A CMS, or content management system, is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content, typically for websites or other online platforms. CMS platforms provide a user-friendly interface for managing website content, allowing users to create and edit pages, upload media files, manage user accounts, and more, without needing to have extensive technical knowledge.
CMSs come in many forms, from open-source systems like WordPress and Drupal to proprietary platforms like Adobe Experience Manager and Salesforce CMS. Each system has its own set of features and capabilities, and can be customized to fit the specific needs of the user or organization.
Content management systems, or CMSs, have become an essential tool for building and managing websites. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular CMSs available today and what makes them stand out.
WordPress
WordPress is a widely popular CMS, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. It has several benefits, but it’s also essential to weigh the potential drawbacks. One point of confusion for new users is that there are two versions of wordpress. WordPress.com is hosted by WordPress. You reserve a domain name that they host (example.wordpress.com), and can purchase additional features – such as securing your own domain name (example.com) to be used. Updates and maintenance are all done automatically. There are limitations however, such as users cannot have their own ads or affiliate type content displayed (WordPress does display their own ads however and users can opt out as a paid feature upgrade). There is also a limitation on customization that can be done, usually limited to the themes available and a plugins. Also, there may be stricter moderation on the type of content users can have.
WordPress.org or self-hosted WordPress is just the software. Users will have to find their own hosting, such as hosting solutions that Back Office Mechanics offers, install maintain and update. Even though this is more of a “hands on” version, users have the freedom to have (or not have), ads, plugins, customization, themes, fonts and type of content. Users can even develop their own site from the group up and integrate various features from e-commerce, to slideshows and even embedded content. Back Office Mechanics does offer a Managed Hosting of WordPress where we can install, maintain and backup your website so you don’t have to worry about the technical details.
Whether you’re using the hosted or self-managed version, WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for beginners and non-technical users. Additionally, it’s highly customizable, offering thousands of plugins and themes to achieve advanced functionality and unique designs. It’s also SEO-friendly, with built-in features to optimize content for search engines. Being an open-source platform, WordPress is free to use and supported by a community of developers who create new plugins and themes. Also self-hosted users are able to easily transfer their data to new hosts. For example, if you originally hosted with a company, but considering moving your website to us, your entire site, as is, can be seamlessly transferred (this is not available with WordPress.com hosted service).
However, due to its immense popularity, WordPress is a target for hackers, so there are potential security risks that can arise if not properly maintained. It also requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain the website. Overuse of plugins and themes can lead to compatibility issues, which cause problems with website functionality. Lastly, without proper optimization, WordPress sites can be slow to load, negatively impacting user experience and SEO.
By far this is our favorite out of the box solution for new and experienced individuals looking to setup their own website. With a extremely vast library of plugins and features for themes, security, e-commerce and 3rd parties, both small and larger websites can benefit from using WordPress as their CMS.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★★★★★★ Non tech savvy users can easily get started and launch their website quickly. There are drag and drop features, WYSIWYG builders, HTML and simple text only creation, giving users plenty of options.
Cost: ★★★★★★★★★☆ Along with hosting, users looking for more robust features may pay for additional plugins, themes or services.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Unless you’re installing the basics, added features, plugins and content can slow down site performance without optimizing the content.
Shopify
Shopify is another widely used e-commerce platform that is praised for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set.
One of the main benefits of Shopify is its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for beginners. It offers a broad range of features for e-commerce businesses, including payment processing, shipping, and inventory management. Shopify is also scalable, which means it can handle increasing traffic and sales as your business grows. Shopify also offers a vast library of third-party apps that can be integrated with the platform, that allows operators to expand its functionality.
However, Shopify can be costly for small businesses with limited budgets. Additionally, customization options can be limited, which may make it difficult for businesses with unique needs or branding strategies. Shopify also charges transaction fees for each sale made on the platform, which can add up over time, especially for operators with a high rate of transactions. The most crucial factor though is that Shopify owns the data generated by the platform, meaning businesses have limited control over their data. The content, customization, items, prices and descriptions are on their platform. Any scalability, change in platform or strategy may cause downtime or additional costs as the website would have to be redeveloped in a new format.
Though Shopify is an excellent e-commerce platform with several benefits, including its ease of use, comprehensive feature set, scalability, and third-party app integrations it’s potential drawbacks from cost, limited customization options, transaction fees, and data ownership can be a huge factor for many. We recommend this platform for hobbyists, small scale operators, or businesses that don’t perform a large number of sales monthly. However, business that operate online and may need further branding options, digital services to be implemented or budgetary concerns, may want to consider other options.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★★★★★★ It is very easy for new users to get started and launch their e-commerce site.
Cost: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ The transactions fees can hurt businesses that process a lot of transactions.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ It can be difficult to export data or scale as your needs grow.
Joomla
Joomla is a popular CMS with a range of features, strengths, and weaknesses. While it’s known for its versatility, robustness, and extensive range of built-in features, it has seen a decline in popularity and usage through the years.
