Top 25 CMS Platforms to Create A Website in 2021

What is a CMS Platform?

CMS is an acronym for Content Management System. It is a one-step solution that lets you create, manage and update the content of your website with the help of pre-configured frameworks.

With the help of CMS software, one can easily create, modify, manage and publish their content in a friendly interface. In addition to this, you can also customise the designs and features of the website just by buying or downloading the extensions and templates.

But how does this all work? C’mon, let’s dive in to know more about it.

Why CMS?

But, why CMS? Because, with the help of a Content Management System, you can create, design, and enhance your website easily without any hassle. Most importantly, now with the help of CMS, starting a business online will become easier than ever.

Gone are the days, when people used to write HTML all by themselves. Now, it has become very convenient to create and manage your content, all thanks to the CMS platforms. Not only can you create a website using CMS but you can also make changes, redesign, or re-adjust your website according to your specific needs.

In addition to this, you can make use of CMS software to stay updated on the latest design trends like responsive mobile user experience. Honestly, a lot can be said about these versatile CMS platforms. So, for now, let’s just give it a halt and move further towards the different kinds of CMS Platforms available for you.

Also, are you aware of the fact that there are about 64 million websites all around the globe that use CMS platforms? And without a doubt, the market share of WordPress is the highest.

What Are The Different Kinds of CMS Platforms?

Every one of us is different and so are our business needs. That’s why, to cater to your needs, there are different kinds of CMS platforms available in the online world.

If you wish to know about some of the best eCommerce platforms available for you then you should definitely read our blog on “Best eCommerce platforms in the UK“

Regardless of what you choose, you all wish to have a CMS platform that can integrate easily with other software that you use to run your business, right? So, here are they:

1. Ecommerce CMS

An eCommerce CMS platform is just the same as a normal CMS platform. But in addition to the regular features, it comes with some additional features that let you insert shopping cart options, inventory management and it lets you integrate with the different payment software as well. If you are not taking advantage of ecommerce, check out the different benefits of ecommerce for your business.

2. Saas CMS

A SaaS CMS is a cloud-based software that runs on a subscription fee. After the payment of the fee, the vendor manages everything from the content to the website. No, you don’t need to worry about anything, be it increasing the storage or installing the updates, the vendor will do it all for you.

Most significantly, this kind of CMS is convenient to use and is ready for customisation right out of the box.

3. Open Source CMS

The next is an Open source content management system, it lets you have complete control over the website. You get total access to the source code. Also, you can quickly design the new functionalities according to you.

Furthermore, you can download this software and select where to host it. Most importantly, you get all the responsibilities of its security and maintenance.

4. Headless CMS

Moving on towards the last CMS in our list, that is, headless CMS. It is a platform that allows you to produce content from the back end. In headless CMS, you can easily store the content but you require APIs to display it on any device. You know what? It is called headless because the presentation layer is segregated from the content repository body.

So, this was about the types of CMS platforms. And wait what? The wait is finally over, now without any more delays, let’s just quickly dive into our list of 25 best CMS platforms.

25 Top-Notch CMS Platforms

1. WordPress

The online world without WordPress is just like humans without oxygen. By that I mean, WordPress is one of the most popular as well as significant CMS platforms.

Do you know? So many big brands like Sony Music, Facebook Newsroom, The Walt Disney Company, The Mozilla Blog and many more are using WordPress as a content management system. And without any doubt, they are doing brilliantly and are very successful.

The software was established in 2003 and from then, it has become a significant part of the internet. Based on MySQL and PHP, it offers you different tools to design a full-fledged blog or website using images, videos, written content and many more. The reason why it is preferred by many people is that it offers a variety of themes, tools and the plans are affordable as well.

Also, you get the power to install a mix of third-party and pre-made themes to personalise and customise your website. Moreover, they fulfil the needs of all types of industries, from hospitality to retail.

Talking about the pricing plans, then you can start with a free plan and then switch to the paid plans where you get complete access to the themes, limitless storage and also a custom domain. So, all in all, it’s not at all a bad choice if you wish to design and maintain a website.

By the way, do you know How Much Does a Website costs in the UK? If not, then you gotta read our blog to gain more insights into it.

2. Drupal

The next content management system on our list is Drupal. It is an open-source CMS software where you can add features by removing and adding modules. Moreover, it is used by a lot of businesses and organisations to build and enhance their websites.

