The Top 10 Content Management Systems in 2022

BY: Patty Nicholson
APRIL 28, 2022

Content management systems (CMS) have grown in popularity over the last decade, becoming a crucial component of nearly every website. But with so many CMS options out there, it can be hard to determine which is suitable for your needs. This list of the ten best content management systems can help you narrow down the options.

Key takeaways

  • A CMS serves as a framework for your website.
  • Different types of CMS include open-source and proprietary.
  • Many systems are cloud-based SaaS.
  • The top ten CMS include WordPress, SilverStripe CMS, Squarespace, Joomla, HubSpot CMS, Webflow,
  • Shopify, Sitecore, SharePoint, and Salesforce.
  • A custom CMS gives you more control over your website’s look, feel, and features.

RD Global can help you find the best CMS for your needs.

What Is a CMS and How Does It Work?

Content management systems (CMS) are programs that give you a way to control the look and feel of your website. A CMS has an intuitive interface for website owners and designers to create, manage, and control web content. You can use a CMS to create the framework for different kinds of websites.

The time is nigh to start thinking about content management in 2022. If you’re not already familiar with the many benefits of a content management system, this will fill you in:

  • A CMS allows users to modify a website without knowing web design or development. Anyone can use it.
  • You can save time trying to work around the limitations of HTML by using a CMS instead.
  • Content Management Systems are also helpful for SEO because they allow search engines like Google or Bing to access your website’s pages through its URL structure. For example, if someone searches online for something specific (ex: “best basketball shoes”), they will find what they need quickly!

In the last decade, more than 100 content management systems have become available. These systems put a powerful tool at the disposal of website owners, who can now set up and manage sites without dealing with HTML code.

Types of CMS

Different types of content management systems have various strengths and weaknesses. Some CMS services require a developer or administrator to add or edit content, while others allow authorized users to self-serve.

Open-Source vs. Proprietary

One of your choices when selecting a CMS is whether to go open-source or proprietary. Open-source products are typically free or have a low cost, while proprietary systems often require licensing fees that scale up with your usage.

Some systems have an open-source core but still require a license for certain features. For example, eCommerce development platforms like Magento and WooCommerce are free to use with a self-hosted store. However, you need to pay a monthly fee to run an online shop through their cloud services.

A proprietary CMS is not publicly available, meaning that the developer has sole ownership of the software. Proprietary platforms tend to be more expensive than open-source options, but they can provide increased security, stability, and intuitive backends. These platforms are commonly purchased from a vendor or a third party and typically include additional support services and training features.

Cloud-Based Software-as-a-Service

Cloud-based systems don’t take up space on your server; instead, you access them through a web browser. Software as a Service (SaaS) products are standard for online shops and other applications that require frequent updates and high hosting requirements. Drag-and-drop editors to make it easy for non-technical users to manage their websites.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or hosted platforms like Squarespace, Shopify, and BigCommerce are more limited than proprietary software. These services are typically less expensive than hiring a developer, but you’ll have less control over your site’s design, features, and growth potential.

The Top 10 Content Management Systems for 2022

  • WordPress
  • SilverStripe CMS
  • Squarespace
  • Joomla
  • HubSpot CMS
  • Webflow
  • Shopify
  • Sitecore
  • SharePoint
  • Salesforce CMS

1. WordPress

WordPress is a powerful tool that offers a lot of flexibility. And the best thing about it? Thousands of plugins and themes make customization fun and easy. You can use WordPress to design simple static pages or complex eCommerce sites. The WordPress CMS is customizable, so you can use it to create any website your heart desires.

Matt Mullenweg started WordPress in 2003 as a fork of an open-source project called b2/cafelog. Since then, it became the most popular content management system in use on the Internet today. It currently powers over 30% of all websites online.

2. SilverStripe CMS

SilverStripe is a free and open-source content management system built by a company with the same name. It’s an enterprise-level product that’s powerful yet simple to use, ideal for small business owners, freelancers, and agencies.

SilverStripe came to the market in 2006 and currently powers hundreds of thousands of websites across the globe. Despite its popularity, you may not know about it because it has less advertising than WordPress or Joomla. There aren’t many resources available compared to other CMSs. In addition to the official website, only a few communities support SilverStripe CMS users.

The platform comes with many modules to choose from, so you can customize your site however you want it to look and function. Its flexibility means you can build anything from big websites consisting of hundreds of pages to small sites with just four pages or even an online magazine or blog. You can also use this platform for e-commerce sites if you’re sure about what type of online store you’ll be running soon.

3. Squarespace

Squarespace is hands-down one of the simplest CMS platforms to use. It’s incredibly intuitive to use, even if you’re new to working with a website builder.

New and established brands can use Squarespace to create a beautiful website without knowing any code. It’s also great for social media integration and has excellent support options available if you need help bringing your vision to life.

Companies like Tesla, Burton Snowboards, Time Magazine, and Arianna Huffington have used Squarespace as their CMS platform. In other words, if you lack time for learning complicated coding languages (or don’t want to hire someone who does), Squarespace is worth trying out.

