What Is C1 CMS Created by Orckestra?

Updated

C1 CMS is an award-winning content management system built on the Microsoft stack. According to its product site, it is distributed in three ways: as open source, as a fully managed service, or as part of the Orckestra Commerce Cloud platform. If you are evaluating a CMS for a .NET-based website that needs to scale in the cloud, C1 CMS is positioned for exactly that use case.

What C1 CMS Is

C1 CMS is a web content management system created by Orckestra. The site describes it as "built for the Cloud" and "built on the Microsoft stack." That combination matters if your team already works in the Microsoft/.NET ecosystem, since it keeps your CMS aligned with the same technology your developers use.

The product site also notes it has been featured on Smashing Magazine and followed by CMSWire, and that it won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Free .NET CMS (January 21, 2015).

How It Is Delivered

The site lists three distribution models:

Delivery model What it means for you
Open source You run and manage the CMS yourself
Fully managed Orckestra handles the hosting and management
Part of Orckestra Commerce Cloud The CMS comes bundled with the broader commerce platform

This range lets you start with the open-source option and move toward a managed or commerce-integrated setup depending on your needs.

Products, Plans, and Pricing

The site's navigation includes a Products section with a Plans page, and a "Go to pricing" link under its pro-support section. Those are the entry points to check current product tiers and pricing. The page itself does not list specific prices or plan details, so treat the linked pages as the authoritative source rather than assuming any tier is free or paid.

User Interface and Platform Support

The site shows a "quick peek of the very simple and friendly C1 CMS user interface," and also demonstrates how that interface looks on a tablet. This suggests the editing experience is designed to be approachable for content editors and usable across devices, not just on desktop.

Community, Documentation, and Support

C1 CMS backs the product with several resources:

  • Documentation — including an End User Guide and material on setting up C1 CMS and developing websites
  • Videos, tutorials, and guides — for learning the system
  • Add-on market — for extending functionality
  • Community — where you can "ask a fellow developer" and post questions
  • Pro support — a paid support path, with pricing available via the pricing link
  • Translation project — the site invites users to translate the C1 CMS Console into their own language

The site also reports scale signals: installations in 150 countries, 85,771 C1 CMS installs, 87,169 add-on installs, and 10 language translations.

Who Uses It

The site lists organizations that have built their online presence with C1 CMS, including National Geographic (Terra Watt Prize), LightLab Las Vegas (SC2 Challenge), Väla, Team Sportia, and Republic of Fritz Hansen. These examples span retail, entertainment, and consumer brands.

When C1 CMS Fits

C1 CMS is worth considering if:

  • Your team builds on the Microsoft/.NET stack
  • You want the option to start open source and later move to a managed or commerce-cloud setup
  • You need a CMS that scales in the cloud
  • You value an active community, add-on marketplace, and available pro support

If you need confirmed pricing or plan specifics, go directly to the Products/Plans and pricing pages, since those details are not stated on the main product page.