Thinking
Comparison of the 10 best CMS on the market in 2023
Thinking
| 10.11.23
Discover the reasons for using a CMS and consult our ranking to guide you in your choice.
thinking
Discover the reasons for using a CMS and consult our ranking to guide you in your choice.
There’s a plethora of CMS (or “Content Management System” in French) on offer at the moment, and we’d like to take you through a dozen or so solutions and tools. But first, let’s start with some simple information and advice to help you see things more clearly.
The benefits of a CMS are no longer really questioned today, and for good reason: this software has become an indispensable tool that facilitates the creation, management and maintenance of a website or application without the need for programming skills.
This means ease of use and real time savings in project management and maintenance. A CMS also enables you to implement your project “state of the art” by structuring databases and content, optimizing display times and performance, and guaranteeing project integrity and security. In short, they will help you avoid a considerable number of technical problems.
CMS offer intuitive interfaces and WYSIWYG (What you see is what you got) editors, enabling you to create and modify content without having to know how to code. They facilitate collaboration by enabling the management of roles and permissions, as well as the creation of pages and articles. They also facilitate content optimization for search engines (SEO).
Finally, popular CMS benefit from a vast community of users and developers who provide online resources and support.
Selecting the right CMS isn’t always easy. Perhaps you’ve already used one or more of them, but when a new project is launched, it’s a good idea to keep up to date with the latest developments.
Lately, trends such as no-code and headless have considerably reshuffled the deck, forcing incumbent players to adapt to new demands.
To choose the right CMS, here are the criteria to consider:
To draw up this comparison, we took a number of criteria into account: cost, implementation, the main targets and specialities of each solution, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
As we’ve said, this isn’t strictly speaking a ranking, since “the best” CMS really depends on your needs, your constraints and the teams you have (or don’t have.) In this comparison, we’ve highlighted the features and particularities of each offering to help you make your decision.
WordPress was created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. Originating in the United States, this open-source content management system (CMS) has evolved to become one of the world’s most popular tools.
PHP and MySQL, WordPress offers great flexibility for creating websites, blogs and online applications. It boasts a vast library of themes and plugins, making customization quick and easy.
One-click installation is often offered by hosting providers when you purchase a domain name and associated hosting.
Primary target – individuals, small and medium-sized businesses.
Specialty – versatility, wide range of plugins and themes, excellent for blogs and news sites.
Open-source and free. However, additional costs may include hosting, premium themes and plugins.
Drupal is an open-source CMS created in 2000 by Dries Buytaert from Belgium. It is designed to enable the creation of complex, modular websites thanks to a flexible architecture and extensible modules. Drupal uses PHP as its main programming language and works with databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Over the years, it has evolved to include additional features to enhance performance and security. It’s easy to install if you have basic technical knowledge.
1,8%*
Main target – developers, large companies and government organizations.
Specialty – enhanced security, flexibility, suitable for complex projects with customized requirements.
Open-source and free. Additional costs may include hosting, custom modules and professional development.
Wix is a cloud-based CMS created in 2006 by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami and Giora Kaplan in Israel. It enables users to create websites quickly and easily thanks to its drag-and-drop editor.
Wix uses technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript to offer a wide range of templates and functionalities. Over time, Wix has added third-party applications and e-commerce tools to extend its capabilities.
If you just want to create a few simple pages or a personal blog, Wix can be a fast and cost-effective solution.
2%*
Main target audience – beginners, small businesses, artists and portfolios.
Specialty – easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, numerous templates and built-in features.
Offers both free and paid packages. Paid packages start from $14 per month, with options for personal, professional and e-commerce sites.
TYPO3 is an open-source CMS developed in 1998 by Kasper Skaarhoj from Denmark. It is widely used in Europe for the creation of corporate and organization websites.
TYPO3 uses PHP as its main language and works with databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Over the years, TYPO3 has evolved by adding features such as extensions, an improved administration interface and integration with other systems.
Percentage of market use
less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Primary target – large corporations, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations.
Specialty – suitable for large-scale corporate sites, multilingual, extensible and customizable.
Benefits of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
The cost of this CMS
Open-source and free. Additional costs may include hosting, extensions and technical development.
Shopify was founded in Canada in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake. This e-commerce-focused CMS enables entrepreneurs to create and manage an online store without programming knowledge. Shopify uses technologies such as Liquid (a templating language), Ruby on Rails and RESTful APIs to offer a customizable and scalable platform. Since its inception, Shopify has continued to grow and add new features to enhance the user experience. For the record, Shopify is often compared to Prestashop, so don’t hesitate to take a look.
Percentage of use on the market
less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Primary target – online retailers, small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses.
Specialty – all-in-one e-commerce platform, easy configuration and inventory management, wide range of applications and integrations.
Benefits of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
Cost of this CMS
Offers paid packages starting at $29 per month (Shopify Basic), $79 per month (Shopify) and $299 per month (Shopify Advanced). Additional costs may include premium applications and themes.
Webflow is something of a favorite latest toy for designers and no-code enthusiasts. It was created in 2013 by Vlad Magdalin, Bryant Chou and Sergie Magdalin in the USA. This cloud-based CMS enables designers to create websites without coding, thanks to a visual editor. Webflow uses technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript to deliver a flexible and intuitive design experience. Over the years, Webflow has added interaction features, animations and integrations with third-party tools to enhance its offering.
