Most 15 Best CMS for Website Development in 2024

Having a website is essential for businesses, organizations, and individuals alike to establish an online presence.

To create and manage a website effectively, choosing the right Best Content Management System (CMS) is crucial.

A CMS is software that enables users to create, organize, and publish digital content without requiring extensive technical knowledge or coding skills.

The importance of using the right CMS cannot be overstated as it directly impacts the success, functionality, and efficiency of your website. It is mostly significance to select the right CMS for the benefit of your website’s performance and overall user experience.

There are hundreds to thousands of Content Management Systems (CMS) that offers a very good user friendly interface.

In this post, I will explain the top 15 CMS platforms in 2024, empowering you to make an informed choice for your website development needs.

15 Best CMS for 2024

These are the best CMS platforms for 2024 and there features that are easy to use and maintain.

1. WordPress

WordPress is a widely popular CMS that powers over 48% of websites worldwide. It offers an easy-to-use dashboard, free themes, and free plugins to customize your website’s functionality without advanced coding skills.

WordPress is Best For:

WordPress is a versatile CMS that can suit various types of websites. Here are some common types of websites for which WordPress is well-suited:

• 1. Blogs: WordPress began as a blogging platform, and it still excels in this area. Its user-friendly interface, customizable themes, and extensive blogging features make it an ideal choice for individuals or businesses looking to create and manage a blog.
• 2. Business Websites: WordPress offers a wide range of themes and plugins that cater to the needs of businesses. Whether you run a small or large business, you can create a professional website with features like contact forms, product/service pages, testimonials, and more.
• 3. E-commerce Sites: With the help of popular plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress can power robust and scalable e-commerce websites. You can showcase products, handle payments, manage inventory, and track orders seamlessly within the WordPress framework.
• 4. Portfolio/Personal Websites: WordPress provides numerous themes and templates specifically designed for showcasing portfolios or personal websites. These themes offer customizable layouts, image galleries, and other features to highlight your work, skills, or personal achievements.
• 5. Nonprofit/Charitable Websites: Many nonprofit organizations rely on WordPress to build their websites due to its affordability and ease of use. WordPress lets you create donation forms, promote events, share stories, and engage with your audience effectively.
• 6. Educational Websites: WordPress is an excellent option for educational institutions, schools, and online learning platforms. It enables easy organization of course materials, blogging, collaborative content creation, and student management.
• 7. News/Magazine Websites: WordPress offers themes and plugins specifically designed for news and magazine websites. It allows you to showcase articles, organize content by categories, facilitate social sharing, and implement advertising options.
• 8. Community Forums: WordPress can power community forums with plugins like bbPress, buddyPress providing a platform for discussion, user interaction, and knowledge sharing. It enables users to create topics and participate in discussions effectively.

Pros of WordPress:

1. User-Friendly: One of the biggest advantages of WordPress is its user-friendly interface. It offers a simple and intuitive content management system, allowing users with minimal technical knowledge to create and manage websites easily.
2. Extensive Customization: WordPress offers a vast library of themes and plugins, giving users the flexibility to customize their websites according to their preferences and needs. Whether you need a simple blog or a complex e-commerce site, WordPress has the tools to make it happen.
3. SEO Optimization: WordPress is highly regarded for its search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities. It provides features like customizable permalinks, easy-to-use SEO plugins, and responsive designs that help improve your website’s visibility in search engine rankings.
4. Active Community: WordPress has a large and active community of developers, designers, and users who constantly contribute to its improvement. This community provides support, regular updates, and a wealth of resources, making it easier for users to troubleshoot issues and stay up-to-date with the latest web development trends.
5. Scalability: WordPress is highly scalable, allowing websites to grow as your business expands. It can handle a small personal blog or a large enterprise website, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Cons of WordPress:

1. Security Vulnerabilities: Being the most widely used CMS, WordPress can attract the attention of hackers. It is essential to regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins and implement security measures to protect your website from potential vulnerabilities.
2. Overreliance on Plugins: While plugins can extend the functionality of your website, relying too heavily on them can impact performance. Installing too many plugins or using poorly coded ones can lead to slow loading times, conflicts, and potential security risks.
3. Regular Updates: WordPress frequently releases updates to improve security, fix bugs, and add new features. While updates are essential for website maintenance, they can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with themes or plugins, requiring additional troubleshooting and updates.
4. Learning Curve for Advanced Customization: While WordPress is user-friendly, advanced customization and modifications may require some coding knowledge. Achieving complex functionalities may require hiring a developer or investing time in learning more advanced WordPress customization techniques.
5. Can Become Bloated: With its extensive range of themes and plugins, it’s easy to go overboard and install unnecessary elements, which can result in a bloated website. This can affect loading times and overall performance if the website is not optimized properly.

