Greetings, friends!

Today I want to discuss one of the most interesting and unusual tools for website management — Wonder CMS.

It is one of the smallest and simplest open-source content management systems in the world. It is written in PHP and jQuery, but its main feature is that it does not require a MySQL database. All data is stored directly in files (flat-file). This makes the system incredibly fast and lightweight, as it simply doesn't need to constantly query a database.

Thanks to its minimal weight and thoughtful functionality, Wonder CMS has become a favorite among developers and administrators who prioritize speed. Most often, it is chosen for creating:

Impactful landing pages;
Concise portfolios;
Micro-websites with a small number of pages.

In this article, we will break down in detail why Wonder CMS is a great solution in 2026, what resources your server needs, and I have prepared a step-by-step video instruction for installing the system in just 5 minutes.

Why Wonder CMS is a "Must-Have" in 2026?

Wonder CMS is not just a tool; it is a full-fledged assistant for beginner programmers or freelancers. Even in 2026, many businesses use simple one-pagers so that customers can quickly check prices and offers.

Real-life example: A friend of mine recently took on a couple of websites for a stretch ceiling company. All they needed was a landing page that is easily indexed by search engines (SEO) and opens quickly on smartphones. He used Wonder CMS and was very satisfied: the functionality is clear, and the size allows it to run without putting any load on the system.

What System Parameters are Required?

Wonder CMS consumes fewer resources than a tab in a Chrome browser. However, for full operation, you need a web server (Nginx or Apache) and PHP. Due to the absence of a database, the server requirements are minimal:

Parameter	Minimum (Just to run)	Recommended (For fast performance)
Processor (CPU)	1 core (any)	1 core (Ryzen) for instant response
RAM	512 MB	1 GB (plenty for the OS and CMS)
Disk (Storage)	500 MB	5 GB NVMe (enough for hundreds of such sites)
OS	Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian / CentOS	Any Linux distro with PHP 7.4+

IMPORTANT NOTE!

The table above is relevant for Linux (specifically Ubuntu). For Windows Server, the RAM and disk requirements will be significantly higher.

Installing Wonder CMS on Ubuntu 22.04 - 24.04

To install, use the following commands in your VPS console:

# Update the system and install Apache with PHP
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install apache2 -y
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mbstring php-curl php-zip php-gd php-xml -y
# Navigate to the web server directory and download the CMS
cd /var/www/html
sudo apt install unzip -y
sudo wget https://github.com/robiso/wondercms/releases/download/3.4.3/wondercms-343.zip
sudo unzip wondercms-343.zip
sudo rm wondercms-343.zip
# Set permissions
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/wondercms
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/wondercms
# Create Apache config
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/wondercms.conf

Paste the following text into the config (replace yourdomain.com with your own):

Apache
<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yourdomain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/wondercms
    
    <Directory /var/www/html/wondercms>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
    
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/wondercms_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/wondercms_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Activate the site and the Rewrite module:

sudo a2ensite wondercms.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Note: As of February 2026, the current version is 3.4.3. We recommend checking for updates on the project's official GitHub.

Video Installation Guide

As promised, we filmed a video showing the step-by-step installation process of Wonder CMS on Ubuntu. You can watch it right here:

Conclusion

Today we looked at what Wonder CMS is and why it remains relevant even in 2026. You can host it on any VPS or even on a server with hourly billing (Hourly Cloud) to save money and only turn the site on when needed.

If you need a reliable VPS or an hourly cloud, we at MivoCloud provide both options. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our sales department — we are always online!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Does Wonder CMS need a MySQL database?

No, it is a "flat-file" system. All settings, pages, and content are stored in a single encrypted JSON file on the disk. This simplifies site migration and speeds up its operation.

2. Is it safe to store data in files instead of a database?

Yes, if the server is configured correctly. Wonder CMS uses password hashing and protects data files through web server settings. Since there is very little code in the system, the attack surface is much smaller than with heavy CMSs.

3. How do I log into the admin panel?

After the first installation, you need to go to a special URL generated by the system (usually your IP or domain). The first login happens using a default key, which the system will ask you to change immediately after logging in for security.

4. Does Wonder CMS support plugins and themes?

Yes, despite its size, the system has a built-in repository. You can install themes and functional plugins (e.g., for SEO or contact forms) directly from the admin panel in one click.

5. Is Wonder CMS suitable for a large blog or store?

Probably not. The system is optimized for small sites (up to 10–20 pages). If you need an online store with thousands of products, it is better to consider specialized solutions or more powerful CMSs.

Article author — Anatolie Cohaniuc

What is Wonder CMS and how to install it on a VPS in 5 minutes?