Raytha vs Orchard Core: a simpler open source .NET CMS
Orchard Core and Raytha are both free, open source content management systems on .NET 10. Orchard Core is a modular application framework with multi-tenancy, workflows, GraphQL and support for five databases; it is the stronger choice when you need that flexibility. Raytha is a smaller, single-site CMS on PostgreSQL with fewer concepts to learn: content types, Liquid templates, a page builder, members, SSO and a REST API out of the box.
Last reviewed October 2026 against Raytha 2.0.1 and Orchard Core 3.0.1.
Raytha vs Orchard Core at a glance
| Raytha | Orchard Core | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Runtime | .NET 10 | .NET 10 (Orchard Core 3.0) |
| Database | PostgreSQL only | SQL Server, MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite |
| Architecture | One application, Clean Architecture, Mediator commands and queries | Modular framework of features, document storage via YesSql |
| Multi-tenancy | One site per instance | Built-in multi-tenancy |
| Templates | Liquid, edited in the browser | Liquid and Razor, shape-based theming |
| APIs | REST API v1 (read and write), API keys | REST endpoints and GraphQL |
| Members and SSO | Public users, user groups, SAML and JWT SSO built in | Users, roles, OpenID Connect and external logins via modules |
| Workflows | Raytha Functions (JavaScript) and webhooks | Visual workflows module |
| Hosting | Docker image or Railway template | Self-hosted ASP.NET Core app |
What Orchard Core does well
Orchard Core is both a CMS and a framework for building modular, multi-tenant ASP.NET Core applications. You enable the features you need, and one deployment can host many tenants, each with its own settings and database. It supports SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and SQLite, ships GraphQL, localization, a visual workflow engine and recipes for scripted setup, and lets you theme with Liquid or Razor. Version 3.0, released in June 2026, moved to .NET 10.
If you are building a platform rather than a website, such as a SaaS product where each customer is a tenant, Orchard Core has the building blocks.
Where Raytha is different
Raytha trades breadth for simplicity. There is one application, one database engine and one way to do each thing.
- Fewer concepts. Content types, content items, views, templates, site pages and widgets. Editors can learn it in an afternoon.
- Conventional .NET code. The source follows Clean Architecture with commands and queries, which most .NET developers already know.
- Members and SSO in the box. SAML and JWT single sign-on work for both administrators and public users without extra modules.
- Read-write REST API. Every content type is available over a REST API secured by API keys.
- Easy to operate. A single Docker image plus PostgreSQL, health checks at
/healthz, and storage on local disk, Azure Blob or any S3-compatible service. - Scriptable. The
raythaCLI manages themes, content and pages as JSON, which suits CI pipelines and AI coding agents.
When to choose Orchard Core
- You need multi-tenancy, with many sites or customers on one deployment.
- You need GraphQL, localization or a visual workflow designer.
- Your database must be SQL Server, MySQL or SQLite.
- You are building an application framework, not just a website, and want to compose it from modules.
When to choose Raytha
- You want one website or portal with a clear content model, and do not need multi-tenancy.
- You want a codebase and admin that a new developer or editor can understand quickly.
- You are on PostgreSQL and want a container you can deploy anywhere.
- You need public members with SAML or JWT SSO and a read-write REST API without assembling modules.
Before you switch
Raytha does not offer multi-tenancy, GraphQL, built-in localization or a visual workflow designer, and 2.0 runs on PostgreSQL only. Its extension model is Raytha Functions (server-side JavaScript) and webhooks rather than compiled modules.
FAQ
Is Orchard Core free?
Yes. Orchard Core is open source under the BSD-3-Clause license. Raytha is open source under the MIT license.
Is Raytha lighter than Orchard Core?
Raytha has a smaller feature set and fewer moving parts: one site per instance, one database engine and no module system. That makes it simpler to learn and run, not universally faster.
Does Raytha support multi-tenancy like Orchard Core?
No. Each Raytha instance serves one organization's site. Run separate instances if you need separate sites.
Do both use Liquid templates?
Yes. Orchard Core supports Liquid and Razor. Raytha uses Liquid (the Fluid engine) for all public templates, edited in the browser with revision history.
Related comparisons
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- Raytha vs ASP.NET Boilerplate and ABP: a lightweight .NET starting point
- All Raytha comparisons
Try Raytha
Raytha is free and MIT-licensed. Deploy it in a few minutes with the Railway template or Docker, following the quickstart. The platform overview lists what is in the box, and the source and release notes are on GitHub.
