Best CMS Platforms to Build and Manage Websites in 2024

As of 2024, 68.7% of all websites rely on a content management system (CMS) to create and manage website content. This trend highlights how essential CMS platforms have become for modern web design and development. Whether you’re building a blog, an online store, or a business site, choosing the right CMS platform is crucial for success.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best CMS platforms in 2024. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform suits your needs—whether you need a robust, scalable system or a user-friendly interface that’s quick to master.

CMS platform vs. website builder: Understanding the differences

What is a content management system?

A content management system (CMS) is a software that allows users to create, manage and modify website content without needing to write code. Popular CMS platforms include WordPress, Joomla and Drupal.

These platforms offer a high degree of flexibility and customization, making them suitable for various types of websites, from simple blogs to complex eCommerce platforms.

Key characteristics of a CMS:

• Flexibility: A CMS provides robust customization options, including themes, plugins and third-party integrations, giving users the freedom to design unique websites.
• Control over content: Users can create, edit, and organize content like blog posts, product pages and media files easily.
• Scalability: CMS platforms can scale with your business, accommodating growing traffic, content and features.
• Customization: A CMS typically requires some technical knowledge, especially if you want to make advanced changes. Developers can adjust the platform’s code to meet specific needs.
• Ownership: When you use the best CMS software platforms, you typically own and control all the website’s content, files and design elements.

What is a website builder?

A website builder is an all-in-one solution that provides an easy-to-use interface for creating websites. Builders like Wix, Squarespace and Weebly come with drag-and-drop editors, making it simple for users to design and publish websites without any technical expertise.

These platforms are ideal for users who want to get a website online quickly without worrying about coding, hosting, or complex configurations.

Key characteristics of a website builder:

• Ease of use: Website builders are designed with beginners in mind. Their drag-and-drop editors and pre-made templates make it easy to design and launch a website without writing code.
• Quick setup: These platforms come with everything you need out of the box, including hosting, design tools and even integrated domain registration in some cases.
• Less customization: While website builders are easy to use, they often lack the flexibility of best content management systems. You’re typically limited to the design elements and features provided by the platform.
• Limited scalability: Website builders are ideal for small websites or personal blogs but may not be suitable for larger businesses or websites with complex needs as your site grows.
• Bundled services: Website builders handle hosting, security and updates, which simplifies the user experience but can limit control over certain aspects of your site.

15 Best CMS Platforms in 2024

1. WordPress

WordPress continues to be among the best CMS platforms in 2024, powering over 43% of all websites globally. It initially started as a blogging platform but has since evolved into a versatile content management system capable of handling everything from personal blogs to large-scale online stores and complex business websites.

With the largest market share of any CMS software, WordPress thrives due to its large community, extensive library of WordPress plugins and themes. From small businesses to large corporations, WordPress is widely used across industries.

Key features for WordPress:

• Customizable themes and plugins: WordPress offers a vast selection of themes and plugins. This allows you to easily change your site’s appearance and functionality without needing coding skills.
• Real-time content management: The user-friendly dashboard lets you create, edit, and publish content immediately. You can efficiently manage posts, pages, and media, even with frequent updates.
• eCommerce support via WooCommerce: With the WooCommerce plugin, WordPress becomes a powerful eCommerce platform. You can manage products, carts, and payments for a full-featured online store.
• Gutenberg block editor: The block editor allows you to build custom layouts using a drag-and-drop interface. This makes designing pages simple, even if you’re new to website creation.

Pros of WordPress:

• The vast number of themes and plugins lets you create a unique site with all the features you need. From SEO to social media, it’s easy to find tools that enhance your website.
• WordPress benefits from a large user community that offers advice, support, and regular updates.
• WordPress offers built-in SEO features like permalinks and title tags. Additionally, SEO plugins help you optimize content for search engines, improving your site’s visibility.

Cons of WordPress:

• To keep your site secure and running well, you’ll need to update the core software, themes, and plugins regularly. This can take time if you manage several plugins.
• If you don’t keep WordPress updated, vulnerabilities can develop.

Use cases of WordPress:

• WordPress is best for bloggers, small businesses, freelancers, and online stores using WooCommerce. It also works well for large enterprises needing scalable websites.

WordPress pricing:

WordPress is open-source and free to use. However, premium themes, plugins and web hosting solutions add to the overall cost. You can expect to spend anywhere from $2 to $300+ annually, depending on your website’s needs.

Experience top performance with Bluehost’s Cloud Hosting. It provides seamless scalability, robust security, and 24/7 expert support. Bluehost Cloud Hosting is designed for WordPress, ensuring zero downtime and fast load times, so your site runs smoothly as it grows.

