E107 is a free, open-source content management system that combines website pages, blog-style news, forums, user management and other community features in one system. It suits organisations that want a self-hosted site with built-in community tools and are comfortable with a modest, volunteer-maintained platform.
What is E107?
E107 is a PHP-based content management system for creating and managing websites. It uses a database such as MySQL or MariaDB and gives site owners an administrative panel for publishing pages, news, downloads and other content.
Unlike a basic website builder, it includes community-focused features within the core platform. These include forums, user registration, member groups, permissions and restricted content. You can also add themes and plugins when your website needs more functionality.
The official E107 website describes the platform as free, open-source software designed for websites ranging from simple blogs to interactive portals and intranets. As of 2026, the main appeal remains its combination of straightforward content management and built-in community tools.
| Area | E107 position |
|---|---|
| Software price | Free and open source |
| Hosting | Required separately for a self-hosted installation |
| Best suited to | Community sites, clubs, organisations, blogs and small portals |
| Technical foundation | PHP with a MySQL-compatible database |
| Extensibility | Plugins, themes, templates and developer tools |
| Support model | Community documentation and third-party support |
The software itself has no licence fee. You still need a domain name, hosting and possibly professional help with design, security, maintenance or custom development. That makes the total cost of an E107 website dependent on how much support you need.
5 Best Features of E107
- Pages, news and blogging in one dashboard
You can create static pages and publish news-style content from the same administration area. This is useful for an organisation that needs permanent information, regular updates and announcements without managing separate systems.
- Built-in forums and community tools
Forums can be organised into discussion areas and sub-categories. User accounts, groups and permissions also make it possible to create member-only sections, which can be useful for clubs, associations, support communities and internal portals.
- Flexible user management
Site administrators can register users, assign them to groups and control what they can see or do. This gives a small organisation more control than a simple brochure website, particularly when different audiences need different levels of access.
- Plugin and theme architecture
Plugins extend the platform with additional features, while themes change the appearance of the website. The modular approach means you can start with a relatively small installation and add functionality as your requirements become clearer.
- Media management and practical editing tools
The media manager provides a central place for images, audio, video and other files. Inline editing, batch changes and automatic image resizing can reduce repetitive work for people who manage a busy website but do not want to edit code.
These features give the platform a practical advantage for content-led websites. The main question is whether its particular combination of tools matches your needs better than a larger ecosystem such as WordPress.
E107 in Action: 3 Examples
- A membership organisation
Example scenario: A local association wants a public website with information about its work, a news section for updates and a private area for members. The administrator could use pages for public information, user groups for membership access and forums for ongoing discussions.
This setup could reduce the need to connect several separate services. It would still require careful planning around registration, moderation, privacy and backups.
- A specialist interest community
Example scenario: A hobby group wants to publish guides, share downloadable resources and let members discuss projects. E107 could bring articles, a searchable download area, user accounts and forum discussions together on one site.
The site owner would need to choose a suitable theme, establish clear forum rules and decide which content should be visible to visitors and which should require an account.
- A small organisation or internal portal
Example scenario: A small team needs a central place for updates, documents and restricted information. Administrators could publish news, assign users to groups and limit access to selected pages or downloads.
E107 may be suitable where the priority is controlled information sharing rather than advanced sales, marketing automation or complex customer journeys.
3 Things That Could Be Better
1. The wider ecosystem is smaller
WordPress has a very large selection of themes, plugins, tutorials, agencies and third-party integrations. E107 is more specialised, so finding a ready-made extension or developer with current experience may take more research.
2. Updates and security need active attention
A self-hosted CMS remains the responsibility of the site owner or hosting provider. You need to monitor releases, apply updates, review plugins and keep reliable backups. As of 2026, the project continues to receive development and security updates, but its community-led model means you should not assume that maintenance happens automatically.
3. It may feel less familiar to new users
The interface is designed to keep many functions in one system, but it may not feel as immediately familiar as mainstream website platforms. A first-time administrator should allow time to understand themes, plugins, menus, permissions and content workflows before inviting other users to manage the site.
These limitations do not make the platform unsuitable. They simply mean that E107 is a better choice for an owner who values built-in community features and a self-hosted model over the largest possible marketplace.
Top 2 Alternatives to E107
WordPress differs through its much larger ecosystem of themes, plugins, developers, managed hosting options and integrations. It is usually the easier starting point when you need extensive third-party support, e-commerce options or marketing connections.
PHP-Fusion is another CMS in Zest City’s 79-app library and CMS category. It also focuses on content and community features, but its administration experience, add-on selection and theme availability differ, so it is worth testing both before choosing.
If the visual presentation of your website is a priority, Zest City can also help with professional website design services, whether you choose E107, WordPress or another platform.
3 Tips to Get More From E107
- Plan your content and permissions before launch
Write down the pages you need, the content that should be public and the content that should be restricted. Then create user groups and permissions around real tasks, such as member access, moderator access and administrator access.
- Keep the core and extensions updated
Check release information regularly and test updates before applying them to a busy production site. Remove plugins and themes that are no longer needed, use strong administrator passwords and maintain an off-site backup.
- Make the site easy to use on mobile devices
Choose a responsive theme and review important pages on a phone and tablet. Compress large images, use descriptive page titles, organise forum categories clearly and make the main navigation understandable to a first-time visitor.
A good hosting environment also matters. PHP settings, database performance, backups, SSL configuration and server support all affect the reliability of a self-hosted website. Zest City Web Hosting can provide a practical starting point for owners who want hosting and app installation without handling server administration themselves.
Free with Zest City Web Hosting
E107 is one of 79 apps available free with Zest City Web Hosting : included on every shared hosting programme and platform we offer, with genuine 1-click installation (no server admin, no manual setup, live in minutes). No extra licence fees, no separate app-store account.
Zest City Web Hosting makes the installation process simpler for non-technical site owners. The E107 install option is provided through the hosting account, with 20i infrastructure supporting the one-click application process. You can use the Zest City E107 install option when setting up a new site.
Hosting is still a service cost, even though the application is free. Your plan may also include resources such as storage, databases, email, backups or support, depending on the programme you select. Zest City Web Hosting is therefore most useful for people who want a managed starting point rather than software alone.
FAQs
Is E107 free?
Yes. E107 is free, open-source software, so there is no application licence fee for using it. You still need to pay for a domain and hosting, and you may choose to budget for design, updates, security or technical support.
Is E107 good for building a community website?
E107 can be a good choice for a community website because forums, user accounts, groups and permissions are part of its feature set. It is most suitable when the owner is comfortable managing a self-hosted platform and does not require the largest available plugin marketplace.
Is E107 still maintained?
As of 2026, the project remains community maintained and continues to provide development, release and security information. Site owners should check current release details and apply updates promptly rather than assuming that an older installation remains secure.
What is E107 used for?
E107 is used for websites that combine pages, news, forums, downloads and registered users. Typical uses include clubs, associations, interest communities, small portals, blogs and internal information websites.
Not sure E107 is the right fit : or want to see the other 78 apps you get free? Talk to Zest City about your web hosting and we’ll help you pick the right app, the right hosting plan, and show you what else we can do for your site, from design to ongoing support.
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