A Content Management System (CMS) lets you update your website without coding. But with dozens of options available, how do you choose? This guide breaks down the main categories and helps you find the right fit.
Traditional CMS: WordPress and Friends
Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla combine content management with website presentation.
Pros:
- Huge ecosystem of themes and plugins
- Large community and abundant resources
- Easy to find developers
- Generally lower initial cost
Cons:
- Security requires constant attention
- Can become slow and bloated
- Updates sometimes break things
- Custom designs require significant modification
WordPress powers 40%+ of the web for a reason—it's flexible and accessible. But it needs proper maintenance.
Headless CMS: Modern Flexibility
Headless CMS systems (Strapi, Sanity, Contentful, Payload) separate content from presentation. They provide an API that delivers content to any frontend.
Pros:
- Freedom to use any frontend technology
- Better performance potential
- Cleaner security model
- Content works across platforms (web, mobile, etc.)
Cons:
- Higher development costs initially
- Requires technical expertise
- More complex infrastructure
- Fewer out-of-the-box solutions
Headless is excellent when you need performance, flexibility, or multi-platform content delivery.
Custom Solutions
Building a custom CMS means creating exactly what you need, nothing more.
Pros:
- Perfect fit for your workflow
- No unnecessary features
- Complete control
- Can evolve with your needs
Cons:
- Highest initial cost
- Longer development time
- Ongoing maintenance responsibility
- Single-vendor dependency
Custom solutions make sense for unique requirements that existing platforms can't meet.
Questions to Guide Your Decision
Consider these factors:
1. Who will update content? Non-technical users need friendly interfaces.
2. How often will content change? Daily updates need efficient workflows.
3. What types of content do you have? Blogs, products, portfolios have different needs.
4. Will content appear elsewhere? Multiple platforms may need headless.
5. What's your budget? Both initial development and ongoing maintenance.
6. How important is performance? Speed requirements may favor certain options.
The Modern Hybrid Approach
Many projects now use hybrid approaches:
- WordPress as a headless CMS (using just its admin)
- Static site generators with CMS backends
- Page builders for marketing sites, custom code for applications
Don't feel locked into one approach. The best solution might combine elements from different categories.
For example, we often use Next.js with Sanity for content-heavy sites, giving clients a great editing experience while maintaining excellent performance.
Our Recommendations
For small businesses with standard needs: A well-configured WordPress site often makes sense. Just invest in proper security and maintenance.
For performance-critical sites: Consider headless with a modern frontend. The extra investment pays off in speed and flexibility.
For unique workflows: Evaluate whether customization of existing platforms works, or if custom development is truly needed.
For enterprise: Headless platforms with proper infrastructure give you the control and scalability you need.
There's no universally 'best' CMS—only what's best for your specific situation. Consider your content needs, technical resources, budget, and growth plans. A good development partner will help you evaluate options honestly rather than pushing their preferred platform.