With plans starting at $29.99* per month, it’s a cost-effective solution for businesses of any size looking for reliability and speed

2. Joomla

Joomla is another popular CMS platform that offers more flexibility than WordPress but comes with a steeper learning curve. It’s known for its advanced content management features and is well-suited for building complex, multi-user websites.

Though smaller in market share compared to WordPress, Joomla remains a popular CMS choice for developers looking for more customization out of the box. It’s widely used for business websites, government portals and even social networks.

Key features of Joomla:

• Advanced user management: Joomla offers detailed user management with different access levels. This makes it ideal for sites needing multiple users with varying permissions, such as membership sites.
• Built-in multilingual support: Joomla supports multiple languages out of the box. You don’t need any extra extensions, making it easy to create international websites.
• Powerful extensions: Joomla’s extensions allow you to add features like forums, eCommerce functionality, or social networking. This gives you the flexibility to expand your site’s features as needed.
• Real-time content management: Joomla allows users to edit and manage content directly from the front end or backend. This makes managing articles, blogs, or multimedia easy and efficient.

Pros of Joomla:

• Joomla includes many advanced tools right out of the box, reducing the need for third-party plugins. This speeds up setup time for more complex sites.
• The modular structure and customizable templates make it easy to change layouts and designs.
• Joomla’s permission settings allow you to control what different users can do on your site.
• Joomla’s scalability makes it perfect for building larger websites like community portals or online magazines. It handles complexity without performance issues.

Cons of Joomla:

• Joomla is not as beginner-friendly as some other CMS platforms. It has a more complex setup and requires time to learn its advanced features.
• Compared to WordPress, Joomla has fewer extensions and themes. This can limit some design or functional choices for users.

Use cases of Joomla:

• Joomla is ideal for eCommerce sites, business websites, community platforms, and government portals. It suits international websites needing multilingual support.

Joomla pricing:

Joomla itself is free to use, but premium templates and extensions can add to the overall cost. Expect to pay for domain registration and hosting services.

3. Drupal

Drupal is known for its power, flexibility and scalability, making it the enterprise CMS of choice for developers who need to build complex, large-scale websites. This CMS excels in managing high-traffic websites and provides excellent security features, making it a favorite for government websites and enterprise-level CMS solutions.

Drupal’s market share is smaller compared to WordPress and Joomla, but it has a strong following among developers due to its flexibility and powerful tools for content management. Its robust security features also make it a trusted choice for enterprise-level sites.

Key features of Drupal:

• Modular and customizable design: Drupal’s modular system allows developers to add or remove features as needed. This makes it a flexible platform, ideal for complex, custom-built websites.
• High-level security features: Drupal is known for its strong security. It’s a popular choice for government and enterprise websites that require stringent security protocols.
• Headless CMS capabilities: Drupal can act as a headless CMS, delivering content to various platforms like mobile apps via APIs. This makes it perfect for multi-platform content management.
• Efficient content management: Drupal offers tools like real-time content editing and version control. These features are essential for large websites with multiple contributors.

Pros of Drupal:

• Drupal takes security seriously, offering frequent patches and security advisories. This makes it an excellent choice for sites that prioritize security.
• Its modular system allows for detailed customization, making it perfect for complex websites.
• Drupal has an active community that provides support and contributes new modules.

Cons of Drupal:

• Drupal is not easy for newcomers. It requires technical knowledge and a steep learning curve, making it less ideal for non-technical users.
• Most Drupal sites need custom development. If you don’t have developer knowledge, you may need to hire someone, which can increase costs.

Use cases of Drupal:

• Drupal is among the best CMS for enterprise websites, government sites, large online stores, and educational institutions with complex content needs.

Drupal pricing:

Drupal is free, but requires professional development for more complex features, which can make it more expensive to maintain. Hosting and domain registration are additional costs to consider.

4. Shopify

Shopify is another popular CMS platform for building an online store. It’s specifically designed for eCommerce, with all the tools you need to create, manage and grow your online business. Shopify handles everything from storefront design to payment processing and inventory management.

With Shopify, businesses can set up a custom domain to personalize their brand and establish a unique online presence.

Shopify holds a significant share of the eCommerce market, thanks to its ease of use, powerful eCommerce tools and built-in integrations for online payment processing.

Key features of Shopify:

• Built-in payment gateways: Shopify provides its own payment processing system, Shopify Payments, as well as integration with third-party gateways. This simplifies payment processing globally.
• Inventory management tools: Shopify’s tools help you track stock levels, set alerts, and manage product variants. It’s perfect for stores that handle a wide range of products.
• Drag-and-drop store builder: Shopify makes building a store easy with its intuitive drag-and-drop builder. Even without design experience, you can create a professional-looking storefront.
• Mobile optimization: All Shopify themes are fully responsive, ensuring your store looks great on any device, from desktops to smartphones.

