Last Updated
The Best Content Management Software Companies of 2021
How We Chose the Best Content Management Software
When you visit the websites for the various CMS companies out there, they all sound like the best, and it can be hard to sort through the different features and services available to figure out what matters most to you. That’s why we evaluated the CMS options based on the criteria we consider the most important. We wanted to see how CMS streamlines your workflow when you need to edit web content, publish new content and collaborate across your entire company, as well as how well it helps you become and remain organized.
Content Editing and Publishing
Your CMS should make your workflow easier, not more complicated. We evaluated a CMS’s ability to enable editing and publishing of web content. Whether you’re working with a templated page or a custom design, the best CMS makes publishing new web content a snap.
Collaboration Tools
CMS should streamline collaboration and workflow across your whole company. Because multiple users need access to work with your CMS, we prioritized software that defines user roles and permissions clearly. We also looked for workflow tools, such as tagging and the ability to assign work to others on your company’s teams.
Searching and Archiving
A key job of any CMS is to help you stay organized. We evaluated each CMS we looked at to determine how easy it is to set up your organization through indexing, tagging and archiving your content and assets, as well as how simple it is to search for assets and content when they’re needed.
The 15 Best CMS of 2021
| Company | Price | Free Trial/Demo | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bynder | Starts at $450 per month | Free trial, demo | Visit Bynder |
| CMS Hub | $240 (professional)-$900 (enterprise) per month | Free trial, demo | Visit CMS Hub |
| Concrete5 | $0 per month (open source) | Free trial | Visit Concrete5 |
| ContentStudio | Starts at $25 per month | Free trial, demo | Visit ContentStudio |
| Contentverse | $15-$33 per user per month | Demo | Visit Contentverse |
| CoSchedule | Starts at $40 per month | Free trial | Visit CoSchedule |
| Dokmee | $240-$1,140 per month | Demo | Visit Dokmee |
| DotCMS | Custom quote | Demo | Visit DotCMS |
| Drupal | $0 per month (open source) | Free trial | Visit Drupal |
| eFileCabinet | $15-$55 per user per month + custom enterprise quotes | Demo | Visit eFileCabinet |
| eXo Platform | Starts at $5 per user per month | Demo | Visit eXo Platform |
| Joomla! | $0 per month (open source)-$399 per month | Demo | Visit Joomla! |
| Kentico | $999-$1,799 per month | Free trial, demo | Visit Kentico |
| SilverStripe | $300-$3,250 per month + custom quote | Demo | Visit SilverStripe |
| Sitecore | Custom quote | Demo | Visit Sitecore |
Bynder
Bynder’s CMS provides digital asset management solutions that allow teams to collaborate in real time, while sharing and storing files with ease. Its cloud-based portal centralizes company messages, data and other materials, allowing users 24/7 access from any location.
Bynder’s add-on modules provided extra functionality and can be custom-tailored to meet brand requirements. Distribution and real-time approvals are easy, allowing companies to control operations and marketing smoothly.
Features include:
- Content management, including video content, audio content and image editing
- Digital and print brand templates
- Digital brand guidelines
- Advanced analytics regarding digital asset performance
- Creative workflow
- Enterprise content management tools
- Collections and permissions
Bynder’s product suite is scalable, so it grows as its clients grow, and it provides rigorous security features. It provides APIs and out-of-the-box integrations for seamless application with existing tech stacks.
| Price | Free Trial/Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at $450 per month | Free trial, demo | >Deployment: Web-based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Number of users: Not provided >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Business Hours, Online >More features at Bynder |
Pros & Cons of Bynder Content Management Software
The Bynder CMS user interface is smooth and easy, with clear visual cues that help users navigate the program intuitively. Its free trial lets customers check out its features. While the CMS offers customization options, some users find them limited and wish there were more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Easy to find specific information, including images >Strong customer support >Offers many downloading options | >Could use greater customization capacity |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate how easy Bynder makes it to find photos, presentations, proposals and more whenever they’re needed, noting that the CMS “makes you look like a hero and an organized one to boot.” They also appreciate the constant evolution of the platform and the efficiency of onboarding, saying, “The amount of customization and branding combined with the features available are incredible.”
