Why I think modx beats all other CMS that I have tried to far (I built sites using more than 5 other popular CMS)
January 13, 2021
Why I think modx beats all other CMS that I have tried to far (I built sites using more than 5 other popular CMS)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with MODX
Great system, really flexible, really fast, really secure especially when hardened (which only takes a few minutes and no plugins are required unlike other CMS)...
Content creation is easy, however this often depends on how it was implemented, a bad implementation (like in any other CMS) will make content creators dislike the system, hence good implementation is key. This would also be the case in any other CMS. If implemented correctly it is way easier [and is] more enjoyable to use than WordPress. For example have had client that came from a WP as well as a typo3 background and they preferred MODX.
As a designer you are not limited to anything. No html code is generated by the CMS. Hence anything goes, we have even build apps that only output json, and the client edits the pages all the same on the backoffice. Very few limits.
Writing custom code is easy using "snippets" hence it is extremely scalable.
It is also fast, really fast, faster than most out of the box, even faster than many flat-file CMS.
Bad things are, that the learning curve is higher than in other cms, and that the community is not as big. However they are very active on slack and questions get answered very fast.
Hosting can be done by MODX directly using their cloud (for a monthly fee), or on your own server.
And it is mature, all in all it is our fav CMS out there.
- Customize, no limits anything is possible in terms of design and output.
- Scalable, can grow fast in terms of page numbers and still serve them faster than most CMS out there.
- Security - its really secure esp if you harden it. Knock on wood, but we never had a MODX site hacked.
- Fast - caching is great really great speeds
- Quality add ons - instead of 1000000 plugins MODX has a few that are written really well and do everything you need, fast and optimized.
- Releases - MODX 3 is taking long to get released
- Small community
- Bigger learning curve but well worth it
After having built sites with WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, october cms, craft cms, magento, presstashop, opencart, os commerce and more it is my number 1 (october cms is 2).
Once you know what you are doing it is faster and easier to build amazing sites that have really clean good code, great SEO, are scalable and are fast, compared to he other systems.
Problem is most people only try 1 CMS which is usually wordpresss and then stick to it without testing others and what advantages they yield, its a bit sad but thats human nature I guess......
Do you think MODX delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with MODX's feature set?
Yes
Did MODX live up to sales and marketing promises?
Yes
Did implementation of MODX go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy MODX again?
Yes
MODX Feature Ratings
Using MODX
4 - We all use [MODX] to both create and manage websites.
1 - We have 1 person doing support
- Provide us with a really good CMS solution
- Provide clients and content creators with a excellent CMS solutions
- Output just json and then use jasonelle to build native mobile apps in record time
- Hopefully [MODX] 3 will make everything faster, better and future proof the CMS
Evaluating MODX and Competitors
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
no clutter / bloat, great security, fast, scalable, customizable
try even more CMS if and when time allows
MODX Implementation
- Implemented in-house
Change management was minimal - No change management needed. Just a little training
- Back-office needs to be setup well and easy for inexperience content editors to be happy
MODX Training
- no training
Lots of tutorials if someone builds a [MODX] site for you then you will get training.
There are also great videos and books
Configuring MODX
Harden it
Slight manager changes to make it easier for content editors
Some - we have done small customizations to the interface - Just small changes, like adding client logos and sometimes colors
Some - we have added small pieces of custom code - You can write snippets and plugins and customize everything
MODX Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
No - It is available but I do not host in the [MODX] cloud because my clients are in south africa and our sites need to be hosted locally to optimize speed.
Yes - Report on github like any opensource software
On slack, people explained exactly how CMP with MIGX worked very helpful
Using MODX
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Convenient Feel confident using | None |
- Template variable
- CMP migx need better tutorial for lower learning curve
Yes - Well it is responsive
MODX Reliability
Integrating MODX
- jsonette
- ecwid
You can customize the output of [MODX] hence there is ALOT that can be done.
However one thing that is not that great is the [MODX] api, however I have not played enough with it to really give a good opinion on it
- telegram bot
- File import/export
- Single Signon
- API (e.g. SOAP or REST)
- Javascript widgets
All integration work easy
Simple integration are really straight forward. For more complex stuff writing a snipped is not that difficult
Relationship with MODX
Did not attempt to neg
If in EU or US, and not at the end of the world like use then the cloud system makes good sense
Upgrading MODX
Yes - Very easy both manually and via a snippet (which auto upgrade)
- Bug fixes
- New features
- Bug fixes
- New features
- MODX 3 release cool new stuff I hope