Pros of Shopify:

• With a user-friendly interface, Shopify allows users to set up and launch a store quickly. No technical expertise is required.
• Shopify’s App Store offers thousands of apps that extend your store’s capabilities. You can add tools for marketing, accounting, or dropshipping in just a few clicks.
• Shopify ensures secure transactions with PCI-compliant payment gateways. This builds customer trust and protects sensitive data.

Cons of Shopify:

• Shopify is designed specifically for online stores. If you’re not selling products, it may not be the best option for other types of websites.
• Shopify’s monthly fees, along with costs for apps and transaction fees, can increase as your business grows.

Use cases of Shopify:

• Shopify is perfect if you’re looking to build an online store. It’s tailored specifically for eCommerce, so if you’re selling products, this is the platform for you.

Shopify pricing:

Shopify’s pricing starts at $29/month for basic features. Advanced plans, which include more features like reports and abandoned cart recovery, start at $79/month. Transaction fees can also add to costs if not using Shopify Payments.

Wix

Wix is a popular website builder known for its ease of use and drag and drop interface. It’s ideal for beginners and small businesses looking to create and manage web pages without diving into the technical aspects of web development.

While it’s technically a website builder, it functions as a content management system by allowing users to create and manage website content efficiently.

Wix is widely used by small businesses, freelancers and individuals who want to build a website quickly without technical knowledge. It is one of the most popular platforms for those who need a simple yet functional website.

Key features of Wix:

• Drag-and-drop builder with over 800 templates: Wix offers a simple drag-and-drop builder. You can choose from over 800 templates to create your site quickly.
• Built-in SEO tools: Wix provides basic SEO tools like custom URLs and meta tags. It also includes an SEO wizard to guide you through optimizing your site.
• App market for extra functionality: Wix has an app market with hundreds of apps. You can add features like live chat or event calendars to your site easily.
• Real-time editing and previews: You can make changes and see them instantly. This streamlines the design process.

Pros of Wix:

• Wix is user-friendly and does not require any technical knowledge. Anyone can build a site without coding.
• Wix includes tools to improve your site’s search engine rankings. It is helpful for beginners who want better visibility online.
• You can find templates that fit your industry or brand. This helps create a professional-looking site.

Cons of Wix:

• Changing templates requires rebuilding your site from scratch. This makes it time-consuming.
• Wix offers fewer customization options than other CMS platforms like WordPress. It may not scale well for larger projects.

Use cases of Wix:

• Wix is a popular CMS software for personal blogs, portfolios, small businesses, freelancers, and small online stores looking for an easy setup.

Wix pricing:

Wix offers a free plan with Wix-branded domains, and premium plans start at $14 per month. For eCommerce, plans start at $23 per month.

Ghost

Ghost is a minimalist CMS software specifically designed for writers, bloggers and online publications. It focuses on speed, simplicity and performance. Unlike other CMS platforms that cater to a broad range of websites, Ghost is often used by those who prioritize content delivery.

Ghost is gaining popularity for its fast performance and minimalist design. While it has a smaller user base compared to WordPress or Wix, it’s highly regarded within its niche.

Key features of Ghost:

• Headless CMS via API: Ghost supports headless CMS functionality. This allows content to be delivered to different platforms using APIs.
• Markdown editor: Ghost uses a simple Markdown-based editor. This makes content formatting quick and efficient for writers.
• Built-in subscriptions and memberships: Ghost offers built-in tools to sell content. You can monetize your blog with paid memberships or newsletters.
• Fast and lightweight design: Ghost is optimized for speed. This improves site performance and SEO rankings.

Pros of Ghost:

• Ghost’s minimal design makes it fast to load. This creates a better user experience and boosts SEO.
• Ghost focuses on content creation. It provides an intuitive interface that lets writers focus on producing content.
• The editor is distraction-free. This helps writers stay focused on their work.

Cons of Ghost:

• Ghost works best for blogs and content-heavy sites. It lacks the features needed for other types of websites.
• Setting up Ghost can be challenging for non-technical users. Self-hosting may involve command-line work and server management.

Use cases of Ghost:

• Ghost is ideal for blogs, online publications, and personal sites. It’s also perfect for writers focused on content and SEO.

Ghost pricing:

Ghost offers a free, self-hosted version. Managed hosting starts at $9/month for individuals and $29/month for professional use.

Squarespace

Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder known for its beautiful design templates and ease of use. It’s perfect for creatives, small businesses and entrepreneurs who want a visually appealing website without worrying about coding or technical maintenance.

Like Wix, Squarespace simplifies the web design process with its drag-and-drop functionality.

Key features of Squarespace:

• Professional design templates: Squarespace provides high-quality templates. These designs give your site a modern, polished look.
• Built-in eCommerce tools: Squarespace includes features for selling products online. It supports payment processing and inventory management.
• Integrated marketing tools: Squarespace offers built-in marketing features. These include email campaigns and social media integration.
• Simple blogging tools: Squarespace makes blogging easy. You can create, manage, and publish posts without hassle.

