Over 64 million websites currently use a CMS. A CMS allows users to create and manage websites without the need to code any website elements. However, if you choose the wrong CMS platform for your website, it will make it more difficult.
There are approximately 1000-2000 cms website development platforms, which are growing. Each method has its target market and offers different features. The choice should reflect the purpose and scope of the site.
This article will help you choose the right CMS platform. It includes 8 top CMS platforms along with their benefits and features.
Before we dive into the details, however, we'll first explain what a CMS is and how it differs from other web-building software.
What is a Content Management System?
A Content Management System (CMS) manages the infrastructure for creating websites. A CMS allows users to focus on the front-end website construction areas, such as customizing website designs and managing the content.
There are many content management systems. These are the three most popular:
- Open-source CMS - The Open-source systems are maintained by a group of developers, not one company. Third-party developers can access the source code to improve and develop the software's functionality.
- Cloud CMS is a pre-built system that can be used without installing software or hardware. Cloud CMS allows users to manage their web content securely and make it accessible from any device.
- Proprietary CSS- requires a license fee because it is the legal property of a company, organization, or individual who created it. It can be a one-time payment, a monthly charge, or an annual fee.
What are the differences between CMS and Website Builder?
It's easy to mistake a CMS for a site builder. A website builder is another popular software that allows you to create websites without coding. These are some of the differences between them:
- Hosting - While website builders often offer hosting services along with their products, CMS software is usually self-hosted. This allows users to choose the web hosting services they want. The best option is CMS Hosting, which is optimized for these types of websites.
- Website builders that are user-friendly- often offer editors to help you create content and customize your site. Some CMS platforms have steeper learning curves for non-technical users because of the nature of their interfaces.
- Scalability: Almost all CMS software, particularly open-source ones, provides many extensions and plugins to help scale a website. Website builders are typically more restricted regarding the site's ability to grow.
8 Most Popular CMS Development Platforms
WordPress
WordPress is still the most popular content management system on the market. 35.6% of all websites on the Internet (websites created with or without a CMS) are WordPress sites.
WordPress is an open-source program, which means it's free to download and use. To create and upload your WordPress website, you must purchase a custom domain and hosting.
WordPress also offers thousands upon thousands of professionally designed themes. You can install almost any feature through thousands of plugins. WordPress themes range in price from $15 to $60, with most plugins accessible. Premium plugins can be purchased for more specialized uses.
Pros:
- Search engine optimization friendly
- Mobile-friendly features
- User-friendly
- The WordPress software has a blogging function (WordPress was designed for blogging).
- Ecommerce functionality
Cons:
- WordPress is easy to use but can be challenging to learn and manage if it's new to you.
Best for:
WordPress is suitable for everyone, whether you are starting a simple blog or creating a more complex site. Sony Music is a notable example of a WordPress website. It displays videos and images of the featured artists.
Pricing:
- WordPress Starter starts at 2.99/month.
- Start Business WordPress at $3.99/month
- WordPress Pro starts at $11.59/month.
Joomla!
Joomla! Joomla! Joomla!
Joomla! is an excellent CMS platform used by many cms website development company for developing professional, responsive websites. It is free and open-source, like WordPress. However, it will require you to purchase a custom domain and hosting to set it up. One-click installation is possible with many hosting providers.
Joomla! is similar to WordPress plugins. Joomla! Offers extensions that let you customize the features of your website.
Pros:
- Features that are SEO-friendly
- Mobile-friendly features
- Blogging functionality
- eCommerce functionality
Cons:
- For newbies, it is not very user-friendly
Best for:
Joomla is ideal for managing enterprise-level sites with multiple users. As an example, take the official website of Roger Federer. This website not only displays his portfolio but also features a news platform and a shop.
Pricing:
- Premium shared hosting for $2.99/month
- Shared Hosting for Businesses at $4.99/month
Shopify
Shopify is a leader in the eCommerce industry. Shopify, unlike the other popular CMS platforms, is SaaS (software-as-a-service). The platform charges a monthly fee of $29-$299 to manage your store's technical details, such as security, SSL certification, and other functions.
Shopify provides all the necessary features for E-Commerce store owners, including payment collection, shipping and inventory management. Shopify offers many plugins that can be used to personalize your store.
Shopify is an excellent alternative to WordPress. Shopify can be integrated with your WordPress website.
Pros:
- Features that are SEO-friendly
- Mobile-friendly features
- User-friendly
- Blogging functionality
- eCommerce functionality
Cons:
- Cost - There is a monthly charge to use the platform
Best for:
Shopify is a platform that focuses on eCommerce shops only.
Pricing:
- Shopify Basic starts at $29/month.