CMS Hub
CMS Hub is part of the powerful Hubspot full stack that also includes the Hubspot CRM, plus its marketing, sales and service hubs. Companies already using these Hubspot offerings can expect seamless integration with the newer CMS Hub, which allows easy editing, page creation and personalization.
Prebuilt website themes are flexible to allow customization while ensuring a cohesive look for your site, as well as intuitive navigation. CMS Hub is also designed to work smoothly with multiple language domains. Drag-and-drop editing means marketers can make changes to the site quickly, without needing help from a developer.
Optimization is at the heart of CMS Hub. Content creators find automatic SEO recommendations to help push sites higher in search engine rankings, and optimization continues through the adaptive testing capabilities of the software. In addition, contract attribution reporting provides the data needed about content and sources to optimize marketing strategy.
| Price | Free Trial/Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $240 (professional)-$900 (enterprise) per month | Free trial, demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Number of users: Professional plan: up to 5 users Enterprise: up to 10 users >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep) Business Hours, Online >More features at CMS Hub |
Pros & Cons of CMS Hub Content Management Software
CMS Hub is easy to use out of the box, with automatic optimization for mobile use, drag-and-drop capabilities and strong integration with sales and email, providing a smooth and effective for nontechnical users. However, managing contacts can be more complicated than necessary, and some users would prefer to own their own sites.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Easy integration with Hubspot's other offerings >Creation of forms, pop-ups, workflows, and landing pages is simple >Optimized for mobile out of the box | >Connection with non-Hubspot platforms can be awkward |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate not having to jump between multiple specialty programs to manage their content, saying, “Hubspot is good if you want the simplicity of one central place.” They also appreciate the ability to customize the CMS to meet their own needs, saying, “It also has plenty of features for those who want to dive deeper into the code. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot with additional Javascript, and even HubDB, Hubspot’s own database system.”
Concrete5
An open source CMS, Concrete5 offers flexible website building and management solutions with a focus on making it as easy as possible to change and add content. Certified partners offer add-ons and themes to power a website, with free and commercial options available to make the CMS accessible for start-ups and small businesses.
Among Concrete5’s most popular features are:
- Form creation with drag-and-drop ease and no coding required
- Integrated reporting of all forms, surveys and emails
- Threaded comment sections with full moderation and comment sorting
- Multistep content workflow with permissions
- Thousands of add-ons for powerful customization
In addition, Concrete5’s hosting plans incorporate DevOps approaches, and its security features include Captcha, SSL compatibility, content approval and an audit trail. Layouts, video and images are all responsive, so your site is functional on any device, and the CMS Style Editor makes it easy to create beautiful pages that look just like you imagined them. Full support is provided for multiauthor blogs, as well, with RSS syndication and category support included.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $0 per month (open source) | Free trial | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep) Business Hours, Online >More features at Concrete5 |
Pros & Cons of Concrete5 Content Management Software
Organizations that want to build a website without any coding appreciate Concrete5’s user-friendly design when it comes to posting, editing and updating. Customization is also straightforward, producing professional results without requiring a ground-up build. However, users requiring eCommerce functionality won’t find it built in to the CMS, and scaling to very large projects can be problematic.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >In-context page editing >Customizable, professional-looking templates >Simple, intuitive user interface | >Development documentation is lacking >Integrating commercial features can be cost prohibitive |
What Customers Are Saying
Web developers appreciate Concrete5’s capabilities and ease of use, calling it “a powerful solution for building a content management system without tricking a blog into being a website.” Customers appreciate the ability to develop their sites in stages while still retaining functionality, saying that Concrete5 is “a solution that worked on cross platforms and provided templates that look professional from the start.”