Percentage of use on the market
less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Main target – designers, freelancers and creative agencies.
Specialty – visual interface for code-free web design, precise design control and custom animations.
Benefits of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
Offers a limited free plan and paid packages starting at $12 per month for basic sites, and from $29 per month for e-commerce sites.
Joomla was launched in 2005, following a spin-off from the Mambo project. This open-source CMS is developed by an international community of volunteers. Joomla uses PHP as its primary language and supports databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL. Over the years, Joomla has evolved to become one of the most popular CMS, thanks to its many features, extensions and templates. Joomla is particularly appreciated for its flexibility and ability to manage complex, multilingual websites.
Percentage of use on the market
1,6%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Main target – developers, experienced webmasters and companies with specific needs.
Specialty – suitable for complex, multilingual sites, extensible with extensions and modules.
Benefits of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
Higher learning curve than WordPress
Fewer theme and extension options than WordPress
Frequent updates required to maintain security
Cost of this CMS
Open-source and free. Additional costs may include hosting, extensions, premium templates and professional development.
HubSpot was founded in 2006 by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah in the USA. It is an all-in-one marketing, sales and customer service platform, which also integrates a CMS. HubSpot uses technologies such as Python, React and PostgreSQL to deliver a fluid, customizable user experience. Over the years, HubSpot has continued to develop its features and integrations, enabling companies to optimize their marketing and lead generation efforts.
Percentage of market usage
Less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Primary target – companies focused on marketing and sales.
Specialty – CMS and CRM combined, content optimization for SEO and lead generation, integrations with other marketing tools.
Advantages of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
The cost of this CMS
For CMS Hub, packages start at $300 per month (Starter), $900 per month (Professional) and $3,200 per month (Enterprise). Additional costs may include integrations and professional services.
Adobe Commerce, previously known as Magento, was created in 2007 by Roy Rubin and Yoav Kutner in the United States. This open-source CMS focuses on e-commerce and was acquired by Adobe in 2018.
Adobe Commerce uses PHP, MySQL and other technologies to provide a robust, scalable platform for online businesses. Over time, Adobe Commerce has added numerous features and integrations to improve the performance, security and user experience of e-commerce websites.
Percentage of market usage
less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Primary target – large corporations and e-businesses.
Specialty – highly customizable and extensible e-commerce platform, integrations with other Adobe solutions, wide range of extensions and modules.
Benefits of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
The cost of this CMS
Prices depend on company size and specific needs. Adobe Commerce offers a free open-source edition (Magento O
Storyblok was founded in 2017 by Dominik Angerer and Alexander Feiglstorfer in Austria. It is a cloud-based headless CMS offering a modular approach to content management.
Storyblok uses technologies such as Vue.js and Node.js to deliver a flexible, high-performance development experience. Over the years, Storyblok has added numerous features and integrations, enabling developers to create and manage websites and applications with an API-first content architecture.
Percentage of use
Less than 1%*
Recommended uses and site types for this CMS
Primary target – developers, content teams and performance-driven businesses.
Specialty – easy-to-use headless CMS, compatible with modern front-end development technologies, integrations with other services and APIs.
Advantages of this CMS
Disadvantages of this CMS
The cost of this CMS
Offers a limited free plan and pay-as-you-go packages starting at $7 per month (Basic), with options for businesses and customized packages.
Still feeling a little nervous after reading this article? Here are a few more tips to reassure you (or not…)
The question of price is an important one, and to answer it properly, it’s important to evaluate it in its entirety.
Some CMS such as Drupal or WordPress are, on paper, free. However, if you want a high-quality site, or if your project is complex or requires a high level of customization, you’ll need to hire developers.
You should also be aware that some proprietary solutions are easy to download and subscribe to. For example, when using Webflow, if you choose a paid theme, you’ll need to take out an annual subscription to continue using it. Where WordPress and Drupal offer a one-off purchase.
Some e-commerce solutions also charge transaction fees on every sale you make. Again, Webflow charges 2% on each transaction. Shopify’s fees depend on your subscription formula and range from 3% to 0.5%. Drupal Commerce charges nothing.
In short, as you will have understood, the offers are sometimes poorly explained from the home page of each solution, and it is important to explore each potential cost for each solution.
If you’re looking for a scalable solution, that means you’re thinking big in the short to medium term. In this case, we can only advise you to turn to solid, rigorous and secure solutions right from the start of your project. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that changing tools will be quick and easy.
For example, if you’re planning a multilingual future, launching numerous variations of your current project or product, or working with a complex system, you’ll want to look for the most professional solutions.
Drupal is a powerful and flexible open-source CMS that is particularly well-suited to large-scale, complex websites. It offers a modular architecture, enhanced security and an active community that contributes to its development and support. Drupal is a popular option for government sites, universities and businesses that need to manage large amounts of content and users. You can also take a look at Typo3, a lesser-known but equally serious solution.
If you still have doubts, you can get advice from specialists and experts who will listen to your needs and the specifics of your project. Please do not hesitate to contact our team via this page for further information.
Please note that other CMS exist, such as Dato, Prestashop… We haven’t been able to cover every available tool, but feel free to take a look for yourself.
