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ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine

Overview

What is ExpressionEngine?

ExpressionEngine is a content management system from EllisLab in 2002, a successor to pMachine Pro, a blogging system, which is written in object-oriented PHP and uses MySQL for data storage. ExpressionEngine is their flagship Content Delivery Platform.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Reliable Performance: Many users have praised the product for its reliable performance. Several reviewers mentioned that the product …
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Popular Features

View all 16 features
  • Role-based user permissions (33)
    10.0
    100%
  • Code quality / cleanliness (32)
    10.0
    100%
  • Admin section (32)
    10.0
    100%
  • Availability / breadth of extensions (32)
    8.0
    80%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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License

$299.00

Cloud
One Time Fee

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

Entry Analytics EEDPX Demo

YouTube

EE Harbor's Transcribe Add-on Demo

YouTube

ExpressionEngine Demo of a Staff Section

YouTube

ExpressionEngine demo door Keesâ„¢ Internetbureau

YouTube

DevDemon's Channel Forms add-on for ExpressionEngine

YouTube

Solspace's Calendar Add-on for ExpressionEngine

YouTube
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Features

Security

This component helps a company minimize the security risks by controlling access to the software and its data, and encouraging best practices among users.

10
Avg 8.0

Platform & Infrastructure

Features related to platform-wide settings and structure, such as permissions, languages, integrations, customizations, etc.

8.5
Avg 7.7

Web Content Creation

Features that support the creation of website content.

8.6
Avg 7.6

Web Content Management

Features for managing website content

9.4
Avg 7.3
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Product Details

What is ExpressionEngine?

ExpressionEngine is an open source content management system developed by EllisLab in 2002 as a successor to pMachine Pro, a blogging system, which is written in object-oriented PHP and uses MySQL for data storage. EllisLab closed in 2018, but ExpressionEngine is still available, as an open source CMS.

With CodeIgniter, an agile, open-source framework, web professionals can use ExpressionEngine to build websites and applications. The software is meant to be useful for companies of any size and private individuals as well, and to that end it is highly customizable, and implementation may vary. Like many content management systems, various add-ons will determine what the system does, though the core features are somewhat broader than similarly classed free offerings. The Multiple Site Manager allows a user to create and manage multiple sites from a single ExpressionEngine installation. Nexcess (a partner) provides a hosting environment for an ExpressionEngine-powered website.

ExpressionEngine Video

10-Minute ExpressionEngine Primer

ExpressionEngine Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

ExpressionEngine is a content management system from EllisLab in 2002, a successor to pMachine Pro, a blogging system, which is written in object-oriented PHP and uses MySQL for data storage. ExpressionEngine is their flagship Content Delivery Platform.

Reviewers rate Role-based user permissions and WYSIWYG editor and Code quality / cleanliness highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of ExpressionEngine are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(86)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Reliable Performance: Many users have praised the product for its reliable performance. Several reviewers mentioned that the product consistently meets their expectations and performs well in various scenarios. Ease of Use: The ease of use is a common pro mentioned by several customers. Users appreciate how intuitive and user-friendly the product is, making it easy to navigate and operate without any hassle or confusion. Great Customer Support: Some users have expressed their satisfaction with the great customer support provided by the company. They have found the support team to be responsive, helpful, and efficient in resolving any issues or inquiries they had.

Cons:

  1. Quality Issues: Some users have experienced quality issues with the product, including defects and malfunctions. Several reviewers have mentioned receiving damaged items or products that broke shortly after purchase.
  2. Lack of Customer Support: Many customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of responsive customer support. Several users have reported difficulties in contacting the company for assistance or resolving issues related to their purchase.
  3. Limited Features/Functionality: Some users feel that the product lacks certain features or functionalities they expected. Reviewers have mentioned specific features missing from the product, such as advanced customization options or compatibility with other devices, which have impacted their overall experience.
  1. ExpressionEngine is recommended by many users as a great and promising update in the CMS market. It is praised for being free, open-source, and supported by a helpful developer community. Users suggest exploring extensions in the market to enhance its capabilities.

  2. Improvement is needed in areas such as help and support, as well as managing SEO. Those concerned about security should consider alternative solutions. Reading the developer documentation thoroughly is advised, along with using EE Harbor extensions.