ContentStudio
The focus of ContentStudio is content marketing and social media outreach, with the CMS providing the needed tools to handle blogs, newsletters, email, spreadsheets, workflow and social media posts all on one platform. An intuitive editorial calendar makes it easy for teams to collaborate on content creation and publishing, and analytics tools help users track and measure performance across channels.
The features that ContentStudio offers include:
- A discovery that curates content from a large source database
- An interactive planner and calendar with approval and scheduling control
- Social media analytics and customizable reports
- Engagement tracking across social media platforms
- Drip sequencing for delivering content to blogs and social media
- Step-by-step templates for video and article automation
In addition, ContentStudio allows users to organize their workflow by segmenting workspaces on a project or client basis, with approvals built in to the workflow. The CMS also offers AI for caption writing to save users time, and its multichannel composer offers an SEO tool box and suggests trending hashtags to help published content garner attention.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at $25 per month | Free trial, demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: Live Online Documentation >More features at ContentStudio |
Pros & Cons of ContentStudio Content Management Software
ContentStudio continually updates the CMS with features that users ask for, while also making existing features richer and easier to use. Its content discovery feature makes it simple for users to keep blogs and social media populated. However, the content discovery app doesn’t work as well as it might when dealing with custom sources, and the CMS has problems integrating with some browsers, notably Safari.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Discovers and delivers fresh content easily >Highly intuitive UI >Social media sharing is powerful and flexible | >No multilanguage capabilities |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the ease with which ContentStudio interfaces with social media platforms, saying, “It takes all the hard work out of managing social media profiles” and, “You will love this application if you struggle with getting content daily.” They also appreciate the constant updating of the CMS and its ease of use on mobile devices, praising the UI as “clean” and “beautiful.”
Contentverse
Contentverse is a fully integrated CMS that provides complete infrastructure for content and data management at the enterprise level. The CMS is fully accessible on iOS and Android mobile devices, allowing users to access data while on the go, and its document management tools put the content you need at your fingers. Its workflow automation also empowers employees while providing them with the collaborative tools they need to get work done efficiently.
Among the features that Contentverse offers to users are:
- Flexible deployment options for named and concurrent users
- A secure online environment when working on mobile devices
- Auto-populating forms that make data available for mining
- Seamless integration with MS Office and Salesforce
- Easy onboarding via the Contentverse Knowledge Center
In addition, Contentverse uses rules-based workflows to enhance and accelerate collaboration, allowing generation and uploading of documents in any format. Its additional security precautions include SSL encryption, password-protected email and deadlines for data sharing to mitigate risks.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $15-$33 per user per month | Demo | >Deployment: Installed - Windows Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Business Hours, Online >More features at Contentverse |
Pros & Cons of Contentverse Content Management Software
Contentverse makes it easy to search for and share documents collaboratively between users, allowing organizations to digitize their archived files with confidence. The robust security of the CMS protects data, while allowing selective access or denial of access to users. However, some users report that certain features could be more intuitive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Easy access to information >Security features allow denial of access when needed >Easy to share documents between departments | >Search features aren't always intuitive |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers, especially those from very large organizations such as school districts, often remark about how much easier their lives are thanks to the switch from paper files to online CMS with Contentverse, saying, “Contentverse helped us save time and find documents instantly, which made our customer service more efficient and more effective.” Customers also appreciate the “friendly, knowledgeable, and patient” customer service, saying, “Computhink provides great technical support for our individuals to follow.”
CoSchedule
Designed specifically for marketing professionals, CoSchedule pairs a real-time marketing calendar with a suite of tools designed to streamline workflow and enable collaboration among members of marketing teams. By organizing content, workflow, social media and assets, CoSchedule aims to help marketers save time and maximize productivity.
