9 Best CMS Platforms in 2023
If you’re a small or medium business owner looking for the best CMS platform to build your website, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore the top nine CMS platforms that you should consider for your business in 2023. We’ll cover everything from ease of use, security, pricing, customizability, design options, data portability, extensions & addons, and help & support.
However, if you are looking for a web agency who can build a website for your business you can consider us. We have built a lot of websites for our clients.
Best CMS Platforms
1. WordPress and WooCommerce
WordPress is the most popular CMS platform in the world, with over 43.2% (In 2022) of all websites using it. It’s known for its ease of use, flexibility, and massive community of developers and users. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that enables you to build an online store with ease, making it the perfect choice for eCommerce businesses.
The big advantage of a WordPress website is it’s super SEO friendly. You will find many SEO plugins out there. If we do it properly our website will rank top of search engines.
2. HubSpot CMS Hub
HubSpot CMS Hub is a content management system that has been specifically designed for marketers. It offers a wide range of features, including landing pages, forms, blogs, and SEO tools, making it a powerful platform. This makes it ideal for businesses that want to manage their entire online presence in one place. Additionally, it is particularly useful for businesses that are already using other HubSpot products.
However, the platform’s biggest drawback is its price, and it also has design limitations due to being a relatively new platform.
3. Joomla
Joomla is a highly popular, free and open-source content management system that is favored by developers and web designers alike. It offers a wide range of features and provides a flexible and scalable platform for creating websites, blogs, and online applications.
However, its main drawback is that it can be challenging for non-technical individuals to use effectively. If you are a developer, you may be able to take full advantage of its capabilities. However, for those without technical expertise, we recommend using WordPress instead.
4. Drupal
Drupal is a popular open-source content management system that is capable of building complex websites and web applications, with it covering 1% of all websites on the internet. It is highly customizable and provides a broad range of modules and plugins to enhance functionality and performance.
Many economist and university websites choose Drupal as their preferred CMS platform due to its ability to handle large amounts of data. However, its steep learning curve and lack of beginner-friendliness can be challenging for new users. Additionally, since it requires specialized development skills, it can be expensive to hire developers to work with the platform.
5. Adobe Commerce (Formerly Magento)
Adobe Commerce is an advanced eCommerce platform that provides a robust and scalable solution for businesses that require a powerful platform. It is highly customizable and known for its advanced features, making it an excellent choice for businesses that require a high level of control over their online store. If you are already working within the Adobe ecosystem, then it may be a good fit for you.
However, the platform requires technical expertise to maintain and use effectively, which can be a drawback for those without a technical background.
6. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a widely used eCommerce platform that offers a straightforward and user-friendly solution, ideal for businesses seeking an uncomplicated online store. It’s also praised for its excellent customer support.
One of the most significant advantages of BigCommerce is that it handles hosting for you and provides daily backups, with the option for a free domain.
However, the platform does have limitations in terms of design customization, which may become restrictive as your business grows. So it may be necessary to switch to other CMS platforms in the future.
7. Shopify
Shopify is a highly popular eCommerce platform that provides a simple and user-friendly solution, ideal for businesses seeking an uncomplicated online store. It’s praised for its ease of use, excellent customer support, and extensive integration options.
One significant advantage of Shopify is that it offers hosting and daily backups as part of its service, eliminating the need for separate hosting. Additionally, it provides a wide range of plugins and integrations, making it easy to add new features to your online store.
However, the platform can be costly, with monthly fees adding up quickly. Additionally, some of the plugins and integrations can come with high costs, which can increase expenses for businesses.
8. Squarespace
Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder that is well-suited for businesses looking for an easy-to-use and visually appealing platform. It is recognized for its stunning templates and intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
However, one significant drawback of Squarespace is its limited availability of plugins and integrations compared to other platforms, which can limit the platform’s functionality and customization options.