Pros of Squarespace:

• Squarespace has an intuitive interface. You can drag and drop elements to build your site without any technical skills.
• The platform is perfect for photographers, designers, and artists. Its designs and features make showcasing work easy.
• The intuitive interface allows you to drag and drop elements to build your site without any technical skills.

Cons of Squarespace:

• Squarespace limits customization compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress. It may not meet the needs of complex websites.
• Squarespace can get expensive, especially if you need advanced features or an eCommerce plan.

Use cases of Squarespace:

• Squarespace suits artists, creatives, small businesses, and online stores with a design focus. It’s also a good choice for personal blogs.

Squarespace pricing:

Squarespace starts at $16/month for personal sites and $23/month for business sites. E-commerce plans start at $27/month, and pricing can increase with advanced features.

TYPO3

TYPO3 is an open-source CMS designed for enterprise-level websites. It’s highly customizable and offers advanced features for handling large amounts of content and multiple users.

While not as popular globally as WordPress, TYPO3 is widely used in Europe, especially in Germany. It’s a preferred CMS for companies and organizations needing scalability and advanced functionality.

Key features of TYPO3:

• Advanced user management: TYPO3 offers granular control over user roles. It’s useful for large teams that need different permission levels.
• Flexible content management: This CMS platform supports complex content structures. It works well for websites with a lot of content to manage.
• Strong security features: TYPO3 includes advanced security measures. These features protect enterprise-level sites from cyber threats.
• Customizable modules: It allows businesses to create custom modules. This enables unique functionality tailored to specific needs.

Pros of TYPO3:

• TYPO3 is ideal for large, complex websites. It offers extensive customization options that allow you to build very specific functionality.
• TYPO3 is well-suited for managing large teams and its advanced permissions system simplifies content collaboration.
• TYPO3 natively supports multiple languages. This makes it perfect for international sites.

Cons of TYPO3:

• TYPO3 is difficult for beginners. It often requires technical knowledge, making it less accessible for non-developers.

Use cases of TYPO3:

• TYPO3 is among the most popular CMS platforms for large corporate portals, government websites, educational platforms, and enterprises needing multilingual support.

TYPO3 pricing:

TYPO3 is free to download and use, but costs come in the form of hosting, maintenance and custom development. Hosting plans for TYPO3 typically start at $4.95 per month.

Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento, now branded as Adobe Commerce, is a powerful, open-source CMS platform built specifically for eCommerce websites. It is one of the leading choices for creating large-scale online stores due to its flexibility and ability to handle large product catalogs and heavy traffic.

Magento is widely popular in the eCommerce space, especially among larger businesses that require more than what basic platforms like Shopify can offer.

Key features of Magento:

• Advanced eCommerce features: Magento supports multi-store management and handles extensive product catalogs. This makes it ideal for businesses with diverse product lines.
• Integration with payment gateways and shipping providers: Magento integrates with many services. You can offer flexible payment and shipping options to customers.
• Highly customizable and scalable: The platform allows deep customization. It supports businesses that need to handle large-scale operations.
• Real-time inventory and order management: Magento provides tools to track inventory levels and manage orders efficiently. This is important for businesses with high transaction volumes.

Pros of Magento:

• Magento’s open-source architecture allows you to modify almost any aspect of your store.
• It also provides detailed reports for understanding customer behavior.
• Magento has an active community. You can find many extensions to expand your store’s functionality.

Cons of Magento:

• If you’re not familiar with coding, you’ll need some expert help to make the most of Magento’s capabilities.
• It’s a powerful platform, but that comes with a cost—Magento needs some serious hosting power, which can get pricey.

Use cases of Magento:

• Magento is perfect for eCommerce websites with large inventories, businesses that need multi-store functionality and companies requiring advanced customizations.

Magento pricing:

Magento’s open-source version is free, but businesses often opt for the Adobe Commerce version, which starts at $2,000 per year. Costs can increase with advanced features and professional development.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a popular open-source eCommerce CMS, mainly used by small to medium-sized businesses. It offers flexibility and customization while being more accessible than Magento. PrestaShop allows users to create a fully functional online store with minimal technical expertise.

PrestaShop is highly popular in Europe, particularly among smaller businesses that need a cost-effective yet feature-rich eCommerce solution. It’s known for its simplicity and scalability.

Key features of PrestaShop:

• Customizable product catalogs: PrestaShop lets you create detailed product listings. You can add multiple attributes and images to showcase products.
• Multi-language and multi-currency support: This CMS platform supports selling in different languages and currencies.
• Open-source CMS: PrestaShop is free to use and provides access to its source code. You can modify it without paying licensing fees.
• Real-time analytics and reporting: The platform includes tools to track sales and generate reports. This helps you make data-driven business decisions.