CoSchedule’s features include the following:
- Social media templates and scheduling tools to streamline social management
- A content organizer that connects tools for optimal publishing and promotion
- Workflow organization tools for proactive planning
- A customizable asset organizer for secure sharing of files
- A unified, real-time marketing calendar
The visibility that CoSchedule provides allows marketing professionals to manage and prioritize project pipelines without losing sight of long-term, strategic goals. CoSchedule is designed to boost productivity, while eliminating trivial tasks that waste time.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at $40 per month | Free trial | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: Business Hours, Online >More features at CoSchedule |
Pros & Cons of CoSchedule Content Management Software
CoSchedule facilitates scheduling across multiple platforms quickly and easily, and its approval procedures are also simple and streamlined. Social media scheduling and management is a highlight of the CMS, with task tracking tools enabling project management. However, publication on WordPress sites can be problematic, as can formatting and layout on the various calendars, and print-friendly versions of calendars are awkward.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Easy social media sharing >Mobile accessibility >Intuitive marketing calendar | >High price, especially for smaller organizations |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate having access to “metrics on what content is doing well,” as well as the dynamic, color-coded calendar that allows scheduling of various types of events. WordPress users appreciate the inter-platform integration, as well as the ability to work with a WYSIWYG editor and import into WordPress. Customers also praise CoSchedule’s social media management features, saying, “the social media campaign/queue is the best I’ve seen.”
Dokmee
The Dokmee CMS provides efficient document and asset management for all sorts of files, including spreadsheets and auto-CAD drawings, with OCR to convert images to searchable files. Its intuitive search functions make it easy to track and retrieve documents, while its workflow automates approvals within seconds, no matter where the user is around the world, with support in more than 134 languages.
Dokmee’s features also include:
- File encryption, audit logs and other powerful security features
- Collaboration tools that integrate with MS Office
- Cloud accessibility with full IT management available
- File sharing with version control
- Automatic and manual file organization
Dokmee’s rules-based workflow automates document management and tracking, complete with approvals and automatic document stamping, and easy annotation features include e-signatures and sticky notes. File retention features allow users to purge documents automatically.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $15-$33 per user per month | Demo | >Deployment: Installed - Mac, Installed - Windows, Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Business Hours, Online >More features at Dokmee |
Pros & Cons of Dokmee Content Management Software
Customers appreciate Dokmee’s ease of use, especially when working collaboratively. The security features of the CMS also win favor with users who like its card key access, built-in activity recording and ability to restrict file access. However, some customers consider Dokmee overpriced for the features it offers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Easy indexing of documents >Intuitive UI >Can capture an unlimited number of documents | >High-priced compared to similar software |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the indexing and easy searchability of data, which can save hours compared to using hard-copy files, pointing out that “all the unorganized paper records can be easily transformed into secured digital records using Dokmee.” In addition, they appreciate the user-friendly interface, including when working with a scanner, and many find it a “cost effective and excellent tool for small and medium businesses.”
dotCMS
DotCMS is a hybrid CMS that relies on the full functionality of a traditional CMS, while providing the freedom of a headless CMS. It permits the construction of either type of CMS, while delivering workflows, cloud accessibility, security, scalability and user roles and permissions. Its SPA editor provides a seamless editing experience that includes personalization and in-line editing from any location and for any content delivery model.
Among the many features dotCMS includes are:
- Ability to deploy on public or private clouds for cost savings and personalized control
- Multistep workflows with approvals and third-party integration
- Multitenant capabilities for scalability
- Easy scheduling and publishing of files and assets
- Support for static and dynamic content publishing
- Content accessibility via RESTful APIs
- Control of thousands of channels from one centralized platform
In addition, dotCMS provides drag-and-drop functionality for NoCode/Lowcode content creation. Built with an API architecture and Java technology, dotCMS deploys portals, intranets, extranets and apps without requiring a full IT team.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Custom quote | Demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, Installed - Mac, Installed - Windows >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Business Hours, Online >More features at dotCMS |
Pros & Cons of dotCMS Content Management Software
As a hybrid CMS, dotCMS is highly flexible, allowing a great deal of customization without a lot of technical knowledge required on the part of the user. Content editors in particular have many options available when it comes to displaying content. However, documentation is sometimes lacking, which can lead to UI/UX problems.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Creates and manages large number of content types >Ability to reuse widgets saves time >Intuitive editor is easy for nontechnical users | >High price, especially for smaller enterprises >Building tables can be difficult |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the flexibility that dotCMS provides, especially for the non-technical members of their organization, saying they are “very happy with the freedom this software has given my team.” Other customers point out the need for training, while calling dotCMS “an ideal CMS for an enterprise environment that needs a product that is flexible, highly customizable and reasonably priced.”