One of the main benefits of Joomla is its flexibility, which enables it to adapt to a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Additionally, Joomla offers a comprehensive range of built-in features, such as user management, content management, and extension management, making it a versatile CMS for a variety of use cases. Joomla also boasts a vast community of users and developers who contribute to the development of the platform, offering plenty of support and resources for users.
A significant advantage of Joomla is its focus on security, with regular updates and security patches to help keep your website safe from potential vulnerabilities.
On the other hand, Joomla can be challenging for beginners to navigate, with a steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for those new to the platform. While Joomla is highly customizable, there are still some limitations on how much you can modify the core features of the CMS, which may be a deal-breaker for some users. Compatibility issues can also arise due to the extensive range of features and third-party extensions available, making it challenging to maintain a stable website. Lastly, Joomla relies heavily on plugins, and overuse of plugins can slow down your website, leading to a poor user experience.
We recommend Joomla for technical users that are able to manage installations, plugins, compatibility and dependencies. Joomla is an excellent choice for users with more technical expertise and specific website needs, but it may not be the best fit for beginners or users with simpler website requirements.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ It can be overwhelming for inexperienced users to get started.
Cost: ★★★★★★★★★☆ Along with hosting, users looking for more robust features may pay for additional plugins and modules.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Unless you’re installing the basics, added features can slow down site performance without optimizing the content. Also, as popular has declined in recent years, support may be slower or harder to find especially on niche issues.
Drupal
Drupal is a popular CMS that has been used to power millions of websites worldwide. One of the main benefits of Drupal is its flexibility, which enables it to adapt to a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Additionally, Drupal offers a comprehensive range of built-in features, such as content management, user management, and media management, making it a versatile CMS for a variety of use cases. Drupal also boasts a vast community of users and developers who contribute to the development of the platform, offering plenty of support and resources for users. Similar to WordPress and Joomla, Drupal also focuses on security, with regular updates and security patches to help keep your website safe from potential vulnerabilities.
Nonetheless, Drupal can be challenging for beginners to navigate, with a steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for those new to the platform. Additionally, while Drupal is highly customizable, there are still some limitations on how much you can modify the core features of the CMS, which may be a deal-breaker for some users. Drupal can also be resource-intensive, requiring more server resources than some other CMS platforms, resulting in slower load times and higher hosting costs. Lastly, like other CMS platforms, Drupal relies heavily on plugins, and overuse of plugins can slow down your website, leading to a poor user experience.
We recommend Drupal for larger organizations that have complex content, workflow or process that they need to manage and have the resources and staff to do so. It has a steeper learning curve in comparison to other CMS available.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ Technical users or organizations with a dedicated team may be required.
Cost: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ Along with potential dedicated staff, higher end machines and hosting services may be required.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★★★ Organizations that can have the resources should not face any difficulty in optimizing their site.
Wix
Wix is a popular website builder that enables users to create websites without any coding knowledge. It is a versatile platform that can be used to create a wide range of websites, from e-commerce sites to personal blogs. Beyond its ease of use, Wix is an intuitive platform that allows users to create a website quickly and easily through its drag-and-drop interface, which means you can add elements to your site simply by dragging them to where you want them. There is a vast selection of templates that are customizable, making it easy to get a website up and running, but it can be challenging to switch templates once you’ve chosen one.
As a subscription service though there is a free plan, limitations. Their customer support however, is a notable advantage. They offer several support channels, including email, phone, and live chat support. They also have a vast knowledge base and community forum to help users troubleshoot any issues they may encounter.
Their e-commerce features are not as robust as some other platforms, making it less suitable for users looking to create a online store beyond a small offering or products. Third-party integrations is also limited, which can be a disadvantage for those that may need to integrate outside services, platforms or features.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★★★★★☆ Great for beginners, especially those who like drag and drop builders.
Cost: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ It is a subscription service, though there is a free plan available with limitations.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Limited integrations and lacking robust features.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for beginners or those with limited technical expertise. With drag-and-drop functionality, you can create and launch your website without knowing how to code. Like Wix, Squarespace also provides a broad range of templates that are customizable, to help you get started. All templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that your website looks great on any device.
Squarespace also provides excellent customer support, offering various support channels such as email, live chat, and a community forum. They also provide a comprehensive knowledge base to help users troubleshoot any issues they may encounter.
However, Squarespace may not be as flexible as other website builders or content management systems, resulting in limitations to what you can customize. Squarespace’s pricing plans may be relatively expensive compared to other website builders, with the most affordable plan starting at $12 per month at time of writing. Its e-commerce features are not as robust as other e-commerce platforms, making it less suitable for users looking to create a complex online store. Third-party integrations are also limited, for any users looking to integrate 3rd party services, platforms or features.
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★★★★★☆ Great for beginners, especially those who like drag and drop builders.
Cost: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ It is a subscription service.
Performance: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Limited integrations and lacking robust features.