Pros of PrestaShop:

• A wide range of free and paid add-ons lets you expand your store’s functionality as needed.
• It doesn’t sacrifice essential eCommerce features while being simpler to use.
• PrestaShop ensures your store is mobile-friendly. It also includes basic SEO features to improve visibility in search results.

Cons of PrestaShop:

• While easier than Magento, PrestaShop can still pose challenges for beginners. Some technical skills may be needed for customization.
• Advanced features and premium modules can become costly over time
• Although the base platform is free, the cost of modules and themes can add up.

Use cases of PrestaShop:

• PrestaShop is a good choice for small to medium-sized eCommerce businesses. It’s ideal for startups and growing online stores.

PrestaShop pricing:

PrestaShop itself is free to download and use, but costs can increase based on hosting, premium themes and modules. Hosting can start from as low as $5/month, but businesses may need to invest more in custom development.

Umbraco

Umbraco is a CMS built on Microsoft’s .NET framework, known for its flexibility, scalability and user-friendliness. Unlike other popular CMS platforms like WordPress, which are geared toward general use, Umbraco has a loyal following, especially among developers and businesses operating within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Its flexibility and powerful back-end capabilities make it popular for projects that require high customization and advanced content management.

Key features of Umbraco:

• .NET-based platform: Umbraco is built on Microsoft’s .NET framework. It works well with Windows servers and integrates smoothly with other Microsoft tools.
• User-friendly interface: Umbraco offers a clean and intuitive interface. This makes content management straightforward.
• Open-source: Users have full access to its source code. Web developers can modify it without any licensing fees.
• Flexible content management: Umbraco supports complex content types and structures. This allows you to manage large websites with ease.

Pros of Umbraco:

• Web developers can build highly tailored solutions for businesses.
• The platform handles intricate content needs. It works well for large websites that require custom functionality.
• Umbraco supports headless CMS setups. You can deliver content through APIs to multiple platforms.

Cons of Umbraco:

• Non-technical users may find it difficult to use without help.
• Advanced customization requires experience with .NET. This limits the platform’s accessibility to non-developers.

Use cases of Umbraco:

• Umbraco is suited for corporate websites, enterprise applications, and businesses working within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Umbraco pricing:

Umbraco’s core version is free to download and use. However, the Umbraco Cloud version, which includes managed hosting, starts at $39 per month.

HubSpot CMS

HubSpot CMS is a fully integrated, cloud-based CMS designed specifically for marketing professionals. It combines content management with HubSpot’s powerful marketing, sales and service tools, making it ideal for businesses focused on inbound marketing and customer engagement.

HubSpot CMS is widely popular among marketing-driven businesses and SaaS companies. It’s known for its all-in-one approach with both content management and marketing automation tools under one roof.

Key features of HubSpot CMS:

• Built-in SEO and content optimization: HubSpot provides tools for optimizing pages., inncluding on-page recommendations and automatic sitemaps.
• Drag-and-drop editor: HubSpot’s editor allows users to build pages without coding. You can quickly design and publish content.
• Integrated marketing tools: HubSpot CMS integrates with email marketing, social media, and analytics. This helps manage campaigns and track performance from one place.
• A/B testing: You can experiment with different designs and content to find what works best.

Pros of HubSpot CMS:

• The platform is easy to use. It’s accessible to marketers and business owners without technical backgrounds.
• HubSpot offers extensive resources and responsive support. You’ll have help available when needed.
• The drag-and-drop editor speeds up the creation process. This reduces the time and resources required to build your site.

Cons of HubSpot CMS:

• HubSpot may not offer as much flexibility as open-source platforms like WordPress. Customization options can be more restricted.
• Accessing HubSpot’s more advanced features can increase costs significantly. This may be a drawback for smaller businesses.

Use cases of HubSpot CMS:

• HubSpot CMS is perfect for business websites focused on marketing. It’s ideal for platforms integrating CRM tools and lead generation.

HubSpot CMS pricing:

HubSpot CMS starts at $23 per month. For businesses that want to use the full suite of HubSpot’s tools, pricing can go up significantly, starting at $45 per month for the full CRM suite.

Webflow

Webflow is a designer-focused CMS that offers complete control over the look and feel of websites without requiring code. It’s often considered a hybrid between a website builder and a CMS, providing both visual design tools and CMS-level content management capabilities.

Webflow is among the best CMS platforms for designers who need to build highly customized, visually appealing websites without relying on developers.