3.ExpressionEngine is suitable for creating different channels and effectively managing website content. It is favored by confident HTML and PHP developers seeking customization options. The platform is considered user-friendly and secure, with the ability to handle large data or databases through proper caching.

While some express concerns about the direction and progress of ExpressionEngine, many still regard it as a leading commercial offering. It is advised to carefully consider project requirements and customization needs when choosing between ExpressionEngine and other CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal. The value of the EE support plan and the helpfulness of the community are also mentioned as factors to consider for web agencies.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-4 of 4)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
February 19, 2016

Great For Novices

Lauren Merka | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 2 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We used ExpressionEngine to manage the CMS of one of our smaller sites. It was to be used by a team of writers to collaborate on various topics. They needed to be able to upload images and edit in an efficient manner. We needed a quick way to get a site up that had a built in blog tool and user management.
  • The blog tool was decent.
  • Managing users was easy.
  • It was difficult to alter functionality in the admin section. For example, we needed multiple-file uploading and in order to do this the templates had to be directly altered. This direct manipulation of templates makes it hard to upgrade the version without losing custom changes. Same goes for implementing custom file storage.
ExpressionEngine is better for a company that doesn't have a huge user base or any previously existing database/file storage in place. It's better suited for a company more novice than we are.
Web Content Creation (4)
65%
6.5
WYSIWYG editor
60%
6.0
Code quality / cleanliness
50%
5.0
Admin section
80%
8.0
Page templates
70%
7.0
Web Content Management (5)
30%
3.0
Content taxonomy
30%
3.0
SEO support
20%
2.0
Bulk management
40%
4.0
Availability / breadth of extensions
10%
1.0
Community / comment management
50%
5.0
Platform & Infrastructure
N/A
N/A
Security (1)
100%
10.0
Role-based user permissions
100%
10.0
CMS programming language or framework
N/A
N/A
  • It allowed us to launch a new site very quickly.
  • It was tedious to make changes to functionality that wasn't module/plugin based.
I wasn't in charge of selecting this product. On our other site we have a very robust custom built CMS that's much easier to make changes to.
6
Content producers.
1
Must be competent in PHP and reading other people's code.
  • Uploading/creating new articles.
  • Managing existing content.
  • Adding new users to create content.
  • The ability to create your own plugins has been helpful.
  • At this time, there aren't any.
The site we used it for has been put on the back burner and is no longer being updated due to resource constraints and difficulty found using the product.
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
Something that we could get up and running fast and had good security for user access.
I wouldn't use this product for another site we wanted to create. Our team is used to being able to request new features and get things exactly how they want. This product was too cumbersome to customize.
No
I'm a software engineer so I'm used to being able to resolve issues on my own. There should be sufficient documentation that exists to help me troubleshoot any issues we encounter. Premium support is for people without any technical abilities or are too scared to touch a computer. It didn't apply for us.
Not sure what is meant by support. I mainly searched for documentation to attempt to sort any issues out. Mainly trying to figure out how the hell the plug ins and caching worked. I was able to find most things I needed because they were so surface. Other things were more difficult.
No
I don't think I ever turned to EllisLab for support. We needed things to move quickly so usually it's faster for me to try to figure it out myself than submit a ticket and hope that they get around quickly. If it turned out they didn't then I would have wasted time waiting.
  • Adding or removing users.
  • Tag management became a huge issue. The more tags that were added the slower the dashboard ran b/c it was trying to load in EVERYTHING instead of a paginated approach.
  • Modifying the system was next to impossible. It was so cumbersome to use our file management system.
I'm not sure how to answer this since I'm coming from the perspective of a programmer, and not a content editor. The content team complained about how cumbersome it was to have to upload images one at a time instead of being able to upload multiple images into a blog at once.
Maybe it's scale-able from the content user perspective, but it was very limited from the programmers perspective. So many custom hacks were necessary that it reached a point it would be impossible to upgrade to a newer version.
Never experienced an issue like this with it.
The admin section would slow to a crawl the larger the tag section grew. There were many areas where better pagination would've helped improve performance. Nothing complicated, which made the lag so frustrating.
Hercules Schonfeldt | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
The software's administrative features include admin logs, site membership, searchable (and search-and-replace) content forums, data export, a blacklist/whitelist module, SQL and extension manager, which are all tools that come standard with this content management system. In fact, Expression Engine is equipped with the full complement of management elements we looked for in CMS software.