4. Joomla

Joomla is another popular CMS that is easy to use but with a less intuitive interface than WordPress. Joomla is written with PHP and uses MySQL as its database language, and has millions of users worldwide. You can use Joomla for small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies.

The CMS is suitable for managing complex content and is best suited for large sites with many sections and subsections. Joomla is easy to use and can be extended and customized to allow you to manage multiple sites at once.

If your website experiences growth, Joomla can accommodate it. It can also integrate with other systems such as ERP or CRM programs, and you can translate your site into different languages.

5. HubSpot CMS

HubSpot CMS is a cloud-based web content management system designed for marketers. The all-in-one marketing platform gives you the tools to create, optimize, and publish online content. The drag and drop interface makes it easy to build your site without needing a developer.

It also offers robust integration with HubSpot’s all-in-one marketing software. You can customize your website based on a visitor’s actions and behavior on your site and across other channels like email, social media, blogs, etc.

For example, when customers click on free downloads from one of your landing pages but don’t purchase one of your products, you can show them different offers instead of the same offer they rejected on their first visit.

6. Webflow

Webflow is a newer CMS that offers an exciting twist: the ability to build dynamic sites without coding, combining a CMS with web design tools. With Webflow, you can quickly build websites while dragging and dropping elements into place. Thus, it allows non-developers to create influential sites without having to code, making it an excellent option for those interested in designing a site but lack access to the backend.

But despite its simplicity, Webflow is still quite powerful when it comes to managing your site. It provides templates meant to be used as starting points for your site and then customized accordingly. These features help speed up development time and make building websites more accessible than ever.

So if you’re looking for a CMS that’s easy enough for anyone on your team to use yet still powerful enough to build nearly any website possible (from blogs and online stores to complicated e-commerce sites), Webflow might be the one for you.

7. Shopify

Shopify is a popular CMS for eCommerce pages. This system makes it easy for people who have no coding experience to start an eCommerce business without any technical knowledge. Supported in multiple languages, Shopify is adept at handling a growing business’s needs.

An API and app store means that a diverse range of extensions are possible, along with a self-hosted blog to keep customers engaged. Shopify has many customizable features such as payment options (including PayPal), shipping rates, product options (like size or color), tax rates depending on where customers live, etc.

If anything goes wrong while using their service, you’ll also have access to customer service support, so there’s always someone there who knows what they’re doing.

8. Sitecore

Sitecore is a proprietary CMS considered one of the top-tier enterprise platforms. It’s known for powering the websites of several Fortune 500 companies and central government agencies, and it has features you’d expect from an enterprise solution. Sitecore comes with all the standard features from a modern CMS like a content editor, workflows, multi-site management, and integrations with other tools via APIs.

The site has many advanced features, from its marketing automation capabilities to its cloud hosting options to its ability to integrate with other business software that you might use. The .NET framework means it’s simple for developers to work within, but the interface for content managers is often clunky, outdated, and not particularly user-friendly.

9. SharePoint

SharePoint is a cloud-based Microsoft program that enables teams to manage and share documents, files, calendars, etc. It’s a user-friendly platform that comes with many features, including the ability to customize and build your digital workspace, various security features, and an easy method of sharing content.

Some benefits of using SharePoint for your business/website include:

  • Access to all your files anywhere you have internet access
  • Ability to track versions of documents
  • Social networks for communicating with colleagues or customers
  • Alerts for changes or updates happening in the system
  • Engaging websites with web apps from Office 365 (with no code)
  • Access multiple apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, within SharePoint

SharePoint is suitable for small businesses that need an intranet site or simple website.

10. Salesforce CMS

A hybrid content management system that you can integrate with other tools in the Salesforce ecosystem is Salesforce CMS. In addition to managing your content from one platform, Salesforce CMS also has other features like SEO guidelines, marketing asset creation, and template customization.

A cloud-based database stores your company’s data, giving you access anywhere you have an internet connection. You can store and organize your documents, images, and videos on this single platform. But, unlike other cloud-based content management systems, Salesforce Web CMS doesn’t limit what types of files you can use.

Create Your CMS With RDGlobal's Professional Web Development Team

RD Global’s professional web application development team of expert programmers can design a CMS for your business needs.

Why choose RD Global:

  • Competitive pricing
  • Quick turn-around times
  • User-centric design
  • Diverse and experienced team knowledgeable in the latest technologies
  • Customization options to tailor your CMS
  • Ongoing support and communication

Our team has helped clients successfully develop custom content management systems for blogs, e-commerce, and corporate websites.

We can develop a custom CMS to meet all the requirements and specifications of your Project. Contact RD Global today to learn how.

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Written by Patty Nicholson

"With an exceptional ability to execute and implement enterprise-wide, highly complex strategic initiatives building trust with teams and cross-functional partners, and over 20 years of demonstrated leadership skills, Patty Nicholson oversees all operations while maintaining a commitment to 5-star customer success. Most of her career has been working with insurance organizations on ways to automate manual processes to new digital platforms."

APRIL 28, 2022
RD Global Empowers Insurance Companies to optimize total digital experience, unify data, and harmonize processes by developing high impact technology solutions infused with a 5-star customer experience.