Drupal
Drupal declares itself to be the most powerful open source CMS in the world. Its wide array of features provides support for that claim, as well as its use by governments and major broadcast companies. Drupal’s open source community includes more than 1 million developers, designers and other members who build and support Drupal add-ons and modules and create documentation for them. The CMS is extremely scalable, with mix-and-match components available to extend its abilities as needed.
Among Drupal’s core features are:
- Fast page load times and consistent performance across platforms
- Marketing automation to drive eCommerce, chatbots and customer data usage
- Personalization, including targeted marketing, multivariate testing and visitor profiles
- Headless content-as-a-service functionality
- Advanced security, including encryption and user access control
- Seamless multilanguage translation
Because Drupal is open source software, it’s free, with no licensing fees. Users can create new code to share with others within an enterprise or throughout the Drupal user community. Themes and starter kits are available to get new users started, and Drupal integrates smoothly with other apps.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $0 per month (open source) | Free trial | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Support: Online >More features at Drupal |
Pros & Cons of Drupal Content Management Software
The open source design of Drupal provides plenty of opportunities for localization and personalization, with many themes available for use on organizations’ websites. The CMS is extremely scalable, and a large support community is available to help users solve problems and make adaptations. However, some users find that modules don’t always do what they’d hoped, and the vast flexibility of the system often means a significant learning curve is involved to get Drupal to accomplish what you want it to do.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Thousands of free and paid add-ons available >Back-end admin and customization features >Global Drupal community is a powerful resource | >Can be difficult to learn >Not designed for use with interactive content |
What Customers Are Saying
Drupal customers appreciate being part of a global community as a resource for new modules, code, themes and support. They also appreciate Drupal’s “reliability and flexibility,” as well as the fact that the CMS is free, pointing out that “you can make a complete implementation without investing money in software.”
eFileCabinet
EFileCabinet is a CMS that provides users with centralized control over their documents and 5TB of storage space, with more available. Full-text search and an intuitive UI makes it easy to find and retrieve documents, and workflow automation enhances productivity. The CMS is designed for scalability, with admin tools that provide users with control as their business grows. Android and iOS apps are available to allow access to documents from mobile devices, with e-signature capability for signing contracts on the go.
The features of eFileCabinet also include:
- Guest access to files for client use
- Audit trails and one-time passcodes for e-signature security
- Automated filing
- Secure file sharing with permissions and notifications
- Accessibility via web browser and desktop app
- Missing item search
In addition, eFileCabinet’s workflows feature the ability to take snapshots for drilling down to see workflow efficiency across the company. Folder templates allow standardization, and governance tools allow control of documents, folders, drawers and cabinets. Additionally, the eFileCabinet Rubex tool integrates smoothly with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $15-$55 per user per month + custom enterprise quotes | Demo | >Deployment: Installed - Mac, Installed - Windows, Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Business Hours, Online >More features at eFileCabinet |
Pros & Cons of eFileCabinet Content Management Software
EFileCabinet makes documents accessible to users from anywhere in the world, getting rid of the need to save multiple copies and making it easy to track historical documentation. Its security features provide protection for sensitive data. However, automated filing features don’t always send scanned documents to the proper folders, and files that are inappropriately uploaded or no longer needed can’t be deleted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >E-signature capabilities within the program >Security of file sharing >Low-cost compared to similar software | >Long wait times for customer service >Mobile access is clumsy and not intuitive |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the way eFileCabinet’s ability to scan and store documents can “make a paper-free office a reality,” as well as the option to host on an in-house server rather than the cloud for security purposes. Those who do use the cloud appreciate the ease of access provided in-house as well as to clients, calling the software “user-friendly” and “intuitive.”
eXo Platform
EXo Platform is an employee-centered CMS that prioritizes communication and collaboration, while also integrating tools for staff empowerment and reward within its structure. Its digital hub uses social channels for communication, while also curating content and providing digital tools to enhance in-house collaboration. Mobile capabilities provide access to needed content while on the go, and project management tools enhance workflow and productivity.
