Best CMS for 2024: compared and reviewed

Choosing the right content management system (CMS) is crucial for gaining control over your website’s design, content, and features. Whether you’re a beginner seeking simplicity or a developer needing advanced tools, a good CMS enables you to create, manage, and grow your website effectively.

In this article, we’ll explore 11 of the best CMS platforms for 2024, highlighting their unique features and how they can help you achieve your website goals.

11 best CMS platforms for 2024

Here are the 11 best and most popular content management systems, along with their key features

CMS Platform	Best For	Pricing	Key Features
Bullet.so	Most websites from blog to membership sites.	Starting from $19/month	Simple, no-code platform, membership and access controls, real-time customization, customizable blocks and styles, and smooth content creation
Notion	Basic websites with team collaboration	Free for individuals, paid plans from $10/seat/month; custom domain requires extra costs	Database functionality, collaborative editing, option for custom domain
WordPress	Most websites, from blogs to eCommerce	Free for core software, hosting from ₹160/month	58,000+ plugins, customizable themes, SEO-friendly
Wix	Beginners, small sites	Free plan available, premium plans from ₹199/month	AI website builder, drag-and-drop editor, app market
Shopify	Online stores and eCommerce businesses	Starting from ₹1499/month	Integrated payment processing, multichannel selling, SEO tools
Joomla	Multilingual websites and complex sites	Free for core software, hosting from $99/Year	Multilingual support, banner management, flexible content structure
Webflow	Designers and agencies	Free plan available, premium plans from $14/month	Visual editor, responsive design, integrated hosting
Ghost	Bloggers and content creators	Starting from $9/month	Built-in SEO tools, membership options, fast loading times
Squarespace	Portfolios and small businesses	Starting from $16/month	Modern templates, eCommerce, email marketing tools
Drupal	Enterprise sites and experienced developers	Open source CMS	Custom content types, multilingual support, high scalability
HubSpot CMS Hub	Marketing-focused websites	Freemium, paid plans from $15/month/seat	Built-in SEO tools, CRM integration, dynamic content

1. Bullet.so

Best For: Most websites, from blogs to membership sites

Pricing: Starting from $19/month

Overview:

Bullet.so, a Notion-based website builder, lets you create a professional, custom website in minutes—no coding required. Ideal for all kinds of sites, from blogs and portfolios to membership-based platforms, Bullet.so offers an intuitive, flexible interface with powerful customization options. Its simple, drag-and-drop features allow you to personalize every element, including font sizes, colors, and alignments, giving your site a unique look without any design skills.

The platform’s real-time customization ensures that users can see changes instantly, without needing to reload or refresh, making the website creation process fast and intuitive. Its simple, flexible approach is perfect for creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses seeking a quick and easy website solution.

Key Features:

Design Without Limits: Change styles instantly, customize blocks, and create a professional design with just a click.

Real-Time Customization: Watch your edits update live—no refreshing needed.

Complete Control Over Content Access: Manage who sees what with easy-to-set access controls.

Fast Setup, Endless Possibilities: From blogging to business sites, build a site that fits your needs quickly and without hassle.

Pros:

Simple, no-code platform, easy for non-technical users.

Membership and access control features for gated content.

Real-time customization with instant previews.

Customizable blocks and styles for personalized design.

Cons:

Limited scalability for more complex websites.

Fewer integrations compared to larger, more established CMS platforms.

📢 "Create Your Site in Minutes!" – Get started with Bullet.so and launch a stunning site without coding skills.

2. Notion

Best For: Teams, project management, and simple websites

Pricing: Free for individuals; paid plans from $10/seat/month

Notion is a versatile tool that combines databases, project management, and content creation. It’s increasingly used to build simple websites with custom domains, making it a good option for personal or business websites with collaborative needs. Notion is ideal for teams needing shared workspaces or individuals building simple, no-code websites, though it lacks SEO tools and advanced website features.

Pros:

Flexible for team collaboration and project management.

No design skills required; real-time customization.

Custom domain support (additional cost).

Cons:

Limited SEO capabilities.

Basic website features; not ideal for large or complex sites.

