Orchard Core
Orchard Core is a free, BSD-3-Clause-licensed CMS for editors and application framework for developers, built on ASP.NET Core.
What Orchard Core is
Orchard Core is a free, BSD-3-Clause-licensed CMS for editors and application framework for developers, built on ASP.NET Core. Editors can create content types, parts, and fields in the administration area without writing migrations. More than 90 modules cover content types, media management, workflows, localization, GraphQL, and multi-tenancy. Media tools upload, process, resize, and serve files, including remote storage and folder permissions. A visual workflow editor starts processes from content events, HTTP requests, or timers. Roles support fine-grained permissions, while OpenID Connect, single sign-on, and two-factor authentication handle access. Content and the admin interface can be localized. The typed GraphQL API supports headless sites and apps, and one installation can host isolated sites with separate settings and users. Orchard Core runs wherever .NET runs, including Linux Docker deployments, and is supported through community channels.
Good
- Free plan with no license fees
- Over 90 built-in modules
- Visual workflow editor
- Typed GraphQL headless API
- Multi-tenant isolated sites
Watch out
- Requires .NET hosting environment
- Self-hosted deployment responsibility
- Community-led support model
Who it suits
It suits editors and developers building content-driven websites, headless back ends, intranets, or multi-tenant applications. It also fits teams needing multilingual content, workflows, granular permissions, and self-hosted deployment.
Verdict
Orchard Core combines editorial tools with a developer framework and extensive built-in modules. Its free, self-hosted model suits organizations that need control over hosting, content structures, workflows, and multiple sites.
Plans and prices
From Orchard Core's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free, open-source | Free | No license fees · no per-seat or per-site costs |
The facts
Each one read from Orchard Core's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access controls
- Users can be assigned roles with fine-grained permissions, including permissions added by individual features.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- OpenID Connect supports external sign-in providers and single sign-on, and the product includes two-factor authentication.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Built-in modules
- The project ships with over 90 modules, including content types, media management, workflows, localization, GraphQL, and multi-tenancy.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Content modeling
- Editors can create content types, parts, and fields from the admin without writing migrations.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Custom user roles
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Editorial workflows
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Headless API
- A typed GraphQL API lets teams query content and build headless sites and apps.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Hosting and deployment
- The project can be run from a template, added to an existing ASP.NET Core app, or run using its published Linux Docker image; it can be hosted anywhere .NET runs.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The site describes use cases including content-driven websites, headless back ends, intranets, and large multi-tenant applications.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License and governance
- Orchard Core is BSD-3-Clause licensed, community-led, and supported by the .NET Foundation; the site says no single company owns it.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Localization
- The product can localize content and the admin interface, with culture pickers and per-user cultures.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Media
- Media management can upload, process, and serve files, resize images on the fly, store files on remote providers, and restrict folders with permissions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Multi-tenancy
- One installation can run isolated sites, each with its own content, users, and settings on a shared codebase.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Orchard Core is a CMS for editors and an application framework for developers, built on ASP.NET Core.checked 11 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Support
- The project points users to community help through Discord and GitHub Discussions, plus searchable documentation and a weekly online meetup.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Workflows
- A visual workflow editor can trigger flows from content events, HTTP requests, or timers.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform type
- self_hostedchecked 22 Sep 2026
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