Features available within eXo Platform include:
- Communications tools for page creation and social media activity
- Permission-enabled dedicated spaces for secure collaboration
- Calendars, task management tools and activity streams
- A centralized knowledge base
- Simple workflows with push notifications
- Gamification of employee rewards
Knowledge and information sharing are facilitated by eXo Platform, as is follow-up on collaborative projects and tasks. Extensive APIs allow third-party integration with most software suites, and the open-source nature of eXo Platform lets users take advantage of continuous innovation.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at $5 per user per month | Demo | >Deployment: Installed - Mac, Installed - Windows, Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS, iPhone/iPad, Android >Support: In Person, Live Online, Webinars >More features at eXo Platform |
Pros & Cons of eXo Platform Content Management Software
Cloud-based access and responsive use on mobile devices makes it possible for teams using eXo Platform to access documents and collaborate from anywhere around the world. Intuitive search functions make it easy to find older documents, even if their names have been changed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Customizable UI >Collaboration tools, including ability to set up intranet >Easy cloud-based access | >No free trial |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate that eXo Platform has the features and capabilities they need right out of the box, saying, “Using eXo Platform we created a secure portal-based site and an intranet that encourages employees in an organization to exchange knowledge, documents, work collaboratively, task management, contact data.” They also appreciate the “easy search function” that allows users to find documents even if they don’t have the names correct.
Joomla!
Joomla! is open source CMS with an application framework that encourages developers to create add-ons using PHP and MySQL. A global community of users, including both developers and volunteers, provide support and extend Joomla!’s functionality with extensions to the CMS that are responsive, multilingual and accessible. As open source software, Joomla! is free, allowing organizations to launch fully functional websites with no expense.
Among Joomla!’s most useful features are:
- Customizable templates with override capability
- Easy updating and installation of more than 8,000 extensions
- SEO out of the box
- Extensive documentation, global support and in-app help
- Monetization, tagging and syndication tools
Joomla! also delivers a wide range of content editing and management tools that allow straightforward scheduling, WYSIWYG and front-end editing, image uploading, content versioning and drag-and-drop functionality.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $0 per month (open source)-$399 per month | Demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Support: Live Chat >More features at Joomla! |
Pros & Cons of Joomla! Content Management Software
Joomla! makes it easy for organizations to get their businesses up and running online through an intuitive control panel, plenty of documentation and useful in-app help features. Updating and creating content is easy, smooth and well-organized, even when creating complex community sites with hundreds of contributors. However, the CMS doesn’t offer all the modules that users would like, especially for blogging.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Open source software is always updated >More than 10,000 add-ons and extensions available >Content updating is easy | >No free trial |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the customization possibilities available through Joomla! thanks to the “enormous extensions catalog, both free and paid, which means you can create a one of a kind website.” They also appreciate the free domain name and hosting offerings, and those getting ready to launch are fans of the “ability to build a website with no technical knowledge required.”
Kentico
Kentico’s CMS Kontent is an omnichannel, cloud-based content management system that provides the development flexibility of a headless CMS with content delivered via API. Developers can integrate Kentico with microservice architecture and a wide array of tools, or pair it with Kentico’s content-as-a-service offerings, which include digital marketing and eCommerce tools.