  • We noticed extensive capabilities in the area of user management. The application allows for multiple administrators so that work can be spread out through multiple resources at a company rather than bottlenecking with the web developer.
  • ExpressionEngine has gained a significant following through its high level of customization and ease of use. The interface is straightforward and offers easy access to both front-end and back-end editing. Because this CMS software is open source, you get the best of both worlds. You can add to your website’s functionality through the use of PHP, which means the functionality you desire from a website is easily within reach. For the non-technical user, you can simply work on your site from a simple front-end interface with a simple navigation.
  • For functionality and flexibility, ExpressionEngine content management system software is a versatile option for operations large and small. It has obviously extended its reach to many professional websites, which is evidenced on the front page of their product site.
  • ExpressionEngine has a thriving community base filled with veteran CMS users who can help you with questions through the community forum. For the programming-savvy individual, you have access to a developer portal complete with documentation, forums and tips for increasing your knowledge of the software.
  • Very powerful CMS. Expressionengine can be thought of as a database, where you create your collections and tables and define all sorts of fields for them. Then you can gather the information in this collections any way you want and show it on front-end or at the backend.
  • EE very easy to setup. For a site that is based on eCommerce/ Articles / News this CMS is excellent.
  • Plugin, Module installation should be with ease. Upload as zip - install.
  • Multisite function should be included with purchase and not be as separate module and restriction to 3 sites - it should be infinite.
This is the best CMS on a market for developers. Turn your eCommerce or News Siet project to a winner with Brilliantretail module and simple plugins. Anything can be accomplished without breaking your neck! No project will be brilliant without ExpressionEngine. Devot-ee is the place for all plugins needed to accomplish any project your client desires.
Web Content Creation (8)
71.25%
7.1
WYSIWYG editor
90%
9.0
Code quality / cleanliness
90%
9.0
Admin section
90%
9.0
Page templates
100%
10.0
Library of website themes
10%
1.0
Mobile optimization / responsive design
90%
9.0
Publishing workflow
90%
9.0
Form generator
10%
1.0
Web Content Management (5)
92%
9.2
Content taxonomy
90%
9.0
SEO support
100%
10.0
Bulk management
90%
9.0
Availability / breadth of extensions
80%
8.0
Community / comment management
100%
10.0
Platform & Infrastructure (2)
50%
5.0
API
50%
5.0
Internationalization / multi-language
50%
5.0
Security (1)
90%
9.0
Role-based user permissions
90%
9.0
CMS programming language or framework
N/A
N/A
  • If you’re not completely sold on the software itself, then you can visit their website to see a comprehensive showcase of popular websites that were created using this content management system software.
  • SEO friendly URLs are one of the best features of EE.
For functionality and flexibility, ExpressionEngine content management system software is a versatile option for operations large and small. It has obviously extended its reach to many professional websites, which is evidenced on the front page of their product site. It may seem a bit pricey, but through its ease of use and expandability, it is a force to be reckoned with. This CMS is certain to help bring your website from the far reaches of obscurity and, with the right tweaks, put your business in the limelight.
12
Designers, Copy writers, Developers, Management
2
Simple knowledge of HTML and CSS is sufficient.
  • Reports
  • Websites
  • Data Collecting
  • Creating Reports for management with CSV , PDF and XLS outputs
  • Conferences
By renewing your use of ExpressionEngine you are boosting your ability to create even more modern and robust websites. ExpressionEngine already boasts a secure and stable system, one which has not been victim to a major security breach in the 10 years it has existed. Spam blockers are already in place, which means you can avoid unwanted attention from the malicious forces of the web. The security features offered here are quite comprehensive and include the most advanced of protective features offered among the CMS products we reviewed.
Yes
WordPress, Joomla been replaced with ExpressionEngine because of flexibility and endless power for developer.
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
Freedom of use. Freedom in language selection.
We would stop wasting our time and money on research and train our developers in ExpressioEengine.
  • Vendor implemented
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was a small part of the implementation and was well-handled
Expressionengine handles all sorts of data and it was very easy to change organizational management. But if your organization can work with a single level workflow management capability and manually manage their document versions then Expressionengine can be a very powerful asset to your organization. Considering the power it has for a low priced CMS.
  • Window servers are a bit tricky to implement. Please don't try to run Expression Engine on Windows. Yes, it's possible to run it on Windows, and self torchering individuals might even enjoy it. Still, Expression Engine is developed on and for the LAMP stack. Just get Linux!
Easy to use for client and for developer. To install - it is a breeze. ExpressionEngine start as a blank slate, which means you are free to develop anything. There are no assumptions about what kind of data you will store in your site. Because of this, your models and creations become very powerful.