Besides, Drupal is the most popularly used open-source CMS platform, almost as famous as Joomla or WordPress. Disappointingly, Drupal isn’t very user friendly for those who do not have development knowledge.

Apart from this, Drupal offers unbelievable flexibility. So, if you integrate it with the BigCommerce plugin, then it will work like the cherry on the cake. That means you get the best of both worlds- a hosted backend and a completely customisable front-end.

Do you know? The most prominent companies such as Tesla, Pfizer, Iteris and many more use Drupal as their content management system. Well, now we are leaving the decision to select Drupal as a CMS to you!

3. Joomla

Joomla is another popular open-source CMS platform that allows its users to create their websites and publish the content. The interface of Joomla is highly intuitive which assists you in using its functionalities and features to the fullest.

However, commerce is not a part of its main functionality but various free extensions can assist you in turning Joomla into an eCommerce store.

For instance, take a look at the website of Roger Federer who’s a global tennis player. They use Joomla to manage their website. The best thing about that is, they don’t just show his portfolio on the site. But it also displays a shop and news platform.

4. Sitecore

Moving on towards the next leading content management system that is, Sitecore which is built on ASP. NET. It combines commerce, content, marketing automation, editing tools and personalisation with a lot of designs.

Moreover, this platform allows the vendor to design and create online storefront experiences and deliver personalised and customised business journeys. Most importantly, it offers a very user-friendly interface.

This CMS software is best for huge organisations that are not tight on budget.

5. Magento

Magento is a widely known open source CMS platform for eCommerce solutions. It is owned by Adobe and enjoys a high reputation in the online world. Most importantly, it supports more than 2,70,000 online stores
all around the globe.

Furthermore, Magento offers abundant functionalities and a varied extension marketplace, consisting of integrations with the solutions such as ERP, Chatbots, CRM and various other software at the enterprise level.

At the same time it serves all kinds of merchants, it is often favoured by the colossal and fast-scaling businesses because of its pricing options, extensive setup and development needs.

Moreover, very reputed brands like Ford, Sigma Beauty, Vizio, Landrover, Nestle Nespresso and a lot more use Magento to manage their websites.

6. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is one of the most eminent eCommerce platforms available in the market. It offers support to more than 60,000 businesses of all kinds and sizes.

With plenty of CMS capabilities and built-in characteristics, it is strong enough to ease the growth of escalating eCommerce business organisations. Also, it can empower the small eCommerce players or newbies as the platform is highly intuitive. All in all, it takes care of the needs of the whole eCommerce sector.

Moreover, the software is well known for its exceptional SEO integrations and resilient APIs, allowing the eCommerce merchants to connect with the major software and other content management solutions. At the same time, it supports the shopping cart of BigCommerce in the backend.

In addition to this, BigCommerce is a completely hosted, Level one PCI compliant platform. Also, you can have access to it on a monthly subscription basis.

7. Shopify

Shopify is the most popular SaaS eCommerce platform all around the world. All thanks to its affordable pricing and simple interface! It is mostly preferred by newbies, small scale businesses or startup merchants.

Nevertheless, we are not saying that it can’t be used by huge brands. Simply, you have to decide the plan according to your needs, the number of features you get access to will depend upon the plan you choose. So, the best thing is to go through the list of plans available before signing up.

In addition to this, Shopify offers 24/7 customer support and that too free of cost, along with a wide range of free templates and a personal POS system. The only drawback is that it charges a substantial amount if you use payment providers other than Shopify.

If you are still confused about which one is best for you, check out our blog about
Magento vs Shopify.

8. Prestashop

Let’s now move on to another simple yet powerful CMS on our list, it is none other than Prestashop. The active community and variety of features make Prestashop a highly flexible website management software. Moreover, the comprehensive interface of the software assists in entering and monitoring the products conveniently.

In addition to this, it offers a wide variety of themes and ads which enables the merchants to create a web store from scratch with restricted technical abilities.

The best thing about the platform is that you don’t need to be a developer to design a website on Prestashop. You, me and a common man can easily use the software to develop a website on Prestashop. This makes it a good and popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses.

9. Wix

Wix is also a top-rated, drag and drop website management software for online businesses. Though it’s not an eCommerce content management system technology, the owners of the website get the option of adding up the eCommerce module if they wish to.

