A CMS (Content Management System) is a software application that handles the content of a website or an app. Content is a major element of the online site and needs management. The integration of content can be done with the help of a content management system.
Content management systems help designers design amazing websites with better content layouts and changes. There are many CMS platforms that brands and users use today.
Nonetheless, open-source CMS software, affordable and adaptable for various business models, stands out as the best CMS platform. It is very important to go with the right kind of CMS system for your business and look for the right qualities in it.
Let’s first understand what CMS actually is.
What is a CMS Platform?
A CMS platform is also known as a Content Management System that works with different websites on the backend. CMS Platforms help you create new websites with specific languages and designs. Such webpages are written in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
The CMS system simplifies the development and design phase of the website. Without a CMS platform, the developer has to code for different elements, and it takes a lot of time to do the work.
There are examples of developer-friendly CMS platforms that help you work with coding and other areas of code development. When choosing the best open-source CMS platform among the options, many factors come under consideration.
5 Must-Know Factors for Choosing the Right CMS to Streamline Your Website
There are many features that the best content management system in 2024 shows among multiple platforms. The 5 factors Must-Know Factors that make a CMS open source platform the best platform for use are as follows
- Ease of use
The ease of use of the CMS platform is its biggest advantage for the developer. The developer has to be comfortable with using the CMS platform. The commands of the CMS platform should be simple and easy to use. For example, the CMS platform should have and drop interface and easy navigation.
- Design options
The Best CMS platform should also have good design options and web design templates for the website. The CMS solutions should offer options to customize the entire layout of the website.
- Data portability
The content management system functions also include a high level of data portability. The CMS platform should offer options to go for easy export of data from the websites. The data from the website can be exported to other websites.
- Extensions and add on
The Good CMS platform should have extensions and add-ons that help edit the content on the website and take modified actions on the platform. The platforms that have a lot of extensions and add-ons work with a lot of websites and apps.
- Help and support
The Best CMS platforms should have good help and support for the community. The platform should be highly efficient and useful. Even when you are working with the platform, there can be some issues and troubles that arise. The issues can be resolved with the help of a support team from CMS platforms. A strong support system and help functions are advantages of the CMS platform.
There are many types of CMS platforms that developers use. For example, there are cloud CMS and Open-source CMS. The other type of CMS platform is proprietary CMS. Proprietary CMS, open source CMS, and Cloud CMS are used for different purposes by many companies.
List of Best CMS Platforms to Kickstart Your Website in 2024
There are many CMS platforms that developers can look at when choosing the CMS extension. The best CMS platforms for website editing and display are as follows
1. WordPress
Over 42 percent of websites use WordPress, and it will be one of the best CMS platforms in 2024 for use. WordPress is a platform that is also one of the best open source software. The content management platform works with scalability and flexibility. The cost of the website building is flexible on WordPress software.
Any scale of business works with the help of the WordPress portal. The website operates utilizing 58000 plugins, which serve multiple purposes. The WordPress platform offers multiple types of layouts and designed templates for website customization.
Although the WordPress platform has less support for PCs, it can still work on multiple devices. Whether you want to create a simple blog site or create a complex website, you can use WordPress software. The flexible pricing of the Open-source CMS platform helps create websites with the help of WordPress plugins and features.
2. Joomla
Joomla is the most popular open-source CMS software and is a good content management tool that works with the help of its features and functions. The Joomla platform offers its functions for at least 2 percent of websites and blogs.
The Joomla platform has multilingual features that help create content in multiple languages. Developers use open-source software to effortlessly create websites and their sub-pages, securing them from the backend with 2-factor authentication.
They employ the Joomla platform to construct professional-level websites, packed with numerous features and functions. Many businesses and individuals have used Joomla to establish their own websites. There are many features of Joomla, like a banner management tool, multilingual settings, a search platform, etc.
3. Drupal
Professional web developers, well-versed in coding and website development, consider Drupal as the most popular CMS platform. The flexible API architecture of the Drupal platform is an advantage for web developers. The API architecture supports different digital platforms and development modes.
Drupal has the definite advantage of the ability to modify and optimize to create new web platforms with efficiency. The optimization nullifies any security threats and issues that arise during the development process.
Another good thing about the platform is that it has modules that expand the functionality of the websites that develop with its support. However, the platform needs the use of programming language to an extent.
A developer with good knowledge of PHP, CSS, and HTML can work with the platform to the best extent. The user needs good technical knowledge for website development on the platform. The platform works towards creating a lot of advanced features for modern websites.
The multilingual features and personalization of the CMS platform help in the creation of websites and apps. The CMS platform is used to create a website with marketing automation.
4. Magento
Magento is a popular CMS platform for the creation of e-commerce websites. Developers use the platform for website customization and personalization. They also create online stores and e-commerce websites with it. Furthermore, they use the CMS platform to establish websites that offer a broad range of products and features.
The website is used to create different stores in multiple locations. Developers use the platform to create multilingual websites and use different currencies to integrate into the platform.
Developers craft mobile device platforms utilizing various features of Magento. However, the CMS platform is complex and requires thorough training for effective use. Trained developers and website designers are the ones capable of utilizing this platform.
The platform is used to create lists and designs for e-commerce websites. Magento is a good tool for creating large-scale e-commerce stores and website portals. Many brands use Magento to create website platforms with shopping gateways.
Developers use the platform to establish checkout features, catalog management, and inventory management features for various websites. Since they also use it to create platforms for mobile devices, they integrate touch-friendly features as well.
There is still a major scale of improvement that the platform has to make in terms of scalability, extensions, and features.
5. Concrete5
Concrete5 is a new-age content management platform that has many features for proper website design and development. The Concrete5 platform is an open-source platform that can be used to create new websites and apps.
The drag-and-drop feature of the platform helps develop websites with ease and speed. The platform also has a flexible style editor, which has built-in SEO practices and tools for creating websites. The platform is used to create new websites with complex designs and features.
Digital platforms are mostly used to create large or medium-scale websites for businesses. There are two different models of usage for the website development process.
The responsive design and other features of Concrete5 are a good advantage for website developers. You can also use marketing tools from the Concrete5 platform for promotional purposes.
6. Contentful
The Contentful platform is a headless CMS platform that many developers use. The CMS platform utilizes content that isn’t linked to the website. Developers use the platform’s API to treat content as data. They also use the API to flexibly construct content layouts.
The content management system can adapt to different platforms and digital devices. Developers use the platform to alter the backend and facilitate content layout on various websites.
Conclusion
Many platforms work as content management systems. Depending on the field and nature of the company and the scale of the website, the developer can use different types of CMS platforms. The CMS platforms also include Sitecore, Umbraco, Sitefinity, etc. A good CMS platform has flexible pricing plans and advanced features that support different types of websites.