Community for Expressionengine is growing day to day. You can have your questions answered on ellislab website or stackexchange. On Ellislab site it says: "Whether you're a freelancer or working in-house, you're covered for whatever you are working on. There's no limit to the number of support requests you can make, and you're covered whether your projects are on a current platform." And I strongly agree it is true!
Exceptional support is provided for Expressionengine at all times. My client was having an issue installing Expressionengine on GoDaddy server and Ellislab reviewed server configuration, answered all possible questions and installed instance for us. Guided me and my client on where to find relevant information and insured that we will not encounter any other problems with installations in the future.
  • Creating channels and assigning channel fields are as easy as it can be.
  • eCommerce modules can be a pain in the afternoon.
No
More and more customers and agencies started using Expressionengine.
Steve Garcia | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Reseller
620 Studio uses ExpressionEngine for both the company website and is the default content management system we use when building websites for other companies. It allows us the ability to design and build websites without any limitations to pre-existing templates or requiring us to build our HTML files just to take them apart again to fit into PHP templates; our code and designs stay completely intact. ExpressionEngine has the flexibility to create any type of website from the ground up; it's a giant box of sand with an arsenal of tools and I can build any type of castle I want for us and our client.
  • First-party and Community Support - ExpressionEngine has a large support base both from EllisLab, the maker of ExpressionEngine, and the vast community of users. Any challenges that arise during a project, there is either a third-party plugin or a solution already posted on a discussion forum.
  • End-User Experience - Every website we build is custom from the ground up; no two are alike. Each install of ExpressionEngine is built and organized to fit that specific client. With the use of custom fields, our clients can easily update and maintain their website while keeping the styling intact. Many systems will give one large WYSIWYG box and it's up to the user to ensure the styling of the content matches the page and branding. ExpressionEngine allows us to create a entry form guiding them through the process of creating or editing a web page. We can decide how strict or loose the content areas are based on the technical expertise of the client or website administrators.
  • Templates - The templates built into ExpressionEngine use native HTML for rendering. Within the HTML, we're able to inject their tags into our code to process the functionality. This makes moving our front-end code into the back-end quick and seamless. This is incredibly helpful for maintenance purposes as we find reading HTML is far quicker and easier to read and diagnose than PHP code.
  • Third-party Plugins - ExpressionEngine has a large community of module, extension and plugin developers to help solve any challenge. Custom fieldtypes can be easily installed for better user experience. Powerful add-ons for eCommerce and site searches developed by well-known and highly reputable companies ensure support is always available. ExpressionEngine does not suffer from an over-abundance of third-party plugins questioning the level of support especially with ExpressionEngine system updates.
  • License - ExpressionEngine is a licensed product and has a license fee that comes with each install. Most of the additional first-party functionality that is available outside of the core ExpressionEngine install has a license attached. For large websites with a lot of functionality, software licenses for ExpressionEngine and third-party plugins as well can cause the price to exceed the budget of a client.
  • Third-party Plugins Required - EllisLabs has been making strives in adding native functionality into ExpressionEngine that would have required third-party plugins in previous versions. They tread carefully not to punish plugin developers who are selling their plugins by building it into the system at no additional charge, however certain functionality like page organization for site navigation should be already included and more streamlined for the client.
  • System Updates - Compared to other content management systems, ExpressionEngine is not the easiest when updating to newer versions. Its a manual process of copying, uploading and moving files. There is no "push-button" approach without purchasing a commercial add-on by a third-party developer. With the requirement of third-party plugins to be added for user experience, each system update will require a proactive approach by the plugin developers and the admin updating the system to ensure the plugins will work on future versions. Most admins will wait several months to ensure plugins and minor bugs are ironed out prior to updating.
The two main factors for my suggestion to use or not use ExpressionEngine for a client are budget and scope. If the website is for a small three to five page website that is strictly informational and have a smaller budget, then I always recommend using a system like WordPress. Most of our clients are usually already on WordPress and ready to "graduate" to a larger system. They understand the need for a custom design and ease-of-use for site maintenance so recommending ExpressionEngine is easier as they will often have more budget available. Very rarely does a client request a specific system and trust our recommendations.