With a plethora of built-in features, templates and no code strategy, Wix is an attractive option for non-coders and immediate beginners. So, if you have a restricted range of products and wish to lift off the business from the ground, then this could work.

But, keep in mind that once you pick a template for your online store, you won’t be allowed to alter it in future.

10. OpenCart

There is one more open source CMS platform on our list, it’s OpenCart. The software is free and multifunctional. It provides tons of templates for easy setup. It also has a flourishing plugin marketplace.

Moreover, OpenCart offers integration with more than 8 shipping ways and 20 best online payment gateways for small businesses in the UK. Being an eCommerce content management system with no subscription fee, it is the leading choice for newbies who are low on budget.

11. Volusion

Moving on towards the cloud-based eCommerce solution which holds specialisation in no-code website building. It is popularly known as Volusion and is the best choice for medium and large-sized businesses.

In addition to this, it has some really useful features such as payment collection, in-built inventory management and marketing features which makes it even more preferable.

But, the history of the company is not very strong. So, if you are planning to take the services of the company then you need to know that the company is bankrupt in 2020. For that reason, it might not be a good choice for the long term. Though, the software still operates well and is good.

12. HubSpot

HubSpot is marketing automation and an evolving platform. It doesn’t include eCommerce functionality but you can easily integrate it with purpose-driven eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce.

By integrating HubSpot into your online store, you will be able to understand the automated marketing strategies, customer behaviour. Also, you can track and report on the revenue streams by using specialised reports.

13. Concrete5

It is an open-source platform designed especially for users who don’t have much technical knowledge. It provides a drag and drop builder that makes customisation and content management very easy. Moreover, the secure and reliable user management makes Concrete5 the best CMS platform for websites with numerous developers.

Besides, this content management system is best for designing an intricate website for medium and large-sized businesses.

14. Contentful

This is a headless content management system, which means the content is not necessarily attached to any particular web page. Rather, it makes use of an API or application programming interface to display the content as data. Due to this reason, the software has a sharp learning curve for non-tech users.

Contentful is a brilliant platform for the individuals and companies who create custom websites that integrate with various other digital platforms too.

Moreover, the user management feature of the platform lets you add users and assign them roles to design content using only one account. Also, you can make use of fields to organise various kinds of content such as text or images.

Most importantly, you can integrate secondary applications from the software and third-party cloud software to optimise functions and tools.

15. PyroCMS

Now, this one popularly known as PyroCMS is driven by the Laravel Framework. It is one of the brilliant PHP content management systems available in the market. The platform is becoming famous day by day, all thanks to the light modular architecture and instinctive backend design.

Do you know? It was primarily designed to be easy, flexible, quick to learn and understand. The modular design of PyroCMs offers a lot of scope to the development to bring together the correct components to suit any particular project.

Why people choose this CMS is because of its readiness to accommodate third-party applications and APIs

16. Craft CMS

Craft CMS is the latest PHP based open source content management system which is very flexible as well as user friendly.

This software lets you work more effectively and get the project done in the minimum time possible. The icing on the cake is its ease of use and simplicity. This is what makes Craft CMS different from other CMS platforms.

Moreover, to manage the front-end, you can make it yourself by using Twig templates. Else, you can use it in a headless set-up along with the self-generating GraphQL API of Craft CMS.

17. Kentico

Kentico is a cloud-based CMS that offers two varied Content management system products:

• Xperience- a cloud-based or on-premises platform that wraps digital marketing tools and CMS into one.
• Kontent- a headless cloud-based content management system that assists you to control your content and deliver it at any place through API.

It also has a restricted free tier for its Content software, however, it can get expensive if you use the paid options. Also, you will require some technical knowledge too, to design the front end of your website as it’s a headless CMS.

18. Zephyr

Looking for a cloud-hosted content management system? If so, then Zephyr is the right choice for you. It just licenses itself to the agencies, so that the individuals can’t use it unless the user is eager to work with an agency partner.

The abundance of features in Zephyr makes it a good choice for startups and enterprises. It offers various features such as image editor, full-text search, website management, audio content and SEO management all under one roof.

19. Grav

Here comes another open-source flat-file content management system. The term flat file means that Grav can operate independently, it does not need a database to operate. Because of this, Grav becomes lightweight and very easy to use.

Moreover, you can create effective content types and filter content. Nevertheless, you will also be able to make use of a Markdown editor to design content.

