Best CMS of 2024: Pagepro Top Five Picks
How to Choose the Best CMS Platform in 2024?
The CMS (Content Management Systems) present on the market in 2024 are constantly changing and updating, which means picking the right platform is more crucial—and more challenging—than ever before. When I’m asked, “Which monolithic CMS is the best for my website?” my response is always: it depends on your goals. Still, no matter if you’re aiming to enhance your SEO, build a personal blog, or launch an online store, the perfect CMS solution can make all the difference.
To help you choose the best CMS, I’ve carefully selected and compared some of the most popular CMS platforms available. These options cater to a wide range of users, so no matter your skill level or project scope, there’s a solution that fits your needs.
Traditional CMS vs Headless CMS
Today I will consider Traditional (monolithic) CMSes, like WordPress or Drupal – monolithic systems that tightly integrate both the back-end (where content is created and managed) and the front end (where content is displayed). They make it easier for non-technical users to build and manage websites with built-in templates and WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors. However, this setup often results in limited flexibility and scalability since the front-end and back-end are coupled, restricting the ability to customize user experiences and adapt to new technologies.
In contrast, a headless CMS decouples the content management back-end from the front-end presentation layer. Content in a headless CMS is stored in a back-end repository and delivered as data via APIs to any front-end or platform—be it a website, mobile app, or IoT device. It allows developers to choose any technology or framework to build the front-end, offering greater flexibility, scalability, and control over the user experience. Headless CMS is ideal for organizations looking to distribute content across multiple platforms and channels, providing a more dynamic and modern approach to content delivery. However, it requires more technical expertise to set up and manage, making it more suited to development teams with coding skills and complex, multi-channel content strategies.
Read more about What is Headless CMS.
What to Consider When Choosing a CMS
There is no CMS that fits every website. Before selecting a content management system to build a website with, consider things like the type of website you want, budget, and technical expertise. Each CMS software requires a different skill level, from basics to expert.
Evaluate how easy it is to use customization options, and scalability to ensure the CMS can grow with your project. Look for support resources, SEO capabilities, and the long-term implications of hosting, security, and maintenance. This will help you choose a CMS that aligns with your goals and provides a sustainable content management solution.
WordPress: The Best of All
This CMS doesn’t need introducing – WordPress is an open-source software, built on PHP, that continues to dominate the market, powering an impressive 43% of all websites that use a CMS.
WordPress Pros
The Most Flexible CMS Available
WordPress is a great CMS platform – incredibly versatile and capable of transforming into nearly anything you need it to be, even a headless CMS. Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to start a simple blog, a small business launching an eCommerce store, or a large corporation with complex needs, WordPress offers the tools to create the perfect website.
Low Cost
WordPress is completely free to use, offering powerful tools at no cost. It’s important to separate WordPress.org, the self-hosted version that gives you full control over your site, from WordPress.com, which is a hosted service with various pricing plans. When using WordPress.org, your primary expense will be securing a hosting provider, which can be as affordable as $3 per month.
Doesn’t Require Technical Expertise
Getting your website up and running with WordPress doesn’t require any web development skills. While WordPress is designed to be accessible to beginners, it also offers powerful features for more advanced users, allowing developers to fully leverage its potential.
Wealth of Free Resources
WordPress is a CMS that offers thousands of free themes and plugins—everything you need to create an online store or any other type of project. With access to 59,000 plugins, you can easily manage backups, enhance security, optimize SEO, and handle virtually any other functionality you might need.
The Largest CMS Community in the World
WordPress is known for its extensive and active community. The large number of community resources ensures that if you have a question, you can quickly find an answer.
WordPress Cons
High-Maintenance Security
While WordPress offers control in building your website, it also comes with the responsibility of managing backups and security. Managed hosting providers, like Bluehost, or security plugins like Sucuri or Wordfence can reduce security risks, however.
Requires Frequent Updates
To keep your site running smoothly, it’s essential to update plugins regularly. WordPress allows for automatic updates, but monitoring these updates is a good practice to avoid compatibility issues that can slow down your site or compromise security.
Potential for Performance Issues
The flexibility of WordPress can lead to performance challenges if not managed carefully. Adding numerous plugins or complex themes can bloat your site with excessive code, slowing loading times and negatively impacting user experience.
Dependent on Third-Party Plugins
WordPress relies heavily on third-party plugins to extend its functionality, which can introduce challenges. Variations in plugin quality and support can lead to compatibility issues and functionality problems. If a plugin is poorly coded or no longer maintained, it may expose your site to security risks.
Is WordPress The Best CMS For Me?
If you value control, scalability, and community support, a CMS like WordPress might be the best choice.
WordPress is a powerful and versatile CMS suitable for users ranging from beginners to experienced developers. Its flexibility allows for various website types, including blogs, eCommerce stores, and corporate sites. With a user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop builders, and a vast library of plugins, WordPress enables easy and budget-friendly website creation. It can be difficult to maintain, however, and the bloat tendency has to be always considered when choosing custom plugins.
Not sure if your website needs a CMS?
Webflow: Stellar Website Builder
Webflow is a no-code website builder that allows users to create custom themes and design layouts from scratch without traditional coding. It makes website design easy and generates clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in the background, helping to achieve front-end results through a visual interface.