Key features of Webflow:

• Visual design control: Webflow provides granular control over website design. This allows you to make design decisions without writing any code.
• CMS capabilities: Webflow supports custom content types. You can manage dynamic content easily using its built-in CMS.
• Hosting included: Webflow offers fast and secure hosting.
• Responsive designs: Websites built with Webflow are fully responsive. This ensures they look good on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

Pros of Webflow:

• You can create complex layouts without knowing how to code.
• Webflow makes it easy to bind dynamic content to your designs.
• Webflow is ideal for designers who want to build visually impressive websites.

Cons of Webflow:

• Users who are new to design tools might struggle with Webflow’s features at first.
• Webflow may not support advanced functionality out of the box. You may need custom code for complex features

Use cases of Webflow:

• Webflow is great for designers, creatives, and businesses needing custom website designs. It’s also suited for portfolios and small businesses.

Webflow pricing:

Webflow’s pricing starts at $12/month for basic websites. For eCommerce, plans start at $29/month. Prices increase based on features and traffic needs.

Concrete5

Concrete5 is an open-source CMS platform known for its ease of use and user-friendly interface. It combines flexibility with simplicity, making it a great choice for developers and beginners alike.

While not as widely adopted as WordPress or Joomla, Concrete5 has a dedicated following, particularly among small businesses and educational institutions.

Its intuitive interface is a major draw for non-technical users.

Key features of Concrete5:

• Front-end editing: Concrete5 allows users to edit pages directly. You can see changes immediately while working in a WYSIWYG environment.
• Modular system: The platform uses blocks and packages to add functionality. This makes it easy to extend your site as needed.
• SEO and marketing tools: Concrete5 includes basic SEO features. It generates sitemaps and allows you to set meta tags for better search engine optimization.
• User-friendly interface: Concrete5 is designed with non-technical users in mind. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate.

Pros of Concrete5:

• Concrete5 allows you to manage content without technical skills. This makes it accessible for small business owners and non-developers.
• The platform is ideal for small businesses. It offers straightforward website management with minimal maintenance.
• You can drag and drop elements to build or rearrange pages easily.

Cons of Concrete5:

• Concrete5 may not scale well for large or complex websites. It is best suited for simpler projects.
• It has a smaller community. This means there are fewer resources and support options available.

Use cases of Concrete5: 

• Concrete5 is ideal for small businesses, non-profits, and educational sites that need easy content management without technical expertise. 

Concrete5 pricing:

Concrete5 is free to download and use. Costs arise from hosting, premium themes and add-ons. Hosting plans typically start around $5-$10/month.

Sitefinity

Sitefinity is an enterprise-level CMS platform developed by Progress Software. It’s designed for businesses that need a highly customizable and scalable content management solution.

Sitefinity is a popular choice among enterprise-level organizations, particularly in industries like finance, healthcare and government. Its robust feature set makes it ideal for managing large websites with complex content needs.

Key features of Sitefinity:

• Advanced personalization features: Sitefinity delivers personalized content to users. It tailors the site experience based on user data and behaviors.
• Scalable architecture: It is built for high-traffic websites. It handles complex content structures and scales with your organization’s needs.
• Marketing integration: This platform integrates with popular marketing tools. This includes platforms like Salesforce and Marketo, allowing better alignment with marketing strategies.
• Multi-site management: You can manage multiple websites from a single interface. This is useful for organizations that handle multiple brands or regions.
• Real-time editing and collaboration: Sitefinity supports collaborative content creation. It includes workflow management for efficient teamwork.

Pros of Sitefinity:

• Sitefinity is perfect for global businesses. It handles multiple sites and languages from a single platform.
• It also works well with marketing tools and customer relationship management systems. This helps align your website with broader marketing goals.
• The platform provides detailed analytics. This helps businesses make data-driven decisions to improve their performance.

Cons of Sitefinity:

• Sitefinity can be difficult for non-technical users. It may require more time to learn and master.
• Its pricing may be too high for small organizations or those with limited budgets.

Use cases of Sitefinity:

• Sitefinity is best for large enterprises managing multiple sites, eCommerce platforms, and businesses in industries like finance or healthcare.

Sitefinity pricing:

Sitefinity offers custom pricing based on the features and support needed, with costs typically starting at $2,000/year. It’s a premium solution best suited for large businesses.

