Best CMS Comparison 2024

The days of painstakingly writing websites line by line in HTML code, often incomprehensible to laypeople, are long gone. Nowadays, most website owners use a convenient Content Management System to create and manage the content of their online presence. But how do you find the best CMS for your website, what should you consider when choosing a suitable CMS, and what are currently the most popular Content Management Systems on the market? This is what the following article is all about!

What is a CMS?

The abbreviation CMS stands for the English term Content Management System. Translated into German, this describes a System zur Verwaltung von Inhalten. A CMS is used on a web hosting to facilitate the creation and management of content on a website. In this context, the term content refers to all forms of media, including text, images, and videos that are intended to be presented to visitors of the online presence. There are countless variations of Content Management Systems. Some developers offer their software for free with open-source code to the general public, while others distribute their applications as proprietary software only to paying customers. Additionally, there are CMSs that are primarily suitable for simple small web projects, as well as systems that can be used for particularly extensive and complex websites.

What are the benefits of a CMS?

The greatest advantage of using a good CMS on your own web hosting is the simplified content management. With many Content Management Systems, due to the strict separation of content, design, and functionality, either no programming knowledge is required at all or only basic knowledge to build an appealing website using the software. Usually, only the handling of the respective application needs to be learned. Instead of having to create all elements of a website from scratch using HTML, the CMS handles these tasks, allowing the website owner to focus on presenting their content. Most CMSs also offer various user roles, allowing multiple employees to take on different tasks for a website. For example, editors without IT knowledge can use the system for easy text creation. Content Management Systems are also necessary when it comes to providing dynamic data. When website visitors can interact with the content and should be shown individual content, the CMS organises the quick provision of the necessary data. This is done in conjunction with a database system, where all data is stored and the required data sets are retrieved and presented to the user as needed.

Which is the best CMS for your website?

Choosing the best content management system for your online presence on web hosting depends on various criteria. Each system has its pros and cons, making a comparison essential. Firstly, consider how you want your website to be implemented and what features it should offer to potential visitors. Your own expertise and the planned scope of the website also play a significant role. Additionally, think about whether you want to opt for a free open-source system or a specific paid solution.

Most Popular Content Management Systems in 2024

The following graph shows the market share distribution among the top 6 content management systems. With over 60%, the open-source CMS WordPress leads by a huge margin. The e-commerce platform Shopify, primarily used for e-commerce purposes, comes in second place with 6%. Following behind are the commercial software offerings of website builders Wix and Squarespace, ahead of the other open-source CMS Joomla! and Drupal.

Commercial CMS

Commercial content management systems, such as the e-commerce platform Shopify or the website builders Wix and Squarespace, often offer a free entry-level plan but are generally paid for professional or extensive web presences. They provide users with an intuitive and user-friendly platform that allows the creation of professional websites without deep technical knowledge. These systems typically include integrated solutions for web hosting, security, and technical support, significantly reducing the effort required for website maintenance and management. Moreover, they offer a variety of pre-designed templates and customization options to cater to the needs of different business models and industries, making them particularly attractive to freelancers or small businesses.

Advantages

• Development and updating of the system is contractually secured
• Intuitive and user-friendly platform
• Stability and performance are guaranteed
• Contractually regulated support offering

Disadvantages

• Professional use incurs costs
• No access to the source code
• High dependence on the developer
• Support only from the manufacturer

Free Open Source CMS

Significantly more popular and much more well-known due to the huge number of community projects, open-source Content Management Systems are. The fact that every user can use the systems for any purpose for free has contributed to their widespread use. Software like WordPress, Joomla, TYPO3, or Drupal are familiar to most webmasters, and the majority of websites on the internet use these systems as a foundation.

Advantages

• No licensing costs for the software
• Open source code allows for individual development
• Huge community of developers and users

Disadvantages

• Higher learning curve for users without IT knowledge
• Individual changes not possible without expertise

Most Popular Open-Source Content Management Systems in 2024

The following graph shows the market share distribution among the 4 most popular open-source Content Management Systems. With over 60%, WordPress leads by a clear margin. Joomla! ranks second with 2.5%, ahead of Drupal with 1.6% and TYPO3 with 0.5%.

Tip: Also, check out the most popular e-commerce platforms compared and their market share distribution.

How to Find the Best CMS for Your Own Web Project?

Commercial Content Management Systems (CMS) like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix typically offer a user-friendly interface and easy drag-and-drop features that allow users without technical knowledge to create and manage professional-looking websites. They often come with integrated hosting and technical support, simplifying the setup and maintenance of the website.

In contrast, Open-Source CMS such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, or TYPO3 offer greater flexibility and customization options through a variety of plugins and themes, but typically require more technical know-how and independent maintenance.

While commercial CMS solutions often rely on a subscription model that can incur ongoing costs, Open-Source alternatives are available for free, but may incur additional costs for advanced features or professional templates.

Ultimately, the choice between commercial and Open-Source CMS depends on the specific needs, budget, and technical comfort level of the user.

How do I find the best CMS web hosting?

In contrast to commercial CMS, users of popular Open Source CMS rely on their own web hosting. Content Management Systems are generally written in a specific scripting language, which of course must be supported by the CMS web hosting. The most well-known and widely used CMS are based on the PHP scripting language. Additionally, most Content Management Systems require a database like MySQL. To ensure optimal operation and comprehensive functionality, developers often recommend individual settings and extensions for scripting language support. Depending on the chosen Content Management System, the specific requirements for CMS web hosting can vary. Since the software itself usually does not require much disk space, this value depends particularly on the planned content of the website. Those who wish to provide their visitors with high-resolution images and videos should accordingly plan for more storage space.

The following table provides an overview of the requirements of the most well-known applications that can be used on CMS web hosting:

Choose one of the best Content Management Systems and find the right web hosting for your web project.

Our article is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from external sources.

Article update:
Update 24/06/18: Content and statistics updated

Sources & further links on the topic:
https://w3techs.com/technologies/history_overview/content_management (CMS distribution statistics)
https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/content_management (CMS distribution statistics)

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