5 of the Most Popular CMS Web Platforms out on the Market Right Now

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As of March 2018, over 1.7 billion websites existed worldwide.

31.7% of them run on WordPress content management software (CMS). 3.1% run on Joomla, and 2.1% on Drupal. Those are the top three CMS web platforms.

Why is that important?

Because WordPress is running the show. It has been the uncontested leader since soon after its inception. It’s powerful. It’s popular. And it’s free.

The question is why wouldn’t you want to use it?

The answer lies in its capabilities. Do they fulfill your requirements? Or would another choice better suite your needs?

To figure that out, you first need to know what the other top CMS’s have to offer. By the time you finish this article, you’ll know the similarities and difference so of the top five CMS platforms available today. Read on.

What are CMS Web Platforms?

“Content management software” is used synonymously with “content management system.” They mean the same thing.

The purpose of any CMS is to create and manage digital content. Vendors bundle together the solutions which give users the ability to design, publish, and customize their own content. Software engineers design CMS’s to reduce time-consuming tasks so that you can improve your workflow.

The software supports multiple users in a collaborative environment.

Users employ the software to create web pages, dole out media, distribute copy, and manage blogs.

You can find both open-source (free) and paid CMS’s. Both offer themes and extensions. They include things like plugins, widgets, and modules which give you a greater variety of options.

5. Magnolia

One of the main reasons people choose one CMS over another is whether or not it’s easy to set up and use. If you run a business, you want a website that will promote your products and services. Unfortunately, you may not have the technical know-how needed to build one yourself.

Magnolia is:

  • Pricey
  • Java-based
  • Business focused
  • Strong on security
  • Tailored for business needs

Software engineers built Magnolia specifically for companies that need complex websites with rock-solid security. It can handle your e-commerce, marketing automation, analytics, social media, CRM, ERP, and social media needs. The best part is that you can add or remove any of these systems at any time.

Security is at the heart of their CRM. Platforms are often coded using different software languages. Magnolia is built on a stable Java architecture. One which separates the public from the private areas of your CRM to better defend from cyber intrusion.

It grants you the power to define both user and admin abilities. In that way, you’ll know who can write, view, edit, and publish content.

Magnolia offers a couple of different options, each with a different pricing tree. If you know how to code in Node.js, you can install their community edition for free. If you want greater access, with more options, you can go for the Magnolia Cloud or Magnolia On-Premises.

The last two require a competent full-stack developer to run the software. Magnolia is not built for beginners. You must have a developer to set up and run this CRM.

4. Squarespace

This is one of the new, up and coming CRMs. Anthony Casalena began developing Squarespace while attending college. In 2003, he founded the company, but it didn’t gain notoriety until 2010.

Squarespace is:

  • Low-cost
  • Intuitive
  • Novice-friendly
  • Loaded with themes

This last decade has become the do-it-yourselfer’s dream. Nowhere is this more obvious than in web design. The Squarespace platform is a perfect example.

When you sign up for an account, you’re given all the templates and tools to design your own website. You can set up a blog or build your own online store without the help of a tech genius. You don’t need any previous experience in web design (though it helps).

The platform isn’t open-source. Why does that matter? Because it limits its functionality.

Squarespace doesn’t allow you to download their software on your own server. You have to use theirs. This makes it nigh impossible to move a website you design on Squarespace to another platform. If you don’t like them, you’ll have to go elsewhere and start from scratch.

If you write code, you’ll be sorely disappointed at your options on Squarespace. Sure, you can adjust some HTML and CSS with snippets, but that’s about it. If you plan to design a fancy bit of code, forget about it; not going to happen.

They don’t offer third-party plugins either. It doesn’t have the flexibility of WordPress. That means no Yoast SEO, no webmaster tools, and no Google XML Sitemaps. Everything they offer is built natively.

If you don’t need elaborate tools or a lightning fast website, consider Squarespace. They give you everything you need to design your own fully functioning site in a day. They even let you build one for free before you sign up for a subscription.

3. Joomla

Joomla offers a modern interface. It’s clean with a variety of menus, so it’s easy to get around. The downside is the sheer number of options might confuse beginners.

