Kentico FAQs: Understanding Versions and Services Naming

In this article, I delve into an array of terms, versions, and service names associated with Kentico, providing clarity on their meanings. Additionally, I will share some of my personal experiences with these elements. This exploration aims to enhance your understanding and navigation of the Kentico landscape.

As a freelance web developer specializing in Kentico, I encounter clients who are new to the Kentico ecosystem or are considering a switch from their current development agency. Invariably, these clients have numerous questions about products and services offered by Kentico. Over the years, Kentico has renamed its product line, introduced new products, and altered the conditions of its services while retaining the same name. This article aims to guide you through this maze in a FAQ style.

While I provide information based on my knowledge and research, the best source of information is always an official Kentico representative who can provide up-to-date details.

• What is Xperience by Kentico or XbyK?
• What is Kentico Xperience, Kentico Xperience 13, Kentico 13, KX13, or K13?
• What is Kentico CMS or EMS?
• How do I determine the version of Kentico used on my site?
• What is a Hotfix or a Refresh?
• What is the difference between Support and Consulting?
• What is Maintenance and do I need it?
• What does it take to upgrade a site from Kentico CMS, EMS, Xperience to Xperience by Kentico?
• What does it take to upgrade a site from Kentico CMS or EMS based on Portal Engine to Kentico Xperience?
• What is a Kentico Partner?

👉 What is Xperience by Kentico or XbyK?

Xperience by Kentico (XbyK) is the most recent product. It is a content management system and is a distinct product from the product line known as Kentico Xperience, Kentico CMS, or Kentico EMS. The vision appears to be that XbyK will entirely replace this product line once its support ends in 2026. At the time of writing this article (mid-2024), XbyK is not as mature as the other product line. However, its development is rapid, and I believe Kentico will add all the essential features by then. Kentico also offers a hosting platform called SaaS or Xperience Portal specifically for XbyK.

👉 What is Kentico Xperience, Kentico Xperience 13, Kentico 13, KX13, or K13?

These all names refer to the latest version of the product line which has been also known as Kentico CMS or EMS. It is a mature content management system. From a technical standpoint, the system has been in development for many years and it appears to have become challenging to keep up with current and future technology. Therefore, it will be discontinued in 2026 and replaced by the new product Xperience by Kentico, which is built on the KX13 design roots but uses modern technology and approaches.

One significant difference from the older versionsof the product line is that it lacks the Portal engine development model and supports only MVC and .NET Core.

👉 What is Kentico CMS or EMS?

I would refer to this as "classic Kentico". This is the content management system product line that Kentico launched in 2004. It uses the Portal engine development model. There is also a complementary development model – ASPX templates in legacy versions and MVC in more recent versions. These versions have already been discontinued, ending with version 12. The successor is Kentico Xperience 13, which is also planned to be discontinued in 2026.

The CMS and EMS distinguish the feature set you could get. CMS stands for Content Management System, while EMS stands for Enterprise Marketing Solution.

👉 How do I determine the version of Kentico used on my site?

For the Kentico Xperience, CMS, and EMS product lines, you can identify the version number within the Admin area by clicking the ? icon located in the header. The version format is displayed as <major version>.<minor version>.<hotfix version>, an example being 12.0.50. Here, major versions represent standalone releases, and transitioning to a higher version typically requires going through an upgrade process. Minor versions were exclusively released for major version 8 and were distributed as a hotfix. For all other major versions, the minor version is always 0. The hotfix version indicates the specific hotfixes that have been applied.

For Xperience by Kentico, the version number is also found in the Admin area, but by clicking the i icon in the main navigation panel on the left-hand side. The format here is <major version>.<minor version>.<patch version>, with an example being 29.2.1. This format follows the semver versioning pattern. New versions can be installed via NuGet. The major version introduces significant updates, including new features and breaking changes. The minor version encompasses updates such as new features, bug fixes and security patches, and never includes breaking changes. Patch versions are strictly for bug fixes and security patches.

If you're unable to log in to the Admin panel, you can still identify Kentico's major version by the design of its login page. However, this method requires a more nuanced understanding of Kentico's version history, so we'll not delve deeper into this topic here.

👉 What is a Hotfix or a Refresh?

A Hotfix is a package of bug fixes and security patches that Kentico releases every week. Hotfixes related to the Kentico Xperience, CMS, or EMS product line can be downloaded from the DevNet community portal. Hotfixes related to Xperience by Kentico are distributed via NuGet.

From a technical standpoint, they must be applied to the project codebase as well as the database. If you apply the latest hotfix, you also get everything released in previous hotfix versions.

A Refresh is similar to a Hotfix but includes new features and may deprecate features or APIs. It is released as either a major or minor version, depending on whether it includes breaking changes. Major versions include breaking changes, while minor versions do not. Hotfixes are released only as patch versions.

👉 What is the difference between Support and Consulting?

If you encounter difficulties with one of Kentico's products, you should first check the documentation and community portals. If you can't find an answer there, the first stage is Support. If you are a Kentico customer and have valid maintenance, you should get an answer, in my experience, within 24 hours. If you are not, the answer is not guaranteed. I have had great experiences with Support – their engineers are responsive and helpful when it comes to questions about product features, general best practices, or reproducing possible bugs.

For specific issues related to your project, the Consulting service may be a better option. It is a paid service, which provides you access to Solution Architects.

👉 What is Maintenance and do I need it?

Maintenance is a paid service that gives you access to upgrades to new Kentico versions and Kentico Support. This service is relevant only to the Kentico Xperience, CMS, or EMS product line. Please note that hotfixes can still be applied without maintenance.

Nowadays, if you are on a current subscription pricing model, maintenance is automatically included. However, if you are on another legacy pricing model, Maintenance is considered an extra service that you may need to purchase and renew after some time period. In such a case, you may also ask yourself – do I need maintenance? Since you need to make such a decision based on your project needs, I would personally say that most likely you don't need it. Since Kentico Xperience will be discontinued in 2026, there is no upcoming version to upgrade to. In terms of Support, I would honestly say, your agency or developer should be able to answer the kind of questions that Kentico Support usually answers.

👉 What does it take to upgrade a site from Kentico CMS, EMS, Xperience to Xperience by Kentico?

Since these are separate product lines, the technical and design aspects of both systems are so different that there is no direct upgrade path. There are data migration paths to assist with data transfer between the systems. However, when moving between these two systems, I would think of a site rebuild.

👉 What does it take to upgrade a site from Kentico CMS or EMS based on Portal Engine to Kentico Xperience?

Since Portal Engine has been discontinued with Kentico CMS 12 and Kentico Xperience supports only MVC or .NET Core development models, a site rebuild is needed. As Kentico Xperience will be discontinued in 2026, I would rather think of rebuilding the site on the Xperience by Kentico product. There is a tooling that aims to help with data migration.

👉 What is a Kentico Partner?

A Kentico Partner typically refers to a web development studio or digital agency that is part of Kentico's partner program. The objective of this program is to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between Kentico and its partners. Kentico supports its partners in various ways, while the partners contribute by developing their end clients' digital projects using Kentico's products. The partnership program is structured into three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Generally, the higher the level, the larger and more skilled the partner is, although a higher rank does not necessarily guarantee superior quality. Additionally, partners can earn competencies that showcase their experience and expertise in addressing specific challenges in past projects.

What's Next?

If you have any additional questions about Kentico services, I advise you to contact a Kentico representative. If you have inquiries related to your specific project, don't hesitate to reach out to me for consulting services.