3. WordPress

Best For: Most websites, from blogs to eCommerce

Pricing: Free for core software; hosting starting from ₹160/month

WordPress is the most popular CMS, powering over 40% of websites globally. It’s an open-source platform with a massive ecosystem of plugins and themes, making it highly flexible. From blogs and portfolios to full-scale eCommerce stores, WordPress can support any type of website. While the basic software is free, additional functionalities like custom themes, premium plugins, and hosting may have costs. With the right plugins, WordPress can become SEO-friendly, secure, and highly customizable, which makes it ideal for users who want flexibility and scalability.

Pros:

Extensive plugin library (58,000+) adds limitless functionality.

Highly customizable with themes and coding options for advanced users.

SEO-friendly features built-in, especially with plugins like Yoast.

Cons:

Requires regular updates to maintain performance and security.

Can become resource-intensive with numerous plugins.

Learning curve for beginners who want to customize beyond basic themes.

4. Wix

Best For: Beginners and small sites

Pricing: Free plan available; premium plans start at ₹199/month

Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that’s perfect for beginners who want a no-fuss setup. Its AI-driven platform helps users create visually appealing websites quickly, without any coding. It offers hundreds of templates, an app market for additional features, and built-in SEO tools. Wix is ideal for small business websites, portfolios, and personal blogs. However, it lacks the flexibility and scalability of traditional CMS platforms, which can be limiting for larger projects or advanced customizations.

Pros:

User-friendly with no coding required.

AI-driven tools help beginners create websites quickly.

Large selection of apps and templates for added functionality.

Cons:

Limited flexibility for advanced users who need more customization.

It’s difficult to change templates once the website is live.

Less SEO control compared to platforms like WordPress.

5. Shopify

Best For: Online stores and eCommerce businesses

Pricing: Starting from ₹1499/month

Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce CMS that simplifies building and running online stores. It offers integrated payment processing, customizable store themes, and multichannel selling options. Designed specifically for eCommerce, Shopify is known for its ease of use, robust inventory management, and scalability. It’s perfect for businesses looking to establish or grow an online presence, with tools to manage everything from product listings to checkout processes. Although its flexibility for non-eCommerce sites is limited, it’s a leader in online retail.

Pros:

Simplified payment processing with multiple options.

Excellent for managing inventory, shipping, and taxes.

Strong customer support with built-in features for eCommerce.

Cons:

Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.

Limited flexibility for content-heavy or non-eCommerce sites.

Higher costs as store features expand.

6. Joomla

Best For: Multilingual websites and complex site structures

Pricing: Free for core software; hosting from $99/year

Joomla is a powerful CMS that comes with multilingual support out of the box, making it ideal for international websites. Unlike other CMS platforms, it includes advanced features like banner management, user role management, and more robust content control, which make it perfect for complex websites or those with multiple contributors. While it’s highly customizable, Joomla is more challenging to learn, so it’s best suited for users with some technical knowledge or developers managing intricate content structures.

Pros:

Multilingual support is built into the core software.

Strong user management tools, perfect for multi-author sites.

Extensive customization options for complex site structures.

Cons:

Steeper learning curve for beginners.

Limited plugin and extension compatibility, which may restrict functionality.

7. Webflow

Best For: Designers and agencies

Pricing: Free plan available; premium plans start at $14/month

Webflow is a unique CMS that combines the flexibility of a website builder with the power of a CMS. It offers an advanced visual editor, which allows users to design responsive, visually-rich websites without any coding. Ideal for designers and agencies, Webflow makes it easy to create professional, custom websites with animations and interactions. The platform also includes integrated hosting, making it a streamlined choice for designers who want a high level of control over visual design.

Pros:

Visual editor offers design flexibility without coding.

Integrated hosting and built-in responsive design tools.

Great for designing highly customized websites with animations.

Cons:

Steep learning curve for beginners.

Limited eCommerce features compared to platforms like Shopify.