I did not give a ranking of 10 as there are some instances where other systems would handle the job better than ExpressionEngine; it's not the end-all-be-all. If a client is looking strictly for an eCommerce site, there are other systems that are better prepared for the task and will cut down on development time reducing the overall budget for the project.
Web Content Creation (5)
88%
8.8
WYSIWYG editor
80%
8.0
Code quality / cleanliness
80%
8.0
Admin section
90%
9.0
Page templates
100%
10.0
Publishing workflow
90%
9.0
Web Content Management (4)
85%
8.5
SEO support
70%
7.0
Bulk management
70%
7.0
Availability / breadth of extensions
100%
10.0
Community / comment management
100%
10.0
Platform & Infrastructure (2)
35%
3.5
API
70%
7.0
Internationalization / multi-language
N/A
N/A
Security (1)
90%
9.0
Role-based user permissions
90%
9.0
CMS programming language or framework
N/A
N/A
  • Our main goal for our company is to design, build and launch a website that the client loves and is proud of. ExpressionEngine gives us that luxury while making it as customizable as possible. We can design and build a site quicker and easier as we have fine-tuned our process of modulating certain aspects of the sites that are included by default.
  • With the wide array of plugins available, we have been able to solve any challenge quickly and easily with the great support from EllisLab and the third-party developers.
  • With the speed that we can convert our front-end code into the system's back-end, we are able to simplify and decrease what was the more time-consuming stages of a project.
  • WordPress,Modx
I've used WordPress for much smaller sites with a very limited budget and fast turn-around time. WordPress does well at installing, adding a theme, minor customizations and launch in a very fast timeframe. This can all be realistically done in a single sitting. ExpressionEngine requires much more attention and understanding of the system to build a functioning website. The install has an option to install a default theme, however I have found it more useful as a working example for learning to build with the system than as a template to build another site in though it is possible.
2
Steve is the main website developer who installs, organizes and implements the ExpressionEngine environment. This includes developing the functionality based on the scope of the project. We have a Junior Developer that handles basic maintenance within ExpressionEngine and also manages the content for existing websites or enters content for newly developed sites.
2
To create websites and maintain page templates, there needs to be, at minimum, an understanding of HTML and CSS for ExpressionEngine. For more custom development, understanding Javascript and PHP will be necessary as ExpressionEngine's template tags support basic functionality but does not encompass all that PHP has to offer. ExpressionEngine makes it easy to incorporate PHP, however it does not write any code for you.