The features of the Kentico CMS include:
- Integration with leading tools
- Easy updating with no coding or tech proficiency required
- API delivery of content
- Collaborative tools
- Simple access to content
Developers appreciate having the ability to choose their own tech stack and to present content across all channels, including mobile apps, voice assistants, chatbots, eCommerce stores and multiple websites, including legacy websites. Because the API delivers so smoothly, users can focus on creating content and deciding how it should display.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $999-$1,799 per month | Free trial, demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Number of users: Business Plan: Up to 10 users, Premium: Up to 25 users, Enterprise: Up to 50+ users >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep), Online >More features at Kentico |
Pros & Cons of Kentico Content Management Software
The open framework of the Kentico CMS pairs with its API and integration options to help users make enhancements and extremely intricate customizations to suit the needs of their companies. Its templates and other page-building tools are flexible and intuitive. However, implementation of features can be slow, and building forms is tedious and time consuming.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >User-friendly administrative interface >Highly adaptable to meet organizational needs >Integrations and complex systems are easy to manage | >One of the more expensive options |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the Kentico CMS user-friendliness, remarking favorably on “the ease of creating different versions of the content,” as well as the time-saving ability to cut and paste sections of layout. They also appreciate the simplicity when assigning roles, as well as the intuitive organization of content, saying that it enables uses to “structure your navigation based on how you structure your content.”
Silverstripe
Silverstripe pairs fully managed cloud hosting with its CMS and cloud technologies to deliver comprehensive tech solutions. Its CMS is flexible and customizable, and it’s designed to let content editors handle their own updates without having to turn to in-house developers or designers for help. The CMS software development kit includes all the tools needed for website creation, and Silverstripe also provides out-of-the-box security to guard against bad actors.
Features of the Silverstripe CMS include:
- Content block design for easy modification and drag-and-drop functionality
- User roles and privileges for secure access control
- Search-engine friendly
- User workflows and approvals
- Multilingual capabilities, including Chinese and Maori
Silverstrip also hosts an add-on library containing more than 2,500 modules to extend CMS functionality. Its UI is intuitive and easy to use, and the CMS is agile, scaling and evolving as your organization grows.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $300-$3,250 per month + custom quote | Demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Support: Chat, Email >More features at Silverstripe |
Pros & Cons of Silverstripe Content Management Software
The Silverstripe CMS design makes it straightforward to visualize websites, and developers and content managers alike find the modular CMS easy to work with. Navigation is logical, and the available customizations allow the CMS to scale to meet the growing needs of users. However, the CMS requires a fairly steep learning curve, making it not the right choice for those who need to build a site quickly or who are completely new to web development.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Intuitive content editor >Simple, user-friendly UI that isn't overcomplicated >Highly extendable and customizable | >Not used much outside New Zealand and Australia; no global community |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate the flexibility and customizability of Silverstripe’s CMS, and they’re pleased that they end up with websites “without limitations on design or functionality and based on a solid open-source foundation.” They point out that, “You can basically manipulate it to do whatever you want” and that “Upgrading is quite easy as well.”
Sitecore
Sitecore pairs its powerful CMS with its digital experience platform, which adds marketing automation and analytics to the mix to aid eCommerce sites. Sitecore’s content management provides an end-to-end experience across all channels, with personalization options at every touchpoint. Its modular content creation design provides omnichannel reach, and its content hub leverages AI to facilitate content tagging.
Among the features of Sitecore’s CMS are:
- Digital asset management for easy search
- Product content management to enable consistency across catalogs and eCommerce pages
- Predefined content models
- Content marketing tools
- Intuitive and accessible UI
Sitecore’s headless CMS facilitates the creation and display of content on any device or channel, and its multilingual capabilities give it a global reach. It uses AI for automated personalization that takes into account visitor trends, and it offers a user-friendly editing environment.
| Price | Free Trial / Demo | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Custom quote | Demo | >Deployment: Web-Based, Cloud, SaaS >Support: 24/7 (Live Rep) Business Hours >More features at Sitecore |
Pros & Cons of Sitecore Content Management Software
Sitecore features intuitive content organization that makes documents and other assets easy to find and equally easy to set up. Customizations are simple to accomplish, and scalability seems unlimited, thanks to the CMS’s robust caching features.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Ability to define workflows >A/B testing capabilities >Separation of content and style | >CMS is expensive >No free trial |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciate Sitecore’s functionality for very large enterprises, saying, “For those who have large or complex websites, Sitecore has a lot of features that will cover your needs.” They also appreciate not having to turn to their IT team to use the CMS, saying that Sitecore “has also made the SEO process an easier one.”