8. Ghost

Best For: Bloggers and content creators

Pricing: Starting from $9/month

Ghost is a minimalistic CMS designed specifically for bloggers and content creators who need a fast, SEO-friendly platform. With its simple and clean interface, Ghost allows writers to focus on content without unnecessary distractions. It has built-in SEO tools, AMP support, and options for paid subscriptions, making it a great choice for publishers and digital creators looking to monetize content. Ghost’s limitations are mainly in its lack of extensive plugin options, as it prioritizes simplicity over additional features.

Pros:

Built-in SEO tools and AMP support for better search engine visibility.

Fast loading times and intuitive writing interface.

Subscription and membership features for monetizing content.

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond blogging.

Fewer integrations and plugins compared to other CMS platforms.

9. Squarespace

Best For: Portfolios and small businesses

Pricing: Starting from $16/month

Squarespace is known for its beautifully designed templates, making it ideal for portfolios, artists, and small businesses. It’s an all-in-one platform, offering integrated hosting, design, and eCommerce options, allowing users to build visually stunning websites with ease. Squarespace’s themes are optimized for images and galleries, which is perfect for creatives. However, it may not be as customizable or scalable as other CMS options, which could limit functionality for larger sites.

Pros:

Professionally designed, customizable templates.

Integrated eCommerce and marketing tools.

Easy to use with an all-in-one package (hosting, domain, and builder).

Cons:

Limited flexibility for advanced users.

May not scale well for larger websites or complex eCommerce stores.

10. Drupal

Best For: Enterprise sites and experienced developers

Pricing: Open-source CMS

Drupal is a robust, open-source CMS known for its flexibility and scalability. It’s designed to handle complex, content-heavy websites and is often used by large organizations or government websites. With support for custom content types, multilingual functionality, and high-performance needs, Drupal is an excellent choice for developers who need control over every aspect of their site. However, its complexity makes it less suitable for beginners or small websites.

Pros:

Highly customizable with robust content management features.

Strong security and scalability for enterprise-level projects.

Ideal for large, multilingual sites with complex structures.

Cons:

Steep learning curve and requires technical expertise.

Limited plugin ecosystem compared to WordPress.

11. HubSpot CMS Hub

Best For: Marketing-focused websites

Pricing: Freemium, paid plans start from $15/month/seat

HubSpot CMS Hub is a fully integrated, marketing-oriented CMS that combines CRM tools, content management, and SEO optimization. It’s designed to help businesses generate leads and offers personalized content, analytics, and SEO recommendations. HubSpot’s CRM integration makes it perfect for marketing teams who want to align content with customer relationship management, but it lacks flexibility outside of marketing and sales functions.

Pros:

Built-in CRM tools for lead generation.

Personalized content, SEO recommendations, and analytics.

Easy for marketers to use without extensive technical knowledge.

Cons:

Higher pricing tiers for advanced features.

Limited flexibility outside of marketing-focused websites.

Conclusion

Choosing the right CMS for your website is essential for managing content, customizing design, and meeting your business goals. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, selecting a CMS that aligns with your needs will simplify website management and growth.

From the no-code simplicity of Bullet.so to the flexibility of WordPress and Shopify, there is a CMS to suit every type of website, whether it’s a blog, eCommerce store, or a multilingual site.

Assess your needs, budget, and technical abilities before choosing a CMS to ensure it helps you build, manage, and scale your site effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best CMS for beginners?

Wix and Bullet.so are great options for beginners due to their user-friendly, drag-and-drop interfaces and no-code features.

2. Can I create an eCommerce site with a CMS?

Yes, platforms like Shopify, WordPress (with WooCommerce), and Squarespace provide robust tools for building eCommerce sites.

3. Do CMS platforms require coding skills?

Most CMS platforms like Bullet.so and Wix are designed for users with little to no coding skills. However, advanced platforms like Webflow and Drupal may require some technical expertise.

4. How do I choose the best CMS for my website?

Consider your website’s needs—whether it’s for blogging, eCommerce, or a portfolio—along with your budget and technical skills. For simple sites, Wix or Bullet.so are great; for complex sites, WordPress or Joomla might be better.

5. Are there any CMS platforms with SEO tools?

Yes, platforms like Bullet.so, Ghost, and HubSpot CMS Hub come with built-in SEO tools to help improve your website’s visibility in search engines.

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