- Shopify begins at $79/month.
- Shopify Advanced starts at $299/month.
Magento
Magento has been voted one of the top eCommerce platforms. This CMS software is focused on security, SEO, customization, and optimization to optimize all types of eCommerce sites. The platform can handle large online shops and feature many products and orders.
Pros:
- You can manage multiple stores at different locations using different languages and currencies.
- Mobile devices can adapt smart content management.
Cons:
- Complex initial setup.
- It takes time to customize the design and list products.
Best for:
Magento is ideal for small- to medium-sized eCommerce websites. Olympus is an example of a large eCommerce site that uses Magento. It sells cameras, audio equipment and binoculars.
Pricing:
- Cloud Startup is $9.99 per month
- Cloud Professional costs $14.99/month.
- Cloud Enterprise costs $29.99/month.
Drupal
Drupal is a professional CMS platform which is majorly used by a cms development company to design a professional websites, and its flexible API architecture supports various digital platforms. Drupal's built-in features are optimized for greater security and performance than Joomla. It is also important to note that Drupal websites receive more web traffic than other custom content management systems.
Pros:
- Features that are SEO-friendly
- Mobile-friendly features
- Blogging functionality
- eCommerce functionality
- Security threats are less likely to be detected because CMS software runs security tests regularly.
- The modules are built-in and can be used to enhance the functionality of a website.
Cons:
- Requires coding knowledge.
- It can be tedious to manage the platform (e.g., upgrading to a newer version).
Best for:
Advanced users with excellent technical skills can use Drupal to build large-scale and complex sites. Drupal provides updates and information on the City of Los Angeles's official website.
Pricing:
- Premium shared hosting for $2.99/month
- Shared Hosting for Businesses at $4.99 per month
Hubspot CMS
HubSpot CMS is a top CMS option for creating a website. It doesn't require constant updates or edits. This platform is excellent for beginners, as it has user-friendly tools that can be used to publish websites without any technical knowledge. Its integrated marketing and sales tools allow for increased reach and engagement.
Pros:
- Use social media networks and email to increase engagement.
- A dedicated team should be assigned to monitor the platform 24 hours a day to detect attacks and conduct regular virus scans.
Cons:
- There is a little gallery of plugins and themes.
- No direct technical support.
Best for:
HubSpot CMS is the best choice for basic websites and marketers. Stellar recruitment is an example of a website that uses this CMS software. It posts job openings all the time.
Pricing:
- The starter plan costs $23/month.
- The professional plan costs $360/month.
- The enterprise plan costs $1200/month.
PrestaShop
PrestaShop is another custom CMS development platform popular among small to medium-sized eCommerce companies. Its large community and wide range of features make it an extremely flexible platform for managing online stores. The user interface is easy to use and allows for quick product monitoring.
Pros:
- You can create professional online stores with ease using user-friendly eCommerce tools.
- You can choose from many themes and customize the modules.
Cons:
- Inability to scale up to a larger eCommerce store.
- It depends on extensions and plugins, which can be expensive.
Best for:
PrestaShop is an excellent platform for small- to medium-sized eCommerce companies. Harry Fay is a niche jewel store in the United Kingdom that sells wedding rings online.
Pricing:
- Premium shared hosting for $2.99/month
- Business Shared Hosting for $6.99/month
- Cloud Startup for $19.99/month.
Sitecore
Sitecore, one of the most famous enterprise content management systems on the market, is built on .NET. This platform allows content creation on multiple platforms. This flexible CMS is different because it integrates more marketing tools with other CMS platforms.
Pros:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- These features allow you to support data privacy more following the most recent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Cons:
- Comparable to other CMS options, high cost
- Insufficient support, community and up-to-date documentation
Best for:
The CMS platform is an excellent option for large-scale companies that don't have a lot of budgets. The Huawei telecommunications equipment business is an example. This website contains detailed information, updates and high-resolution images for every product they sell.
Pricing:
Pricing is determined by the license. This license is based on monthly visits, non-production installations, concurrent users and add-ons.
The Final Verdict: The Best Content Management System In 2022
It isn't easy to choose the best CMS platform for smart content management.
If you are a novice and looking for an easy, user-friendly platform, we recommend WordPress. It is the most widely used content management system on the market today. However, it is constantly improving thanks to thousands of developers worldwide working hard to make it even better.
Many plugins make it easy for beginners to start using drag-and-drop functionality. Even WordPress security flaws can be fixed and maintained easily with the correct setup and web hosting.
If you are looking for a high-performance corporate website, we suggest hiring a custom cms development company. Web development companies have an experienced team of developers who can build the website according to your requirements and provide complete support.
