Both Pubbin and Tridion One use FontoXML as their structured content editor. But where Tridion bundles everything into a locked-down cloud platform, Pubbin gives you control over your infrastructure, your data, and your budget — while delivering a more powerful feature set.
| Feature | Pubbin | Tridion One |
|---|---|---|
| Schema support | ✓ Any XSD schema — DITA, NISO STS, JATS, custom | Primarily DITA; custom schemas require Professional Services |
| Version control | ✓ Git-like branching, merging, and time-travel queries via TerminusDB | Basic versioning with linear history; no branching or time-travel |
| Formula editor | ✓ Fromulo — integrated MathML/LaTeX editor | — No built-in formula support |
| Ontology / terminology | ✓ Native ontology and terminology management via graph database | — No native ontology support; requires third-party integrations |
| Output generation | ✓ Built-in PDF, HTML, EPUB output with customizable pipelines | Output via DITA-OT; limited customization without services engagement |
| Deployment | ✓ Single binary — self-host, cloud, or on-premise | Cloud-only SaaS; no self-hosted option |
| Database | ✓ TerminusDB — graph database with immutable data layer | Proprietary storage; no direct database access |
| Content reuse | ✓ Schema-agnostic content reuse with graph-based relationships | ✓ DITA conref/keyref content reuse |
| Review module | ✓ Threaded comment reviews with ballot-style voting and decision tracking | Basic review with annotations; no structured voting |
| Search | ✓ Full-text and structural XPath/XQuery search across all content | Basic full-text search; limited structural querying |
| AI features | ✓ AI-powered authoring assistance, schema-aware content generation | Early AI features; limited to content suggestions |
| Pricing model | ✓ Transparent consortium licensing — all features included | Per-seat SaaS pricing; add-ons for advanced features |
While Tridion One is optimized for DITA workflows, Pubbin supports any XSD schema out of the box — NISO STS, JATS, S1000D, or your own custom schemas. No Professional Services engagement required.
Pubbin’s TerminusDB foundation provides true branching, merging, and time-travel queries. Compare any two versions, roll back to any point in time, or query your content as it existed at any date. Tridion offers only linear version history.
Pubbin ships as a single binary you can run on your own infrastructure, in your own cloud, or on-premise behind your firewall. Tridion One is cloud-only SaaS — you have no choice about where your data lives.
Pubbin’s consortium model means every feature is included in your license — no per-seat add-ons, no premium tiers, no surprise invoices. With Tridion, advanced features like analytics and extended APIs cost extra.
Considering a switch from Tridion One? Schedule a personalized demo and see how Pubbin compares — side by side, on your own content.