The content management system is what keeps your website up and running. A website needs many data to provide the users with what they need. It is no surprise that all websites need a database to support its functions and features. The robustness of the database determines how powerful, intuitive and flexible the site is going to be. A great database stores all the images, videos, infographics, posts, titles and even the login information of the users. This brings forth the question of database security. A CMS needs to include all these features, functions and support systems to power any website.
The top contenders among open source CMS platforms
WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are the leading trio when it comes to open source CMS. This means the primary services including several themes, templates, and plug-ins or extensions are open to the public. You can access their core codes and edit them as per your need. Customizing the main code of the themes is free. As a result, there are strong communities of developers, who dedicatedly morph and develop new features for these 3 CMS platforms on a regular basis. Finding new features, troubleshooting existing challenges and customizing your website core code to meet the new necessities is easy as pie for developers old and new.
While finding a CMS is not difficult anymore, choosing one among the three contenders is the real challenge.
WordPress – With WordPress, creating and managing the content of all kind is easy. Several plug-ins exist to help users curate and manage posts, images, videos, audio files and more. Creating a page, uploading content and seeing it on the frontend can take less than 5 minutes on any WordPress version. WordPress is free, and it is one of the easiest to install on a PC. Therefore, all bloggers swear by WordPress due to its pocket-friendliness and simplicity.
Joomla –Joomla might not be as simple as WordPress, but it offers more extensive customization options. It offers enhanced a user-friendly although you might need to ride a steeper learning curve to manage this one. Adding extensions, customization of modules and adjusting the layouts can be more than a little harsh on the beginners.
Drupal – Most e-commerce website owners swear by Drupal. Although this CMS does not have high followership like Joomla or WordPress, this CMS pampers its users with a plethora of options to deck their sites. Drupal has uncountable ready-to-use modules for features that would require WordPress and Joomla users to rely on codes. The third-party extensions have made Drupal the go-to CMS for almost all modern e-commerce website designers.
A few challenges of working with an open source CMS platform
These were the leading open source CMS platforms for all website designers, bloggers, and learners. While custom business software solutions are entirely possible on each of these platforms, the free service of each comes with certain limitations. You need to consider these limitations before you decide to go with an open source content management system.
- While open source platforms have the distinct advantage of cost and customization over closed source CMS, they are also more vulnerable and lack personalized support.
- You will find a rich community of users for WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, but finding personalized solutions for your website or your company is going to be a little difficult.
Why should you also consider closed source CMS platforms?
Open source does NOT translate to free. Even WordPress, Drupal and Joomla may need you to pay for your premium website theme and premium plug-ins. For example – Yoast SEO for WordPress has a free version, but it has limited features. To avail the full extent of functions, you need to pay for the Yoast SEO Premium.
Some leading e-commerce sites and other company websites often rely on closed source CMS due to better security and enhanced personalized support. Platforms like Shopify, Blogger, Squarespace, and SharePoint are leading closed source CMS options of the 2018 market.
- Shopify –This is the most popular closed source CMS option for all kinds of e-commerce product management and sales. Unlike WooCommerce (the WordPress e-commerce plug-in), Shopify has all the functions within one package. You will find hosting options, control, and plug-ins within the admin section.
- Blogger –As the name states, Blogger is the ultimately closed source blogging CMS. In fact, it is second to WordPress in its scalability, functionality, and simplicity.
- Squarespace- this closed source CMS is popular among website designers and business owners, who want an easy fix. It includes 25 design options and offers complete hosting features complete with subdomains.
- SharePoint –This one is the most popular CMS that functions on Microsoft.net framework. Several organizations and teams use SharePoint as an intranet for communication.
As we can see, the choice of CMS not only depends on the type of website you want to create but also on your budget, security needs and development needs. There are several cloud-based web development platforms cum content management systems that you need to consider before taking your pick.
What makes choosing the correct CMS difficult even for veteran web designers?
As of 2018, Wix, Weebly, Bynder, and Magnolia are the leading CMS platforms for hosting content and promoting products. Almost all the CMS platforms popular among website developers including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Shopify, Weebly, and Wix, use HTML 5 and CSS 3 to design responsive websites. All these builders and CMS platforms have free templates, but many of these might not be mobile-optimized. Although open source, many of these options will demand paid premium themes and plug-ins for proper functioning.
When establishing your company’s online presence through a blog or ecommerce site, you need to consider all these factors, which will not only determine performance but will also ensure success.Website management options should also play a key role in determining your choice of CMS. The battle of CMSs is never-ending. There is no one CMS that is the best for everyone.