Joomla is:

  • Free
  • Used by 26 million people
  • Filled with over 1,000 free themes
  • Filled with over 7,000 free plugins

Sure, it offers templates and plugins. But where this platform really stands out is social networking. With options like as EasySocial and JomSocial, it takes minutes to create your own social networking site.

Compatibility issues with themes and plugins are common after a WordPress update. It’s rare with Joomla. All you have to do is check your “Maintenance” menu. Then you wait for their system to update.

Another benefit (and drawback) is their configuration options. They offer more comprehensive options than those in WordPress or Drupal. Unfortunately, they can be daunting if you’re a beginner.

Pros:

  • Easy to learn
  • More built-in options
  • First-rate help portal
  • Can create social networks
  • Seamless update integration

Cons:

  • Modules difficult to maintain
  • Not as sophisticated as Drupal
  • Not as simple as WordPress or Squarespace

If you’re a beginner, stay away from Joomla. Try WordPress or Squarespace instead.

2. Drupal

Drupal holds the spot for the third most popular CRM web platform in the world. And there’s a reason for that.

Experienced developers laud Drupal’s power. Unfortunately, that power comes at a small price. You need experience coding to run your website on this platform.

From the onset, designing your site takes more skill. Drupal gives you a minimalistic interface. If you’ve never worked on the backend of a website, Drupal configuration will feel a bit like working on cold fusion before you pass algebra.

Drupal is:

  • Free
  • Used by 31 million people
  • Full of over 2,000 free themes.
  • Full of over 34,000 free plugins

From the web host installation to the template installation, everything is harder. Each step requires some experience with PHP or HTML. You also need a basic understanding of computer science and how the internet works.

Flexibility and bulletproof security are the two main features that attract users. It’s the platform that government websites are built on. As soon as a security vulnerability is detected, Drupal staff publishes the vulnerability online.

In that way, they keep you updated at all times.

Pros:

  • Technically advanced
  • Enterprise-level security
  • Amazing website performance

Cons:

  • More work for initial setup
  • Need experience with CSS, HTML, and PHP

If you need stability, speed, and top-tier security, Drupal is a good choice. Like Magento, it’s built for businesses. Just make sure you have a full-time software engineer on your staff.

1. WordPress

When you create a website, you must choose both a CMS and a web host. The web hosts store whatever code you need for your website on their servers. This allows them to buffer your web traffic. The first step in that process is to install your CMS on the web host’s server.

This process can be difficult and time-consuming. But one-click installation makes it easy. In that case, your web host does all the work for you. Not all web hosts offer one-click installations, and those that do, only provide the service for certain CMSs.

Fortunately, all most all of them offer it for WordPress.

WordPress is:

  • Free
  • Used by 49 million people
  • Filled with over 4,000 free themes
  • Filled with over 45,000 free plugins

Your WordPress dashboard is built for beginners. You can adjust site settings and build blog posts with the click of a button. Personalization is also made simple with their easy-to-use interface.

Themes give you the ability to quickly change both the look and feel of your site. Do you want to build a blog? No problem. Need to create your own online store? It’s Simple.

You can find templates for almost anything. And, if you want something more personized, then you can design and build a site from scratch.

Furthermore, you can also boost your site’s power with thousands of free plugins. They can do everything from optimizing your pages for search engines to sing your visitors a lullaby.

WordPress has a huge following. They’ve created countless guides, tutorials, and other learning resources. It’s a mature platform, run on mature languages, like PHP.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Customizable
  • Strong Support
  • Plenty of resources
  • Amazing community

Cons:

  • Updates may cause issues with plugins
  • Requires coding skills for extreme customization

The best part of WordPress is it’s free. Some professional version templates cost money, but most everything else is free.

What’s Next?

Now you can make an informed decision. With which web platforms will you start? Do you need the security of Drupal or perhaps the maturity of WordPress?

Try more than one, so you can get the feel of their differences and similarities.

If you found this article helpful, take five minutes to browse our other great CMS articles.

So long and good luck!