If you want to learn more about Webflow, check out our article: What is Webflow?
Pros of Webflow
Fully Customizable Drag & Drop Menu
An intuitive drag-and-drop builder allows you to create custom websites without needing to know HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. This focus on visual design enables users to fully customize components, setting it apart from other website builders.
Rich in High-Quality Resources
High-quality tutorials available through Webflow University offer written instructions and video tutorials on anything Webflow-related. The platform also provides great customer support and an active online community for finding help and sharing knowledge.
Attractive Free Plan
Webflow’s free plan makes launching projects without providing credit card information possible, allowing for quick setup and experimentation. As long as users keep the Webflow branding in the URL, they can create original designs without incurring costs, although some limitations exist compared to paid plans.
Suitable for Smaller, Static Websites
This platform is a great option for creating websites that require minimal ongoing updates – the ideal solution for marketers and beginners. Webflow can handle more dynamic projects if needed, offering a balance between ease of use and flexibility.
Webflow Cons
Limited Functionality for Larger Sites
Ideal for smaller or medium-sized websites, Webflow may struggle to meet the needs of larger, more complex projects that require extensive functionality or frequent updates. This limitation can hinder scalability for businesses anticipating growth.
No Built-In Blog Functionality
Although the platform allows for blog creation, it lacks built-in blogging features found in dedicated blogging platforms. The need to implement custom solutions for advanced blogging requirements complicates the setup process.
Export Limitations
Webflow is limited by its inability to export website code for use on other platforms. This restricts users who may want to migrate their sites or switch hosting options in the future.
Dependency on Webflow Hosting
Sites created on this platform rely on Webflow for hosting. Dependency on Webflow for uptime and performance might not align with your preferences or needs.
Is Webflow the Best CMS for Me?
If you prioritize ease of use and need a customizable solution for smaller projects, Webflow might be best suited for your website development.
Webflow is a great option for creating custom websites without coding, allowing users to design layouts while generating clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Its intuitive drag-and-drop builder supports full customization, making it suitable for marketing sites and galleries.
Still, Webflow is a great CMS solution for small businesses or a medium-sized companies, and might not handle larger projects as well as its competitors. The lack of built-in blogging features and the inability to export code limits flexibility, and no hosting freedom can feel very restricting.
Joomla: Diverse CMS for Your Needs
Joomla is a free, and open-source CMS platform built on PHP, suitable for a wide range of web projects, from online forums and eCommerce stores to complex web applications.
Pros of Joomla
Flexibility and Versatility
With its modular structure, Joomla allows you to easily add or remove features, adapting to the needs of your project. This capability allows Joomla to grow with your website, so you can remain flexible and not worry about staying behind the competition.
Security
Security is the area where this content management system shines, thanks to its advanced features like two-factor authentication, detailed access control levels, and regular security updates. These measures provide strong protection against unauthorized access and vulnerabilities.
Built-In Features
Joomla’s built-in features minimize the need to install additional plugins. This platform excels in user management, offering support for multiple user groups and access levels, which is useful for community-driven sites or organizations with complex user hierarchies.
Cons of Joomla
Requires Technical Knowledge
Joomla is less intuitive and has a steeper learning curve compared to other CMS platforms. It can be a barrier for beginners or non-technical users who need a simple, straightforward solution.
Fewer Extensions and Templates Compared to Competitors
While Joomla offers a decent selection of extensions and templates, the options are limited, making it harder to find the exact functionality or design you need.
Risk of Compatibility Issues
The flexibility of Joomla comes with the risk of compatibility problems when using multiple extensions or custom templates. This can cause parts of your website to malfunction, which can be frustrating, time-consuming, and costly to fix.
Higher Maintenance Requirements
Joomla often requires more ongoing maintenance, including regular updates to the core system and extensions. This can be burdensome for those who do not have the technical skills or time to manage regular updates.
Declining Popularity
The declining popularity of Joomla means it has a smaller community and fewer resources compared to more widely-used platforms. This can make finding support, extensions, and third-party services more difficult.
Is Joomla the Best CMS for Me?
If you’re comfortable with its technical demands and need a scalable CMS, Joomla could be a good fit.
Joomla is ideal for a wide range of websites, from blogs to complex corporate sites. It offers strong user management, native multilingual support, and robust security features, making it suitable for projects requiring scalability.
It has a steeper learning curve and fewer extensions and templates compared to competitors which may pose challenges for beginners. Regular maintenance and monitoring for compatibility issues can also be time-consuming.
Drupal: Developer Favorite
A free and open-source traditional CMS, Drupal lets you create highly customizable websites capable of handling large traffic, which is ideal for organizations that require scalable solutions. Designed mostly for web devs, Drupal may not be suitable for marketers or casual bloggers.
Pros of Drupal
Flexibility and Customization
Its modular architecture enables easy addition or removal of features, making it a CMS that can adapt to specific project requirements. This allows developers to create a wide variety of websites, from simple blogs to complex web applications.