Main features of WordPress:

• Customization: WordPress provides extensive customization options through its library of themes and plugins. Users can choose from thousands of free and paid themes to customize the look and feel of their website. Similarly, with the help of plugins, users can add numerous functionalities like e-commerce, social media integration, contact forms, and more to their website.
• User Management: WordPress offers a robust user management system, allowing multiple users with different roles and permissions to access and manage the website. Moreover, it provides features like password-protected posts, two-factor authentication, and user registration to enhance website security and access control.
• SEO Optimization: WordPress is well-regarded for its SEO optimization capabilities. It provides features like customizable permalinks, easy-to-use SEO plugins, responsive designs and optimized coding that help improve your website’s visibility in search engine rankings.

Despite its drawbacks, WordPress remains number one of the most popular CMS platforms due to its user-friendliness, customization options, and strong community support.

It is crucial to weigh the pros and cons of WordPress and assess your specific website needs before making a decision.

With proper security measures, regular updates, and careful plugin management, WordPress can is an excellent choice for creating and managing a successful and scalable website.

2. Drupal:

Drupal is an open-source CMS with an extensive suite of modules and flexible architecture. It offers robust workflows for managing the content creation process and is a popular choice among governments, educational institutions, and non-profits.

Drupal is Best For:

1. Enterprise websites: Drupal’s robust architecture and scalability make it ideal for large, complex websites with advanced functionality and content management needs.
2. Government websites: Drupal’s security features, multilingual support, and accessibility compliance make it a popular choice for government agencies and organizations.
3. Educational websites: Drupal’s flexibility, user management, and content organization capabilities make it suitable for universities, schools, and e-learning platforms.

Pros of Drupal:

• Flexibility: Drupal offers high flexibility and modularity, allowing developers to create highly customized websites with complex functionalities.
• Scalability: It can handle large amounts of content and high traffic, making it suitable for enterprise-level websites.
• Security: Drupal has a robust security framework with regular updates and a dedicated security team, ensuring better protection against vulnerabilities.

Cons of Drupal:

• Steep learning curve: Compared to other CMS platforms, Drupal has a steeper learning curve, requiring technical expertise to fully utilize its potential.
• Complexity: The advanced features and flexibility of Drupal can make it complex to set up and maintain, especially for beginners.
• Limited theme options: Drupal has fewer pre-built themes compared to other CMS platforms, which may require more custom development.

Key features of Drupal:

• Modular structure: Drupal’s modular structure allows you to customize and modify various features, providing flexibility for complex websites.
• Content management: Drupal has a robust content management system, allowing for easy content creation, organization, and publishing.
• Multilingual support: Drupal has built-in multilingual support, enabling websites to offer content in multiple languages.

3. Joomla

Joomla is a suitable CMS for small to medium-sized websites. It provides responsive templates, and it is easy to use and customize. It is an excellent option for businesses looking to create an online presence with minimal technical knowledge.

Best For

1. E-commerce websites: Joomla offers powerful e-commerce extensions and integrations, making it suitable for building robust online stores.
2. Community and social networking sites: Joomla provides the necessary tools and extensions to create and manage interactive community and social networking websites.
3. Corporate and business websites: Joomla offers a variety of templates and extensions for creating professional and feature-rich corporate and business websites.

Pros of Joomla:

• Flexible and extensible: Joomla offers a wide range of extensions and templates, allowing for customizable and feature-rich websites.
• Strong community support: Joomla has a large and active community that provides support, resources, and regular updates.
• User-friendly interface: Joomla’s user-friendly interface makes it easier for non-technical users to manage and update their websites.

