Best CMS compared

The days when websites were painstakingly written line by line in HTML code that was often incomprehensible to non‑experts are now over. Today 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 which are currently the most popular content management systems on the market? That is what this article covers!

What is a CMS?

The abbreviation CMS stands for the English term Content Management System. Translated into German, this describes a system for managing content. A CMS is therefore deployed on a Web hosting service to simplify the creation and management of a website’s content. In this context, content refers to all forms of media, such as text, images and videos that are presented to visitors of the online presence. Content management systems exist in countless variations. Some developers provide their software free of charge and as open‑source, while others distribute their applications as proprietary software only to paying customers. There are also CMSs that are primarily suited to small web projects, and systems designed for particularly large and complex websites.

What are the advantages of a CMS?

The biggest advantage of using a good CMS on your own web hosting is the simplified management of content. In many content management systems, due to the strict separation of content, design and functionality, either no programming skills or only basic programming skills are required to build an attractive website using the software. As a rule, you only need to learn how to use the relevant application. Instead of having to create every element of a website from scratch in HTML, the CMS takes care of these tasks and the website owner can focus on presenting their content. Most CMSs also offer different user roles, so several employees can take on different tasks on a website. For example, editors without IT skills can use the system to create text content easily. Content management systems are also required when it comes to the provision of dynamic data. When website visitors can interact with content and should be shown personalised content, the CMS organises the rapid provision of the corresponding data. This happens in conjunction with a database system, in which all data is stored and the required records are retrieved and presented to the user as needed.

Which is the best CMS for your website?

Which content management system on your web hosting is best for your online presence depends on various criteria. Each system has its pros and cons, so making a comparison is sensible. First, consider how your website will be implemented and which features it should offer potential visitors. Your own expertise and, in general, the planned scale of the site are also important. Naturally, you should also decide whether to opt for a free open source system or a specialised paid solution.

Most popular content management systems

The chart below shows the distribution of market shares among the six most popular content management systems. With over 60% the open-source CMS WordPress is by far in first place. The platform Shopify, used mainly for e-commerce, comes second with 6%. Behind it are the commercial software offerings of the website builders Wix and Squarespace, ahead of the other open-source CMSs Joomla! and Drupal.

Commercial CMS

Commercial content management systems, such as the e-commerce platform Shopify or the website builders from Wix and Squarespace, often offer a free entry-level tier, but for professional or larger web presences they are usually chargeable. They provide users with an intuitive and user-friendly platform that enables the creation of professional websites without in-depth technical knowledge. These systems typically include integrated solutions for web hosting, security and technical support, which significantly reduces the effort required for maintenance and management of the website. In addition, they deliver a variety of pre-designed templates and customisation options to meet the needs of different business models and sectors, making them particularly attractive to freelancers and small businesses.

Advantages

• Ongoing development and updates of the system are contractually guaranteed
• Intuitive and user-friendly platform
• Stability and performance are ensured
• Contractual support offering

Disadvantages

• Professional use is chargeable
• No access to the source code
• High dependency on the developer
• Support only from the vendor

Free Open Source CMS

Considerably more popular and much better known due to the huge number of community projects are the open-source content management systems. The fact that any user can use these systems free of charge for any purpose has contributed to their wide distribution. Software such as 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 licence costs for the software
• Open source code enables customised development
• Huge community of developers and users

Disadvantages

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

Most popular open-source content management systems

The chart below shows the market share distribution among the four most popular open-source content management systems. With over 60%, WordPress is clearly in first place. Joomla! ranks second with 2.5%, ahead of Drupal at 1.6% and TYPO3 at 0.5%.

Tip: Also find out about the most popular shop systems in comparison and the market share distribution.

How do I find the best CMS for my web project?

Commercial content management systems (CMS) such as Shopify, Squarespace or Wix typically offer a user-friendly interface and simple drag-and-drop features, which allow users without technical knowledge to create and manage professional-looking websites. They often come with integrated hosting and technical support, which simplifies the setup and maintenance of the website.

In contrast, open-source CMS such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal or TYPO3 offer greater flexibility and customisation options through a variety of plugins and themes, but generally 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 free of charge, but may incur additional costs for advanced features or professional templates.

Ultimately, the choice between commercial and open-source CMS depends on the user's specific needs, budget and level of technical comfort.

How do I find the best CMS web hosting?

Unlike commercial CMS, users who use the popular open-source CMS rely on their own web hosting. In principle, content management systems are written in a specific scripting language PHP, which of course must be supported by the CMS web hosting. In addition, most content management systems require a database such as MySQL. To ensure optimal operation and full functionality, developers often recommend customised settings and extensions for scripting language support. Depending on which content management system you choose, the specific requirements for the CMS Web hosting vary. Since the software itself usually does not require much disk space, this value depends largely on the planned content of the website. If you plan to provide your visitors with high-resolution images and videos, you should accordingly plan for more storage space.

The following table provides an overview of the requirements of the best-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.

The best web hosting providers from our test

Rank ↕	Provider ↕	Test Score ↕	Storage ↕	Domains ↕	Contract ↕	Price ↕
1.	4,9 ★ (116)	4.8/5 Excellent 02/2026	10 GB	1	1 months	£2.49/month	View Test	To provider
1.	4,9 ★ (19)	4.8/5 Excellent 02/2026	25 GB		1 months	£12.27/month	View Test	To provider
3.	4,9 ★ (387)	4.6/5 Excellent 04/2026	50 GB	3	0 months	£4.26/month	View Test	To provider *
4.	4,9 ★ (35)	4.5/5 Excellent 02/2026	5 GB	1	36 months	£2.01/month	View Test	To provider *
5.	4,7 ★ (686)	4.2/5 Very Good 02/2026	150 GB	3	12 months	£3.50/month	View Test	To provider

As of: April 2026 | Our Testing Methodology * If you click on a recommendation with *, this supports our work. hosttest may then receive remuneration.

This article is based on our own experience and research as well as information from external sources.

Article update:
Update 18.06.24: 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)