What Is Content Management Software?
Content Management Software is a software platform that helps users who don’t have technical or coding knowledge create and modify digital content. A CMS provides a user-friendly UI to interact with the database behind a website, and it lets users edit, publish and distribute content. Typically, a CMS provides WYSIWYG editing so that users can see what their content will look like before they publish it.
Most CMS also support collaborative work between users of the platform, allowing access to documents and other digital assets. Users can collaborate to add not just text but also graphics, audio, video, images and various interactive items to websites. They can then update and manage those assets at will.
With a CMS, users and content creators can focus on the customer-facing aspects of their websites, without having to be concerned about the back-end coding that makes it all happen. Many CMS systems provide ready-to-populate templates and modules to enhance productivity and make it easy to get content online. CMS also can be paired with record retention, digital marketing, marketing automation and AI features to provide greater functionality to websites and asset management functions.
Benefits of Content Management Software
Content Management Software helps make it possible for small businesses to have a thriving online presence, without pulling them away from the other tasks involved with growing their businesses. The benefits of using CMS include:
- Facilitating changes to your website. With CMS, you can make design and content changes to your site without losing any of its functionality. You can also populate changes across the entire site at once to maintain consistency.
- Scaling your online offerings as your business grows. CMS lets you add new content, pages and functionalities to your website in a cost-effective manner as your business grows, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
- Access to your website from any location or device. CMS lets your team make changes to your website from any device, even when they’re on the go anywhere in the world, allowing them to work remotely.
- Ease of use. Because users don’t have to handle code when working with CMS, your IT team can focus on other issues. Most CMS comes with ready-to-go templates, themes and modules to make content creation and publishing ultra easy.
- Simplified workflow. With CMS, all team members have access to the parts of a website that they need to work with — while user permissions keep certain areas, such as the code itself, off limits to anyone but specialists.
Must-Have Features for Content Management Software
While the crucial features differ slightly for each business owner, there are certain core, must–have features of every CMS, including:
- Content editing and publishing. CMS should enhance and speed up the process of content creation and distribution. Built-in markdown editors, media libraries, SEO tools and personalization capabilities should work together seamlessly to provide a smooth content creation experience. The best CMS makes it easy to update and publish pages.
- Collaboration tools. When a CMS provides a customizable workflow process, your team has the tools they need to work together collaboratively. Available tools should include user roles and permissions, the ability to assign work and full versioning to allow tracking and reversion to previous work when needed.
- Search and archiving tools. A CMS should provide organization that streamlines workflow for everyone. The ability to tag and index documents and other digital assets is crucial, as is a robust search function that helps users find what they’re looking for, even if an item is misnamed.
- Having adequate security on a CMS protects data, customers and even brand reputation. Top CMS will include SSL, and security management features should also be in place, including fully customizable user roles, content permissions and module permissions, as well as authentication protocols.
The Cost of Content Management Software
The cost of Content Management Software can vary drastically. At the low end are the open-source platforms, such as Drupal and Joomla!. These systems allow users to build and launch websites for free, although the add-ons and extensions that some businesses may require can run up the expense list quickly. On the high end, CMS providers such as Silverstripe and Kentico, which can charge up to $3,250 per month, typically offer a plethora of built-in features that provide extreme customization and marketing tools.
In addition to the monthly licensing fee, users should consider other possible costs when calculating their overall or annual expenditure for a CMS. Some vendors charge annual fees to cover maintenance, upgrades, new version releases and access to documentation or user communities. User training for editors and developers is often needed and may be costly. In addition, users should consider the infrastructure costs associated with the CMS purchase. If a CMS provides cloud-based, platform-as-a-service services, you don’t have to worry about this cost, as the CMS will cover it. However, without PaaS, your CMS may entail server, administrative, energy and human resources costs.