Cons of Joomla:

• Learning curve: Joomla can have a steep learning curve for beginners, requiring some time to understand its functionalities.
• More complex for small websites: Joomla’s robustness and extensive features can make it more complex and resource-heavy for smaller websites.
• Limited scalability: While Joomla can handle moderate-sized websites, it may face scalability issues for larger websites with heavy traffic.

Key features of Joomla:

• Modular architecture: Joomla’s modular architecture allows for easy extension and customization, enhancing the functionality of websites.
• Multi-language support: Joomla provides built-in support for multiple languages, making it suitable for global and multilingual websites.
• Access Control Levels: Joomla offers granular access control levels, allowing administrators to define user permissions and manage content effectively.

4. Magento

Magento is a CMS designed specifically for e-commerce sites, suiting larger stores with complex requirements. It offers advanced e-commerce features and comes with pre-built templates to jump-start your online shop.

Best For:
E-commerce websites, Content-driven websites and Membership/Subscription websites.
Pros:
Powerful and scalable platform for online stores, Easy content management, versatile template system, Easy user management, recurring billing options.
Cons:
Steeper learning curve, resource-intensive, Not as focused on e-commerce, Limited features for other types of websites.
Key features:
Flexible product catalog, advanced marketing tools, Rich content creation, flexible page layout, Membership levels, subscription management, gated content.

5. Shopify

Shopify is a SaaS (software-as-a-service) CMS for e-commerce businesses. It offers a streamlined platform to build an online store with drag-and-drop functionality, payment gateway, and inventory management integrations.
Best For:
E-commerce websites, Dropshipping websites,Online store with physical retail presence.
Pros:
User-friendly, all-in-one platform, Easy integration with suppliers, automated order fulfillment, Seamless integration of online and offline sales.
Cons:
Limited customization options, Limited control over product quality and shipping, Additional complexity and setup required.
Key features:
Simple product setup, secure payments, Dropshipping app integrations, supplier management, Point-of-sale system integration, inventory management.

6. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is another popular CMS platform for small to medium- sized eCommerce businesses. Its active community and broad set of features make it a largely flexible online store operation platform. Its comprehensive interface also helps to enter and cover products fluently.

Best For:
E-commerce websites, Multi-vendor marketplace websites and B2B e-commerce websites.
Pros:
Open-source, customizable platform, Allows multiple vendors to sell products on one platform, Tailored for business-to-business transactions, customizable pricing and payment options.
Cons:
Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance, Complex setup and management, Limited support for consumer-focused features.
Key features:
Extensive plugin ecosystem, multilingual capabilities, Vendor management, commission system, Advanced pricing rules, quotation system.

7. Squarespace

Squarespace is a user-friendly CMS that offers modern and visually appealing templates. It’s perfect for creatives and small business owners who value design as it offers options for video backgrounds and animations.

Best For:
Portfolio websites, Blogging websites and Small business websites.
Pros:
Easy to use, visually appealing templates, Intuitive content management system, built-in SEO tools, Professional templates, integrated e-commerce functionality.
Cons:
Limited e-commerce functionality, Limited customization options, Limited scalability for larger businesses.
Key features:
Image galleries, customizable layouts, Blog post editor, social media integration, Online store, appointment scheduling.

8. Wix

Wix is a website builder and CMS that offers beginner-friendly design tools. It is ideal for small businesses and creative professionals looking to create a visually compelling website without previous design or coding experience.

Best For:
Personal websites, Online store websites and Event websites.

Pros:
User-friendly platform, drag-and-drop editor, Built-in e-commerce functionality, payment gateways, Event management tools, ticketing features. Cons:
Limited customization options, Transaction fees on lower-priced plans, Limited scalability for complex event setups.
Key features:
Pre-designed templates, mobile optimization, Product catalogs, inventory management, Event registration, RSVP management.

9. Hubspot

Hubspot is a CMS that caters to businesses looking for inbound marketing and sales tools. It offers features such as lead capture forms, email marketing, landing pages, and integration with CRM software.

Best For:
Marketing websites, CRM websites and Service websites.
Pros:
Powerful marketing automation tools, lead capture forms, Integrated customer relationship management system, contact database, Seamless integration with other HubSpot tools, customer support features.
Cons:
Limited design customization, Steep learning curve for beginners, Limited scalability for large service-based businesses.
Key features:
Email marketing, lead nurturing, Contact management, sales pipeline tracking, Helpdesk ticketing, live chat support.