Comparison table: Best CMS platforms 2024

CMS Platform	Key Features	Ease of Use	Scalability	Pricing
WordPress	Customization, SEO tools, plugins	Medium	High	Free + Hosting
Joomla	Advanced content management, multilingual	Medium	High	Free + Hosting
Drupal	Enterprise-level, strong security	Difficult	Very high	Free + Hosting
Shopify	eCommerce, integrated payment system	Easy	Medium	$29/month + Transaction fees
Wix	Drag-and-drop editor, built-in SEO	Very easy	Low	$14/month
Ghost	Fast performance, content publishing, blogging	Easy	Medium	$9/month
Squarespace	Visually stunning templates, all-in-one solution	Easy	Medium	$12/month
TYPO3	Enterprise-level, multi-language support	Difficult	High	Free + Hosting
Magento (Adobe Commerce)	Advanced eCommerce, multi-store management	Difficult	Very high	$22,000/year + Hosting
PrestaShop	Open-source eCommerce, customization	Medium	High	Free + Hosting
Umbraco	Developer-focused, highly customizable	Difficult	High	Free + Hosting
HubSpot CMS	All-in-one marketing, CRM integration	Easy	Medium	$23/month
Webflow	Full design control, no-code interface	Medium	Medium	$12/month
Concrete5	Easy content management, flexible permissions	Easy	Medium	Free + Hosting
Sitefinity	Enterprise-level, marketing integration	Difficult	Very high	$10,000/year + Hosting

Criteria for evaluating the best CMS platforms in 2024

Cost

Understanding the cost of a CMS platform is crucial. Some CMSs are free to use, like WordPress or Joomla, but still require expenses for hosting, premium plugins, or themes. On the other hand, platforms like Shopify, HubSpot CMS and Magento (Adobe Commerce) come with built-in costs or subscription fees that include hosting, security and additional features.

When evaluating a platform, consider:

• Initial setup costs (e.g., hosting, domain registration).
• Ongoing costs (e.g., premium themes, plugins, extensions, or transaction fees for eCommerce platforms).
• Scalability costs as your website grows and you require additional features.

Scalability

Scalability refers to how well a CMS platform can grow with your website’s increasing demands. If you plan to expand your website over time, you’ll need a platform that supports:

• Extensive plugin or extension libraries to add new features (e.g., SEO tools, security, social media integration).
• The ability to handle increased traffic and content without performance issues.
• Integration with third-party services such as CRM tools, eCommerce, or marketing platforms.

For example, WordPress and Magento are highly scalable, making them great choices for websites expecting significant growth. Meanwhile, platforms like Squarespace or Wix may be more limited in scalability.

Ease of use

The ease of use of a CMS platform is critical, especially if you’re not a technical expert. Some platforms, such as Wix and Squarespace, prioritize a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop tools, making them ideal for beginners or small businesses that need to build a website quickly.

Other platforms, like Drupal or Magento, are more powerful but come with a steep learning curve that requires technical skills. Choose a CMS that matches your skill level and offers the right balance between simplicity and flexibility.

Flexibility and customization

A CMS platform’s ability to be customized to meet your exact needs is essential for businesses that require unique features or designs. WordPress is known for its vast library of themes and plugins, giving you almost limitless customization options. Similarly, Drupal and Joomla offer extensive flexibility for developers.

However, website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer less customization in exchange for ease of use. If you need specific custom features or advanced functionality, prioritize platforms with rich customization options.

Security

Security should always be a top consideration, especially if your website handles sensitive information like payment details or customer data. Platforms like Magento (Adobe Commerce) and Drupal are known for their robust security features and regular updates.

Key security features to consider include:

• SSL certificates for encrypted data transmission.
• Regular security updates and patches.
• Built-in protections against common vulnerabilities like DDoS attacks or SQL injections.
• Plugins and extensions that enhance your website’s security, such as firewalls or two-factor authentication.

SEO features

A CMS platform’s ability to optimize for search engines can greatly impact your website’s visibility. Look for built-in SEO tools that help optimize your content for search engines, including features for meta tags, URL structures and schema markup.

WordPress, for example, is well-known for its strong SEO features, especially when combined with plugins like Yoast SEO.

HubSpot CMS also excels in this area, as it integrates seamlessly with marketing tools to boost your website’s SEO performance.

Performance and speed

Website speed and performance are crucial for both user experience and search engine rankings. A fast-loading website improves visitor retention, while slow websites can lead to high bounce rates. When evaluating a CMS platform, consider:

• The platform’s ability to handle real-time content delivery.
• Integrated features for content caching, CDN (Content Delivery Network) integration and image optimization.
• How well does the platform manage large amounts of content or traffic spikes?

For example, Contentful excels in performance due to its headless CMS architecture, making it a great choice for websites that prioritize fast content delivery across multiple platforms.

Support and community

When evaluating a CMS, the availability of support is key—whether it’s community support, professional customer service, or extensive documentation.

Platforms like WordPress have massive communities and resources available, including tutorials, forums and plugins for troubleshooting issues.

Meanwhile, proprietary platforms like Shopify or HubSpot CMS often include professional customer support as part of their subscription fees, which can be invaluable for businesses looking for fast and reliable help.

Integration capabilities

Your CMS platform should integrate smoothly with third-party services that enhance your website’s functionality, such as:

• eCommerce platforms (e.g., WooCommerce, Shopify, Stripe).
• Marketing automation tools (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp).
• CRM systems for managing customer data and engagement.
• Analytics platforms like Google Analytics to track performance.

