Raytha vs DNN (DotNetNuke): a modern open source .NET CMS
DNN Platform (formerly DotNetNuke) is a free, MIT-licensed CMS with a long history, multi-site portals and a large catalog of modules and skins, but it still runs on .NET Framework 4.8, Windows, IIS and SQL Server. Raytha is a free, MIT-licensed CMS on .NET 10 and PostgreSQL that runs in a Docker container on Linux or Windows. If you want to stay on your existing DNN modules, stay on DNN; if you are rebuilding on modern .NET, Raytha is a lighter starting point.
Last reviewed October 2026 against Raytha 2.0.1 and DNN Platform 10.3.3.
Raytha vs DNN at a glance
| Raytha | DNN Platform | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT (Evoq is the commercial edition) |
| Runtime | .NET 10, cross-platform | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Operating system | Linux or Windows; Docker image | Windows Server with IIS |
| Database | PostgreSQL | SQL Server 2017 or later |
| Multi-site | One site per instance | Many portals per installation |
| Extensions | Raytha Functions (JavaScript), webhooks | Modules, skins and themes from a long-running ecosystem |
| Content model | Custom content types in the admin | Pages composed of modules |
| Templates | Liquid, edited in the browser | Skins and module templates |
| Members and SSO | Public users, user groups, SAML and JWT SSO | Users, roles, authentication providers |
| API | REST API v1 for content, API keys | Web API framework for module developers |
What DNN does well
DNN has been a mainstay of the Microsoft web stack for two decades. It is still actively maintained by its community: DNN Platform 10 moved to .NET Framework 4.8, and version 10.3.3 shipped in July 2026. It can host many portals in one installation, has granular page and module permissions, and has a large back catalog of modules and skins. If your organization runs on Windows servers and depends on particular DNN modules, staying put avoids a costly rebuild. Evoq, the commercial edition from DNN Corp, adds content and engagement features with vendor support.
Why teams move off DNN
The common reasons are platform-level rather than editorial. DNN runs on .NET Framework, not modern .NET, which ties hosting to Windows and IIS and limits use of current .NET libraries and container tooling. Developers newer to .NET may never have worked with Web Forms-era patterns. And older third-party modules are not always maintained.
Where Raytha fits
Raytha starts from the modern side of that list:
- .NET 10, cross-platform. A single Docker image (
raythahq/raytha) runs on Linux or Windows, with PostgreSQL and health checks for orchestration. - Structured content. Custom content types with 13 field types, list views and filters, rather than content living inside page modules.
- Templates in the browser. Liquid templates and themes with revision history, plus site pages built from widgets.
- Members and SSO. Public users, user groups, emailed one-time codes, and SAML or JWT single sign-on.
- An API-first core. A REST API for content, media and users, outbound webhooks, and Raytha Functions for custom logic.
- Modern admin. A React admin app, and the
raythaCLI for scripting.
When to choose DNN
- You depend on DNN modules or skins that have no easy replacement.
- You run many portals from one installation.
- Your hosting is Windows and SQL Server and you have DNN expertise in-house.
- You want the Evoq commercial edition and vendor support.
When to choose Raytha
- You are rebuilding and want to be on .NET 10 and containers.
- Your content is structured and you want it modelled as content types with an API.
- You want Linux hosting and PostgreSQL.
- You need member SSO with SAML or JWT.
Before you switch
Raytha has no multi-portal support, no module marketplace and no built-in multilingual content, and runs on PostgreSQL only. There is no DNN importer; migration means exporting content (from SQL Server or DNN's APIs) and loading it with Raytha's CSV import, REST API or CLI, then rebuilding skins as Liquid templates.
FAQ
Is DNN (DotNetNuke) still maintained?
Yes. DNN Platform is maintained by its open source community; version 10.3.3 was released in July 2026, and 10.4 is in release-candidate testing.
Does DNN run on .NET Core or .NET 10?
No. DNN Platform 10 requires .NET Framework 4.8 on Windows with IIS and SQL Server 2017 or later.
Is Raytha free like DNN Platform?
Yes. Both are MIT-licensed. Raytha has no commercial edition; consulting and support are available from the team.
Can Raytha host multiple sites like DNN portals?
Not in one instance. Each Raytha instance serves one site; run more instances for more sites.
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- Raytha vs Kentico: an open source .NET alternative to Xperience by Kentico
- 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.