For basic content management, it only takes a general understanding of online forms to manage the information on the website itself. As long as the system is organized well (depending on the experience of the website developer) anyone who has experience using word processing programs like Microsoft Word or Excel can use ExpressionEngine. We've trained a wide range of clients to manage their own website content with a single training session.
  • We built our own website using ExpressionEngine including two other associated websites using the same system install.
  • The speed at which we can install, convert our HTML templates and implement within the system saves us a lot of time which, in turn, saves money.
  • We have successfully transitioned to becoming the primary developer for several ExpressionEngine sites that were not originally developed by us. This often involved a website redesign and we were able to transition easily while using their existing data.
  • Having trained clients on several other content management system, I've found the training sessions for ExpressionEngine tend to take less time from start to finish and the client's understanding is more concrete by the end.
  • I've been able to use the same ExpressionEngine install and database to run both our company website and also my personal portfolio. Since the data is shared, I only need to upload my project assets once and assign which website I'd like for it to be shown, on one site or both.
  • We've created an asset management system to be used internally by our employees. This allows us to see our catalog from anywhere without needing to be on-site.
  • We are considering developing a client portal with the ability for our current clients to get a snapshot of the progress of their project. There are existing systems, however they do have their limitations as they are created for the masses. Having the ability to build the system specific to our needs and also live on our domain would be ideal.
We will continue to use ExpressionEngine as our default content management system for clients who require a level of functionality and/or customization that would require a system capable of handling the request and as long as their budget is sufficient. We have considered other free systems that are more equipped for custom templating similar to ExpressionEngine for the sake of client budget.