20. Sitefinity

This is a content management system that mainly focuses on assisting marketers in delivering personalised and optimised content. Also, you can make use of insight to know more about your users and to deliver personalised content.

After that, you can set up A/B tests quickly to optimise your data. In addition to this, you can also use this CMS platform as a headless CMS to deliver the content at any place. Moreover, everything is hosted in the Microsoft Azure cloud for scalability and reliability.

21. Bitrix24

Moving further towards the next CMS platform which is a cloud-based website studio management platform. It offers 35 plus tools (free) to manage your projects, clients, freelancers and employees.

Moreover, some of the notable features of the software are E-forms, text search, customisable templates, version control, SEO Management and a lot more. Along with this, it also assists in managing client relationships, communications, tasks and projects.

Furthermore, the platform is free at the primary level. Also, it comes with up to a 5GB digital storage option and twelve user accounts. All in all, it is a perfect full-fledged solution for small businesses.

22. Webflow

Let’s move on to our next CMS platform, which is Webflow. It lets you create, develop, design, enhance and launch attractive sites without coding. This content management system authorises the coders and non-coders by integrating content management, animation, marketing, eCommerce tools and design into a visual website development software.

In addition to this, Webflow comes up with a lot of standard features such as document indexing, E-forms, customisable templates, drag and drop editor and many more. These features make it a very useful CMS platform.

Most significantly, Webflow is a perfect software to enhance and launch all types of websites in a cost-effective, quicker and collaborative way. It is used by some of the prominent websites such as Freshly, Mural, Bonsai, HelloSign and many others.

23. Ghost

So, if you are into the blogging and publishing business, then there can be nothing better than Ghost for you. It is software crafted exclusively for bloggers.

Additionally, it is an open-source platform that is designed beautifully and is customisable. Some of its significant features are publishing workflow, website management, intuitive editor, multiple themes, developer API and various other safety and security features.

Do you know very popular brands such as Accenture, Mews, Chico Rei use Ghost as their content management system? Big deal, no?

24. Umbraco

Umbraco is the most flexible and quickly expanding open source content management system. Surprisingly, most of its users are based in the United Kingdom.

Moreover, it allows you to add content by using a basic editor together with irreplaceable features such as an in-built form editor. Along with this, some other features of the platform are document indexing, website and SEO management etc.

Also, if needed, then you can even extend the main CMS by installing the other applications of Umbraco. The software is used by big brands like WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc, Student Loans and a lot more.

25. Agility CMS

Umbraco is the most flexible and quickly expanding open source content management system. Surprisingly, most of its users are based in the United Kingdom.

Moreover, it allows you to add content by using a basic editor together with irreplaceable features such as an in-built form editor. Along with this, some other features of the platform are document indexing, website and SEO management etc.

Also, if needed, then you can even extend the main CMS by installing the other applications of Umbraco. The software is used by big brands like WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc, Student Loans and a lot more.

Factors That You Need To Consider Before Selecting a CMS?

At the time of selecting a content management system, the following factors should be considered:

1. Content Editor

The very first thing that you should look for in a CMS is its content editor. A simple to use editor makes content creation and management a quick job.

2. Pricing

The second factor is pricing. Some CMS platforms are free whereas some are paid. You’ll need to choose whichever goes well with your budget.

3. SEO

Another thing that you must consider is SEO. Because whatever CMS platform you choose must offer you the tools to rank in various search engines, most importantly Google.

4. Security

Some content management systems offer complete security, on the other hand, while using others you are only responsible for the safety and security.

5. Personalisation and Customisation

Your chosen CMS should not only work like a robot, but it should also offer some personalised and customised experiences to the users.

Conclusion

So, here we go! Finally, we are at the end of our blog on “25 Top CMS Platforms to Create A Website in 2021”. Having a good CMS platform has become so important for online businesses, all because of the services it offers. This will help you out in choosing the CMS platform according to your budget and it will also give you a rough idea about the total cost. While it is important to select the right CMS platform for your business, it is equally important to select the right ecommerce development company.

We believe we have enlightened you enough about the best CMS platforms available in the virtual world for you. Anyway, you can choose any of the above-mentioned content management systems to enhance and maintain your websites. Still, confused about anything? Do not bother, we at RVS Media Limited are always at your service. In case you have any queries, questions or confusions, feel free to contact us! We will surely try our best to solve your issues and provide you with only the best services.