Contao
Contao · 3250 Lyss, Switzerland · founded 2006
What it is
Contao is a free, open-source content management system for professional websites and scalable web applications. One installation can run several websites and support multiple languages. Editors can work with TinyMCE, update several records at once, and restore earlier versions, while administrators can assign backend field permissions by user or group. The core includes calendar, news and blog, and newsletter modules, plus a form generator and full-text search with phrase, wildcard, and AND/OR options. Contao describes support for WCAG 2.1 level AA; SEO tools include structured data and automatically generated XML sitemaps. Security features include passkeys or two-factor authentication and automatic account locking after repeated failed sign-ins. Built on Symfony, it can be extended with packages from its extension directory or Packagist. Installation options include a preconfigured Managed Edition or adding it as a Symfony bundle with Composer. It runs on web servers with current PHP and MySQL; the documentation recommends PHP 8.4 or later and MySQL 8.0 or equivalent MariaDB. Community forum help is free, and professional support is available through partners. Long-term support versions receive four years of support. Contao is free for commercial projects under the LGPL-3.0 license.
For and against
For
- One installation can run multiple websites
- Includes editorial, calendar, news, and newsletter tools
- Offers field-level permissions by user or group
- Supports passkeys or two-factor authentication
- Free for commercial projects
Against
- Requires a web server with PHP and MySQL
- Documentation recommends PHP 8.4 or later
- Professional support is through partners
The verdict
Contao combines content management, publishing, access controls, and extensions for self-managed web projects. Its server requirements and installation options are worth considering before adoption.
Who it suits
Contao suits site owners building multilingual websites, portals, e-commerce sites, or enterprise sites, as well as teams that need editorial workflows and differentiated permissions. It requires a web server with PHP and MySQL.
Plans and prices
Contao CMS
Open source software · LGPL-3.0 · Free use, including for commercial projects
Read 11 Oct 2026 · contao.org
On the record
- Accessibility and SEO
- Contao describes support for WCAG 2.1 level AA and provides SEO features including schema.org structured data and automatically generated XML sitemaps.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Built-in modules
- The core distribution includes calendar, news/blog, and newsletter modules.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Custom user roles
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Deployment
- Contao can be installed as a preconfigured Managed Edition with Contao Manager or added as a Symfony bundle using Composer.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Editors can use TinyMCE, edit multiple records at once, and restore prior versions.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Editorial workflows
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Forms and search
- The CMS includes a form generator and full-text search with phrase, wildcard, and AND/OR searching.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Contao is based on Symfony and can be extended with packages from the Contao extension directory or Packagist.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The homepage cites use for landing pages, portals, e-commerce, and enterprise sites.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Multiple sites and languages
- One Contao installation can run multiple websites and support multilingual websites.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- Access rights can be set for individual backend form fields and assigned by user or group.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Platform type
- self_hostedcontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Privacy
- The homepage says Contao uses double opt-in for subscriptions and registrations and keeps a log for the legally required storage period.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- Contao supports passkeys or two-factor authentication and automatically locks accounts after too many failed login attempts.contao.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yescontao.org · read 22 Sep 2026