We recently completed a website project using a similar content management system. By the end of the project, we felt it wasn't a good comparable option and will not be using that system for any future projects. For the smaller budget projects, we have begun using WordPress, however we would not consider that a viable option for site that need the functionality and flexibility of ExpressionEngine.
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Vendor Reputation
  • Third-party Reviews
The ability to keep my HTML files intact which makes taking my front-end code and easily integrate it into the system. The other systems I evaluated were WordPress, Joomla! and Drupal back in 2008 and ExpressionEngine fit my business model much better than the others even with the license fees attached. It is not for everyone, however our clients have been extremely happy using the system.
If I had started by search today, I would look at other content management system similar to how ExpressionEngine renders templates and organizes content fields. I have only found one that is similar and is open-source but have yet to build a site with it. We have it in our business plan to build at least one site this year with the new system so we can get a true evaluation. We still would not consider WordPress, Joomla! or Drupal in future projects unless specifically asked by a client.
No
The community support from other ExpressionEngine developers is second-to-none. Very rarely do I need to speak directly with EllisLab as the question I'm asking about has more often than not has been asked and responded by others. There is bug reporting available to which I've seen EllisLab respond very quickly, either to get more detailed information from me or a hotfix is given. I have found a majority of the questions I need answered are directed at the third-party developers for the plugins I am using. ExpressionEngine itself is a solid foundation.
For each ExpressionEngine release, I will often wait a few months before upgrading existing sites just to make sure it's had time to settle and get real-world use. This will allow the developers to handle any initial issues they may find and update the system accordingly. For all new sites, I will always use the latest version and any issues that arise can be handled while in the development phase while on a staging server.
Yes
Every bug report I've submitted has been responded to quickly and with a resolution. Most of the resolutions have been hotfixes to solve the issue quickly and I've noticed that the subsequent version released will have the issue listed as fixed in the changelog. There has not been a bug report I've submitted that has collected dust.
With each version of ExpressionEngine that is released, an update to their Multiple Site Manager module is released as well. This can be a bit confusing as the version numbers don't align and if I'm updating ExpressionEngine to a newer version, but not the latest, I may not have downloaded the most recent version of the Multiple Site Manager plugin as only a small portion of my clients use multiple sites. I contacted EllisLab and they were able to supply me with the correct version of the module very quickly avoiding any downtime.
Brian Mallett | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
ExpressionEngine has been chosen as the primary CMS of use for our company when we begin a new project here at Black Belt Designs. If the customer comes to us with a previously existing base, we will evaluate it and determine if a change is either one, necessary, or two, feasible. So far, each client has been extremely happy with the change over to ExpressionEngine if they were previously using another CMS.
  • If you know HTML and CSS, you can begin using ExpressionEngine. Unlike other CMS products out there, you don't necessarily need to know PHP, C#, .NET, or any other language.
  • If you DO know PHP, you can extend ExpressionEngine to limitless usages. The 'hooks' provided within the code base allow you to further stretch ExpressionEngine's capabilities to whatever needs you might have. You can think of ExpressionEngine as a 'development environment' that allows you to define the needs.
  • ExpressionEngine allows you, the developer, to establish guidelines for your clients during the development process. There are no boundaries or limitations that bind you to specific realms.
  • ExpressionEngine's control panel is clean, simple, and allows users to create, edit, and find their entries with ease.
  • Maybe not a weakness per se, but one thing that tends to 'get' people in the beginning is the understanding of the parsing order. There are many thing that ExpressionEngine can do. One thing you will find yourself questioning is "Why aren't my variables rendering properly?". Many times it is due to a parsing order issue. One thing that can help with this is properly mapping out your development prior to beginning your code.
  • The use of third party addons is a great extension to ExpressionEngine. However, you definitely want to keep a development version of your project on ice for any updates to, not only your addons, but ExpressionEngine yourself. There is not a good way to 'roll back' your project once you update your version.
  • Multiple environment development scenarios can prove to be problematic. This is to be somewhat understood though due to the reliance of the database driven nature of the CMS itself.
If you are developing a web project in which maintenance of your content will be handled by multiple people, content will be changed or modified frequently, memberships are required, or look to be complex in nature then ExpressionEngine is a shoe in for most projects. A simple website of 2-4 pages in which content will remain static and not be maintained at all might be overkill.
  • The reliability of ExpressionEngine and the upfront time it saves in terms of development have been the primary reasons we accepted ExpressionEngine as the base of 99% of our projects. Time is money and the time saved by simply launching ExpressionEngine and developing using its template driven design process cuts time exponentially.
  • The reusable code blocks, snippets, and global variables alone cut development times in half. Top that with the available addons from third party providers and you find yourself having more time to focus on customer first worries.
  • Once you have developed with ExpressionEngine and become comfortable with it, you can build a bootstrap install of your most used configurations. This allows you to launch a development environment for a new project and automatically begin with sometimes 60% of the work already done.
  • You have control over what your customer sees. You also have control over what the entry templates look like for your customers. This means that you know what the answers are to the questions that will be coming your way. Good documentation makes your support job much easier.
  • WordPress,Joomla!,craft,eZ Publish Platform,DotNetNuke,Drupal,Concrete5
Ultimately you want to go with something you are comfortable with. Everyone is different and that makes any review an opinionated guessing game. That being said, ExpressionEngine is a feature rich, flexible CMS that allows you to develop without limitations. If you want something that is a simple click to install, drop in a 'theme', and go then ExpressionEngine is not the right choice for you. If you want a CMS that allows you to make the decisions along the way in how, not only your project looks, acts, and feels, but also in how the CMS itself can look, act, and feel then ExpressionEngine is miles above the rest.
ExpressionEngine provides us with the flexibility we want and need in regards to development for our customers and their project requirements. This along with top support and a growing community of fellow developers, ExpressionEngine feels more like a close knit family of developers at times rather than a corporal product. The more we use the product, the more we get help from fellow designers and developers, the more WE feel like giving back to the ExpressionEngine community.
Yes
Depending on the project at hand, I will subscribe to ExpressionEngine's offered paid support plans. For most of my problems, I pose my issues to the ExpressionEngine StackExchange community where we all try to help each other out. If you need help on something that is sensitive then the paid support definitely proves to be worth the money. I have run into instances in which I would not have successfully completed a project due to a catastrophe an addon created. I was able to get almost immediate support contact and help from EllisLab and get the issues resolved that day.
I have personally never found any complications when trying to receive support from EllisLab in regards to ExpressionEngine when using the support plans they offer. I have always been responded to promptly and received satisfactory help with whatever my needs were in an extremely timely manner. This makes rating the support offered an easy job for me.
Yes
The bug I found was with the development of a new fieldtype being offered natively in ExpressionEngine. I was unaware of it being a bug at first. I just knew I was not seeing my intended results. I entered a support ticket and, while receiving support, we both came to the conclusion of the offending action. It was entered as a bug and I was sent a patch to install until the next release was issued. The patch was included in the next version release.
I had an issue when I was working as the web developer for a company that used ExpressionEngine for their CMS. This company maintained all of their own servers, blocked access points from outside the network to any content behind their firewall, and due to their own security, forced an uncommon installation of ExpressionEngine. EllisLab was not able to receive access to the CMS, the control panel, the website, the database, etc... They were flying blind. This is not something they typically provide support for. I was graciously provided support and was able to offer a screen share session in which they spent the entire 9 hour day via shared screen and chat providing me support. This ended up spanning over the course of 3 days and was mind-numbingly painful from my end. I can only imagine what it was like for the supporting side. The supporting employee, Robin, was always receptive, understanding, light hearted, and extremely helpful. This instance won me over in terms of the support offered by EllisLab.
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