Choose a CMS that can seamlessly integrate with the tools and services you need to grow your website and business.

How Bluehost integrates with content management systems

Bluehost is a top web hosting provider known for its seamless integration with various CMS platforms. Whether you’re using WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, or Shopify, Bluehost offers hosting plans optimized for performance, security and ease of use.

Here’s how Bluehost enhances the functionality of the top CMS platforms in 2024:

Seamless integration across CMS platforms

Bluehost works effortlessly with many CMS platforms, providing easy installation and setup.

• One-click installation: Bluehost offers a one-click installation feature for CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. This eliminates the need for complex manual setup and gets your website running fast.
• Ease of setup: Bluehost’s intuitive control panel makes managing your CMS, domain and hosting environment simple. Users can handle everything in one place, making the website-building process stress-free.

Optimized hosting plans for specific CMSs

Each CMS has unique hosting requirements, and Bluehost offers tailored plans to meet those needs. Whether you’re building an eCommerce store on Shopify or a content-rich blog on WordPress, Bluehost provides plans that optimize performance, security and scalability.

• WordPress hosting: Bluehost is one of WordPress’s most recommended hosts. The optimized WordPress plans include automatic updates, free SSL certificates and enhanced security to ensure smooth operation.
• WooCommerce integration: For users building online stores with WordPress and WooCommerce, Bluehost offers specialized hosting with enhanced performance, store management tools and secure payment gateways.
• Cloud hosting: Bluehost’s cloud hosting provides high-speed performance, automatic resource scaling, and zero downtime. It’s an ideal solution for businesses seeking flexibility and reliability, with the added benefits of 24/7 support and strong security features.

Performance enhancements

A website’s performance is key to user experience and search engine rankings. Bluehost enhances CMS platform performance through features that boost speed, uptime and security. These improvements ensure your website operates efficiently on any CMS platform.

• Built-in caching: Bluehost includes integrated caching to boost loading times, especially for content-heavy websites on platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal.
• Content delivery network (CDN): Bluehost integrates with Cloudflare CDN to ensure fast content delivery by caching static content and distributing it across servers worldwide. This improves performance for users globally by reducing latency.

Security features

Security is a top priority at Bluehost, and the platform offers features to protect your CMS from cyber threats. Bluehost provides free SSL certificates, automatic malware scans and daily backups to give website owners peace of mind, especially those managing eCommerce stores or handling sensitive customer data.

• Free SSL certificates: Every Bluehost plan includes a free SSL certificate, essential for securing data transfers between your website and visitors. This is especially important for eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, where users share personal and financial information.
• Automatic malware scans: Bluehost provides daily malware scanning and removal tools, protecting your CMS platform from attacks. This is especially critical for WordPress, which is often targeted by hackers.
• SiteLock security: Bluehost integrates with SiteLock to enhance security further. SiteLock continuously scans your website for malware, detects vulnerabilities, and actively removes threats. It also provides protection against hacking attempts and DDoS attacks, ensuring your website remains safe and performs optimally.
• CodeGuard backups: CodeGuard provides automated daily backups of your website’s files and databases. With easy one-click restoration, you can quickly recover your site in case of accidental data loss, hacking, or other issues.

Support services

Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support to assist users with any CMS-related issues. Whether you’re installing WordPress or troubleshooting Joomla, Bluehost’s support team is available via phone, live chat, or email to provide expert help.

• 24/7 support: Bluehost’s dedicated support team is available round-the-clock for assistance with CMS installation, troubleshooting and performance optimization.
• Specialized WordPress support: For WordPress users, Bluehost provides specialized support, including tutorials, step-by-step guides and WordPress-specific troubleshooting, ensuring users get the most out of their website.

Developer-friendly features

For advanced users and developers, Bluehost offers features like SSH access, custom PHP configurations and MySQL databases. These features make it easier for developers to modify CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal to suit specific needs.

• Custom PHP configurations: Bluehost allows users to adjust PHP settings to meet the needs of their CMS platform, enhancing flexibility and performance on Joomla and Drupal.
• MySQL databases: Bluehost supports multiple MySQL databases, which is crucial for storing large amounts of data, particularly on scalable websites built with CMS platforms.

Final thoughts

Choosing the right CMS platform depends on your specific needs, whether it’s for a simple blog or a growing eCommerce site. In 2024, platforms like WordPress, Shopify and Joomla offer the tools to help you build a functional, scalable website. Understanding your goals, skill level and long-term plans will guide you to the best fit. Each CMS has its strengths, making it easier to find the perfect solution for your online presence.

For a smooth setup, Bluehost offers seamless CMS integration and reliable hosting solutions. Get started today and let Bluehost power your website’s success.

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