9. Wix
Wix is a website builder that provides a user-friendly and straightforward platform, well-suited for businesses looking for an uncomplicated website building experience. It’s praised for its ease of use, excellent customer support, and extensive integration options.
While Wix offers a free plan, it is relatively limited and displays ads, so upgrading to a paid plan is recommended. However, one significant drawback of Wix is that its paid plans can be quite expensive, especially if you require features for an ecommerce store.
FAQ
Which CMS platform is best for eCommerce?
WooCommerce is the best CMS platform for eCommerce because it’s user-friendly, integrates with WordPress, has customizable themes and features, and is free to use. It also has an active community of developers who regularly create new plugins and themes.
Which CMS platform is best to build a small business website?
For small business websites, we recommend WordPress. It’s easy to use, flexible, and has a massive community of developers and users.
CMS vs Website Builder What Are the Differences?
CMS (Content Management System) and website builders are two different types of tools used for creating websites.
CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla, are software applications that enable users to create, manage, and publish digital content on the web. They offer more flexibility, customization, and scalability than website builders, allowing users to create more complex websites with more features and functionalities.
Website builders, on the other hand, are online tools that provide users with pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop interfaces to build websites. They are typically easier to use and require less technical knowledge than CMS platforms, making them a better choice for beginners or those looking to create simple websites quickly.
While CMS platforms offer more flexibility and scalability, they require more technical expertise, and may have a steeper learning curve. Website builders, on the other hand, are easier to use but may not offer as much flexibility or scalability.
Ultimately, the choice between a CMS platform and a website builder will depend on the user’s specific needs, technical expertise, and the complexity of the website they want to create.
How to Choose the Best Content Management System
1. Ease Of Use
When choosing a content management system (CMS), it’s important to consider its ease of use. The CMS should be user-friendly and easy to navigate for both content creators and administrators. This will save time and reduce the learning curve for those who will be using the CMS regularly.
2. Security
Security is another critical factor to consider when selecting a CMS. It’s essential to choose a system that has robust security measures in place to protect your data from hackers, malware, and other threats. Additionally, the CMS should have regular updates and patches to keep up with the latest security threats.
3. Pricing
The cost of a CMS is an important consideration, and it’s essential to understand the pricing structure. Some CMSs charge a monthly fee, while others offer a one-time payment or a free version with limited features. It’s also important to factor in any additional costs such as hosting, domain registration, and customization.
4. Customizability
The ability to customize a CMS to suit your specific needs is crucial. A good CMS should allow you to add or remove features, customize the design, and modify the layout to fit your brand. This will enable you to create a website that reflects your unique brand and meets your specific requirements.
5. Design Options
The design options of a CMS are another factor to consider. A good CMS should offer a variety of templates and themes to choose from, as well as the ability to create custom designs. The CMS should also support responsive design, which ensures that your website looks good on all devices.
6. Data Portability
Data portability is an important consideration when selecting a CMS. The system should allow you to export your data in a format that can be easily transferred to another system if needed. This will ensure that your content is not locked into a single platform and can be moved to another CMS if necessary.
7. Extensions & Addons
The availability of extensions and addons is another factor to consider when selecting a CMS. These plugins can add additional functionality to your website, such as social media integration, e-commerce capabilities, and SEO optimization. A good CMS should have a robust library of extensions and addons that are easy to install and use.
8. Help & Support
Finally, it’s essential to choose a CMS that provides good help and support. The system should have a comprehensive documentation library, as well as a support team that is available to answer any questions or troubleshoot any issues that may arise. This will ensure that your website runs smoothly and any issues are resolved quickly.
Which CMS Is the Most Popular?
WordPress is the most popular CMS platform in the world, with over 43.2% (In 2022) of all websites using it.
Which CMS Platform Do We Recommend?
We recommend WordPress as the best CMS platform for small and medium businesses. It’s easy to use, flexible, and has a massive community of developers and users.
Additional Resources
Learn which page builder you should use if you are using wordpress as your CMS platform.