Methodology
To find the best content management software, Forbes Advisor looked at everything from each CMS’ popularity, pricing, and built-in functionality. We also considered specific features of CMS systems, such as back-end programming, e-commerce capabilities, security, and whether or not hosting is included.
There are also less tangible criteria to consider. For example, how easy is an interface to use, or are there so many options that a CMS is overwhelming. We also read user reviews to understand real examples of the pros and cons of each CMS. We then compare various CMS systems against each other, apply a score to each factor, and then average the ratings to come up with a one to five star rating.
Ease of use: For small business owners and individuals, ease of use is especially important. We’ve given more credit to CMS systems that are straight out of the box.
Cost and fees: Most CMS systems on the market are open source and therefore free to use, but all websites require hosting. So we looked at the overall cost of using a website builder with a CMS versus choosing an open source option with custom hosting and extensions.
Features of the CMS: It’s important to choose a CMS that includes the features you need to facilitate digital asset management and content management. For example, post scheduling is critical, as are SEO tools and template availability.
Functionality: All CMS systems are designed to make it easy for you to manage your content, but some come with more built-in functionality, which we’ve ranked higher. However, we have also considered official plugin libraries that extend the functionality of a CMS.
Security: The security of a CMS is also important. This comes in the form of features such as MFA, but also in the form of updates to the core CMS.
How to choose a content management software system
Not all content management software systems are created equal, but they all essentially do the same thing: make it easy for you to create and manage a website with various types of content and data. Choosing the right CMS for you comes down to cost, customization, ease of use, security, and the amount of hands-on management you want to perform on your CMS and website.
Consider your budget when choosing a CMS. Many are open source and therefore free to use, but you’ll still have a monthly or annual cost associated with hosting, templates, site building, and extensions. There are affordable all-in-one solutions that include hosting, templates, and an app marketplace with free and paid plugins to expand functionality. You can also find easy-to-use open source CMS systems with lots of built-in functionality and free templates. In general, the more affordable an option is, the less freedom you have with source code and customization.
When it comes to customization, you’ll find a lot more freedom in open source software that gives you access to everything in the back and front areas. The limitations here come down to whether you want to manage everything yourself or hire someone to develop and manage content for you.
And that brings us to ease of use. You need to know how much hands-on attention you want to give your site and what you can do. Not everyone knows how to code and some CMS systems can be overwhelming with all the options and all the power. Content management software gets regular basic updates to keep it secure, and you might want to choose one that’s a little more hands-on with automatic updates and an all-in-one site host or builder that handles updates for to you, especially regarding your relationship. to safety
Security is a very important part of choosing a CMS for your site or business. You need to prevent hackers from finding vulnerabilities in your site to protect your customers and your data. While all CMS systems include security features, some are more stacked than others with MFA, granular user permission settings, and more frequent core software updates.
What to look for in a CMS
You can expect any CMS you choose to have specific content management features, including a content editor, the ability to schedule posts, and security features to help protect both backend operations and front-end users. Consider the core functionality of a CMS along with available extensions and support.
usability
The built-in functionality of a CMS is especially important for small business owners who lack development skills or don’t want to hire a developer to create a custom solution. Look for all-in-one solutions that include easy-to-use tools, automatic updates and backups, and an easy-to-use control panel and visual editor. Beyond the included features, consider the extensions or plugins available to expand the functionality of your CMS.
security
All CMS systems have security features, but some require more attention from you or a manager to maintain. Frequent updates of core CMS systems are needed to keep them secure; can you stay on top of these updates or can you set up automatic updates? Using MFA can help keep backend operations secure, so look for CMSs that offer authentication features that require users to log in with a password and code, for example. User group permissions are also important, so you only give access to those who are authorized to view the source code, for example.
Customer service
Many CMS systems lack traditional customer support, such as live agents to answer questions and help resolve issues. You’ll find this kind of support for platforms like Wix, WordPress.com, and Shopify, but not for Drupal or Joomla, for example. However, most CMS systems have robust support documentation and active user communities. Avoid a CMS that has a dead community because you are unlikely to find the help you need.
SEO tools
An SEO-friendly CMS should include features to make it easy for you to categorize content, run a blog, and tag articles. You should be able to add a meta description, alt text to photos, and customize your URLs and blog posts. Your menu navigation relates to SEO, as does mobile responsiveness. Whether your site is responsive depends on your web developer or your template. You may also want to have access to your sitemap and 301 redirects for invalid pages.
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Benefits of a CMS
To be honest, you’d struggle to run any kind of website without some kind of CMS, so the obvious advantage of a CMS is that it allows you to build a site, manage your files on your site, and manage the content that you have create and host on your site. Beyond that, different CMS systems benefit different businesses. There are two popular types of CMS systems that you probably want to consider:
All-in-one website builders
They are like turnkey systems that include everything you need to get started and manage your site and content. The best website builders It includes intuitive CMS systems that anyone can use to manage SEO, a blog, files, your site’s appearance, and backend functionality. They are great for new business owners and small businesses that don’t require a ton of customization.
Open source CMS systems
An open source CMS system gives you much more freedom and control over the look and functionality of your site. The trade-off is that it is much more difficult to learn and use. These are more suited to web developers or large companies that need or want a custom solution and can afford the higher cost of development.
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