has been a choice for web developers for as far as we can remember. With the great number of CMS that are available today, deciding which one is best suited for you can be a daunting challenge

In this guide, we shortlisted ten not so common yet easy to use and powerful free website builders for you. They all have what it takes to compete with those larger and more popular ones

Our first choice is e107 as it seems to be the easiest for beginners, followed by Concrete5 for the extensive support

See our Video on Website Builders From Softaculous

With cPanel and Softaculous you have the option to try out any of the 40+ CMS's RSH Web Services offers
With one click install, it is very easy to get started
Or if you prefer RSH Web will install any one you choose

Author Bio: Dana Franklin

A esteemed contributor in the realms of technology and business. With a distinguished career marked by leadership roles within Fortune 500 companies...

We’d really enjoy hearing from you. Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, or any questions in the comments below.