Creating a website nowadays isn’t difficult. In this fast-paced digital era, you have a variety of platforms to choose from. These options all serve as tools to help you manage your website content and create your site according to your needs. But what are these options exactly? Let’s take a look.
What is a CMS (Content Management System)?
CMS (Content Management Systems) are programs/systems for managing data and content on websites, encompassing text, images, and other media, all without needing to code. You don’t have to be tech-savvy or have an IT degree; just having a computer and internet access is enough to learn how to create or maintain a website easily.
Currently, there are both free and paid CMS options available. However, in this article, we’ll focus on the most popular free CMS platforms.
10 Best CMS Options for Building a Website
1. WordPress
Talking about web development and CMS, it’s inevitable not to mention WordPress, which is the most popular CMS nowadays. Up to 36% of websites on the internet use WordPress (source: WordPress website as shown in the image). While it used to be seen as a tool for blogging in the past, WordPress has come a long way. It can now do a lot more and is hugely popular because of its ease of use and easy customization with plugin and theme downloads. Moreover, with a large user base, troubleshooting is quick as there are many resources and communities available online for support.
2. Joomla!
Joomla has been a popular CMS for a long time and is just as popular as WordPress. If it weren’t for WordPress’s rapid rise to stardom, Joomla would hold the number one spot. It’s noticeable that many Thai government websites prefer Joomla (due to its past popularity). Joomla is free to use, and you can download and install it on hosting for free. It also offers free plugins and extensions for download.
If your website doesn’t necessarily need to have a blog or pages with extensive text, using Joomla might be a better option than WordPress, which is more suited for blog-centric websites.
3. Drupal
Drupal offers superior security compared to both Joomla and WordPress, with highly flexible and advanced functionality. It’s suitable for professional-grade website development. However, using Drupal requires expertise, making it more suitable for experienced professionals rather than beginners who are looking to create websites for fun. Working with Drupal demands an understanding of the system and proficiency in website management. Therefore, it’s best suited for developers with experience and expertise in this field. Drupal’s performance is optimized when there are experts in this area on your team.
4. Typo3
After covering the Big 3 in the CMS industry, namely WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, we have other CMS options that may not be as popular but are still worth mentioning. One of them is Typo3, which is another CMS not designed for inexperienced users. It’s suitable for professionals who specialize in web development, such as agencies tasked with creating enterprise-level websites. It’s not intended for individuals with basic computer knowledge who simply want to create e-commerce websites, write blogs, or manage websites on their own.
5. Subrion
Subrion is a relatively new CMS with a beautifully designed dashboard and user-friendly interface similar to WordPress. It allows users to easily add plugins, themes, and various templates. Considered an open-source CMS, Subrion is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
6. Wix
Wix is another CMS platform that has gained considerable popularity, capable of accommodating a wide range of users, from individuals to medium-sized companies. For those seeking an easy-to-use CMS platform with minimal technical background, Wix is an excellent choice. It is renowned for its user-friendly nature, requiring only drag-and-drop actions. Additionally, it offers a diverse range of functionalities to choose from.
7. Squarespace
Squarespace is another CMS platform that makes website creation a breeze, enabling users to build professional-looking websites without needing to write code. Its standout feature is its simplicity and user-friendliness, offering a variety of beautiful templates to choose from. Users can easily customize these templates to suit their needs and preferences. Additionally, Squarespace offers a plethora of features to enhance website aesthetics and functionality. Most importantly, users can create websites directly from their mobile devices through the Squarespace mobile app.
8. Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce-focused CMS platform, making it suitable for creating online store websites. It is designed to build, manage, and scale online stores with an easy-to-use interface and features to attract customers effectively. If you’re looking to create a website for selling products, Shopify is one of the excellent options available.
9. Weebly
Weebly is a CMS platform developed and maintained by an American company. It assists in creating websites without spending a single penny. It’s another platform known for its simplicity and user-friendliness, suitable for beginners without any skills. Similar to Shopify, it focuses on e-commerce and offers various features such as templates, form builders, and CSS customization options.
10. Webflow
Webflow is another popular CMS platform produced and developed by an American company. It has gained significant popularity for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set. One of the strengths of building websites with Webflow is that it loads faster compared to other website builders. Without the need for programming skills, users can create beautiful websites with Webflow.
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