Great Security
Drupal prides itself on its strong security features, including two-factor authentication and granular user access controls. These help protect against unauthorized access and ensure data integrity. To make extra sure your website is safe, regular updates and a dedicated security team monitor potential vulnerabilities.
User Management
Drupal’s advanced user management capabilities are an advantage for sites with complex user interactions. Administrators can define granular roles and permissions, effectively controlling access levels for different users or groups.
Extensive Library of Modules
A large library of modules improves Drupal’s functionality across various domains. They cover features such as SEO tools, eCommerce solutions, and social media integrations, allowing for customizing websites to meet specific needs and simplify implementing advanced features.
Strong Community Support
This platform has a dedicated and active community that provides valuable resources and support. The community contributes to ongoing development, offering extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums where users can look for advice.
Cons of Drupal
Difficult for Beginners
Durpal’s features and configuration options require a higher level of technical knowledge compared to more user-friendly platforms. New users may have problems navigating the interface and fully exploring its capabilities without a solid understanding of web development.
Higher Development Costs
Building and maintaining a Drupal site often requires hiring developers due to its technical nature. This can affect development and maintenance costs, especially for organizations without in-house devs.
Complex Setup and Configuration
The initial setup of Drupal can be quite complex. Users may need to spend a lot of time and effort on the installation process, module configuration, and site organization.
Regular Maintenance Requirements
Maintaining a Drupal site involves regular updates to the core system and modules to ensure security and performance. This ongoing maintenance can be time-consuming and may require technical skills, which can be burdensome for users without a background in web development.
Malfunction Potential
Drupal’s flexibility can lead to compatibility issues when using multiple modules or custom themes. Users may encounter conflicts between different extensions, causing parts of the site to malfunction and requiring technical expertise to resolve.
Is Drupal the Best CMS for Me?
If you have the technical skills or resources and require a personalized website, Drupal could be it.
Drupal will be great for creating highly customizable websites. Features like strong security measures, granular user management, and a vast library of modules, allow developers to build everything from simple blogs to complex web applications. Remember, Drupal is geared towards web developers – its setup may be difficult, and hiring skilled developers can be pricy.
Umbraco: Great Enterprise CMS
Umbraco is a CMS built on ASP.NET Core, originally released in 2004. While it is generally considered to be pretty complex, web developers highly appreciate Umbraco for its customizability and features. This CMS is well-suited for projects that require custom solutions, especially within the .NET ecosystem.
Pros of Umbraco
Development Freedom
Umbraco provides near-total freedom in creating websites and web applications. It can be applied to any type of website – corporate websites, local web portals, eCommerce platforms, and more.
Customization Potential with Microsoft .NET Framework
Built on the Microsoft .NET framework, Umbraco is a Net core CMS that allows for extensive customization. Users with a basic understanding of C# and .NET can develop their own extensions
User-Friendly Interface
The platform features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, very accessible for marketers and editors to publish content. The clear layout and straightforward navigation allow for managing website content efficiently without technical training.
SEO-Friendly Features
Umbraco includes built-in SEO tools that help users optimize their websites for search engines, like customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemap generation.
Cons of Umbraco
Higher Development Costs
The ASP.NET framework Umbraco is built on has a smaller pool of developers compared to the more widely used PHP ecosystem. It can lead to higher development costs, as organizations may need to pay more for skilled ASP.NET developers.
Limited Community Support
While Umbraco has a dedicated community, it’s not as big as some of its competitors. That means fewer resources, tutorials, and third-party plugins available to users – finding solutions to problems or obtaining quick assistance can be more challenging.
Dependency on Windows Server
Since Umbraco is built on the Microsoft stack, it requires a Windows server for hosting. It can limit hosting options and may result in higher hosting costs compared to platforms that can run on a wider variety of servers.
Potential for Compatibility Issues
With various plugins and custom integrations, users may encounter compatibility issues that require technical expertise to resolve. This can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially if conflicts arise between components.
Is Umbraco the Best CMS for Me?
If you have the necessary resources and want a very personalized CMS, Umbraco could be the ideal CMS.
Umbraco’s user-friendly interface allows editors to manage content on your website easily, and built-in SEO tools help improve search engine visibility. However, its technical requirements can be a problem for users who don’t have the necessary knowledge, and reliance on Windows Server for hosting may limit options and increase costs.
Quick poll
Which CMS is your main pick?
Summary: Which CMS Will Be the Best for Me?
Finding the best CMS can be a daunting task, so let’s sum up which of these great CMS options could help you create the best website:
- WordPress is an excellent option for most users due to its ease of use, extensive plugin library, active community, and strong SEO capabilities. As the most popular open-source Content Management System, it’s a reliable choice for a wide range of projects.
- Joomla may be suitable for those with more web development experience who want to explore new possibilities. While it offers flexibility, WordPress remains the safer choice for most users.
- CMS platforms like Drupal and Umbraco are powerful tools for experienced developers who seek flexibility and customization. However, for those launching their first website, WordPress is still the recommended option.
- If you’re looking for a CMS to quickly create a personalized website with, Webflow is the fastest route. Its intuitive drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to design simple sites, and with a free version available, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
Get help IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT CMS
Sources
Usage Statistics And Market Shares Of Content Management Systems