Statamic vs Craft CMS: which is right for your project?
Both are modern PHP CMS platforms targeting developers and editors who want something better than WordPress. The difference comes down to content complexity and how the team wants to work.
Two platforms targeting the same market
Statamic and Craft CMS are both modern PHP CMS platforms designed for developers who want something more thoughtful than WordPress. Both have clean editorial interfaces, developer-friendly architecture and active communities.
The core difference is technical: Statamic defaults to flat-file storage, meaning content lives in the repository alongside code. Craft uses a database. That difference has practical implications for hosting, deployment and content management at scale.
I work on both platforms. This comparison is based on that experience.
How they compare
Content modelling
Craft's Matrix fields and entry relationships handle complex structured content better. Statamic's Bard and Replicator fields cover most editorial needs and are simpler to configure.
Storage
Statamic defaults to flat-file. Content lives in YAML and Markdown files. Craft uses a MySQL or PostgreSQL database. Statamic can use a database if needed.
Git deployment
Statamic content is Git-deployable natively. Content changes are file changes. Craft requires additional tooling to achieve the same workflow.
Hosting cost
Statamic's flat-file default means no database server required. Standard PHP hosting is sufficient. Craft needs a database, which adds hosting complexity and cost.
Licensing
Statamic is free for personal use; Statamic Pro is required for commercial sites with teams. Craft has a free Solo licence; Craft Pro is required for teams. Both have ongoing licence costs at the commercial tier.
Community
Craft has a larger developer community and a more established plugin ecosystem. Statamic's community is growing and the core team is responsive.
When to choose Statamic
Choose Statamic when Git-deployable content matters to your workflow. Content changes as file commits is a natural fit for development teams who use Git for everything.
Choose Statamic when the site's content model is relatively straightforward. Marketing sites, editorial sites and brochure sites with well-defined content types work well in Statamic.
Choose Statamic when you want to keep hosting simple. A flat-file CMS on standard PHP hosting is cheaper and easier to move than a database-backed application.
Choose Statamic for projects where the Antlers templating language and the Statamic ecosystem are a good fit for the team's skills.
When to choose Craft CMS
Choose Craft when your content model is complex and relational. Matrix blocks, entry relationships and complex queries that span multiple content types are where Craft's database-backed architecture pays off.
Choose Craft for large editorial teams where content needs to be queried, filtered and sorted in sophisticated ways. Craft's database gives you more power here than Statamic's flat files.
Choose Craft when you need the broader plugin ecosystem. Craft's plugin marketplace is more established than Statamic's.
Choose Craft when the content volume would make flat-file unwieldy. Sites with thousands of entries are easier to manage in a database.
Common questions
Is Statamic better than Craft CMS?
Neither is objectively better. Statamic is better for projects where flat-file storage, Git workflows and simple hosting matter. Craft is better for complex relational content, large editorial teams and sites where database-backed querying is important. The right choice depends on the project.
Can you migrate from Craft to Statamic?
Yes, though it requires careful planning. Content in Craft's database needs to be exported and mapped to Statamic's flat-file format. Entry relationships need to be re-implemented within Statamic's content model. It is achievable but not trivial. The main motivation is usually simplifying hosting or moving to a Git workflow.
Which is easier to host?
Statamic's flat-file default is easier and cheaper to host. Standard PHP hosting, no database required. Craft needs a database server, which adds a layer of hosting complexity. Both can run on standard VPS or managed hosting providers.
Which has better plugin support?
Craft has a more established plugin ecosystem. Statamic's addon ecosystem is growing but smaller. For most standard requirements both have adequate support. For very specific integrations you may find more ready-made options in the Craft ecosystem.
Which is more expensive?
At the commercial tier, both have licence costs. The specifics change over time, so check the current pricing on each platform's site. Statamic's hosting costs are typically lower because of the flat-file default. Craft's licence includes access to a broader plugin ecosystem.
Not sure which platform is right?
Describe the project and the team. I will give you an honest recommendation based on what the site needs to do.