10. Webflow

Webflow is a CMS that offers drag-and-drop design customization, making it ideal for designing complex sites such as e-commerce stores and portfolios. It features custom plugins, e-commerce integrations, and a built-in CMS.

Best For:
Portfolio websites, E-commerce websites and Blogging websites.
Pros:
Customizable layouts, responsive design, Drag-and-drop interface, built-in shopping cart functionality, User-friendly content management system, SEO optimization tools.
Cons:
Requires learning curve for advanced features, Limited payment gateway options, Limited customization compared to dedicated blogging platforms.
Key features:
Interactive animations, CMS capabilities, Product catalogs, inventory management, Blog post editor, comments section integration.

11. Ghost

Ghost is a simpler CMS used for content-focused blogs. It prioritizes minimalism and focuses on publishing text-heavy blog posts with a user-friendly editing interface.
Best For:
Blogging websites, Membership websites and Publication websites.
Pros:
Fast and lightweight, focused on blogging experience, Built-in membership management system, content paywall options, Designed for multi-author publishing, collaborative editing tools. Cons:
Limited design customization options, Limited third-party integrations, Lack of advanced customization options.
Key features:
Markdown editor, SEO optimization, Member management, subscription plans, Multi-author support, content scheduling.

12. Contentful

Contentful is a headless CMS that allows for content storage and delivery without the constraints of pre-defined templates. It offers APIs and webhooks for content integrations and enables flexible content delivery to various devices.
Best For:
E-commerce websites, Enterprise websites and Custom web applications.
Pros:
Multi-language content, API-first CMS, Scalable for large teams, enterprise-grade security, Flexible content modeling, native app integration.
Cons:
Steep learning curve for advanced features, Expensive pricing for small businesses, Requires developer expertise for custom implementations.
Key features:
Modular content, flexible architecture, Custom workflows, role-based permissions, API integration, dynamic content delivery.

13. ProcessWire

ProcessWire is a developer-friendly CMS best suited for custom site builds. It has a flexible architecture that allows for a wide range of development possibilities, templates, and functionality.

Best For:
Portfolio websites, Small business websites and Community websites.
Pros:
Flexible and customizable, intuitive UI, Easy to use, efficient for small-scale operations, Powerful user management, forum functionality.
Cons:
Requires basic technical knowledge, Limited built-in features, May require additional plugins for advanced features.
Key features:
Multi-language support, user-friendly content editing, Customizable templates, SEO optimization, User authentication, social interaction tools.

14. Strapi

Strapi is an open-source CMS that provides easy content management through customizable APIs and pre-built templates. It enables teams to create and manage their content and supports all modern browsers.

Best For:
Blogging websites, API-driven websites and Headless CMS websites.
Pros:
User-friendly interface, robust content management system, Flexible data retrieval, easy integration with other platforms, Separation of content and presentation, optimal performance.
Cons:
Limited design options without coding, Steeper learning curve for non-technical users, Requires front-end development.
Key features:
Customizable content types, media library, RESTful API, role-based access control, GraphQL support, webhooks for real-time updates.

15. Umbraco

Umbraco is an open-source CMS based on the Microsoft.NET framework. It offers extensive customization options and dynamic modules, making it suitable for enterprise-level sites.

Best For:
E-commerce websites, Educational websites and Non-profit websites.
Pros:
Robust payment options, custom shipping, and taxes, Versatile content management system, easy to use, User-friendly, customizable donation options.
Cons:
Steep learning curve for setup, Limited support, Limited e-commerce capabilities.
Key features:
Integration with Stripe, customizable checkout, Integration with Office 365, rich text editing, Customizable templates, multiple languages support.

Conclusion:

In 2024, there is no shortage of CMS platforms available to develop websites. Each CMS has its unique strengths and drawbacks, catering to various business needs and preferences. Hopefully, this list has provided insight to select the best CMS for your website project, empowering you to create professional and functional sites without advanced programming knowledge.

Apart from the above mentioned best content management system, there are still other good CMS to try. But you must choose the best out of the best, you can’t use all the above CMS at a time, you must only use one and use modules and plugins to beautify your website.

Thanks for visiting, have a nice days