Which CMS to choose - Complete guide for your website

What is a CMS and what are its essential functionalities?

A content management system (CMS) is an application that allows digital content to be created, edited, organized, and published in a collaborative manner. Beyond this technical definition, it is a solution that democratizes web creation by allowing non-developer users to effectively manage a website.

The key features that a good CMS should offer:

• Simplified content management : Intuitive interfaces to easily add, modify, and organize text and multimedia content
• Customizing the appearance : Possibility to customize your site or access to editable themes and templates to adapt the visual identity to your brand
• Extensions and add-ons : Possibility to enrich the basic functionalities according to your specific needs
• User and rights management : Assigning differentiated roles and permissions to your team members
• Optimization for SEO (SEO) : Native tools that facilitate positioning in search engines
• Responsive design : Automatic adaptation of the display to different devices (computers, tablets, smartphones)

The main categories of CMS

CMS generally fall into three main categories:

1. Open source CMS : Free software whose source code is accessible and modifiable (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal)
2. Proprietary CMS : Paid solutions with license to use (Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore)
3. No-code/low-code platforms : Solutions accessible to non-developers (Webflow, Wix, Shopify)

The decisive criteria for choosing the right CMS for your project

The choice of a CMS should be based on an analysis of your current and future needs:

• Type of website to create : A blog, a showcase site, an online store or a community portal will not have the same technical requirements
• Technical level required : Some CMS require more technical skills than others for optimal exploitation
• Budget available : Taking into account not only initial costs, but also recurring expenses (hosting, maintenance, extensions)
• Customization needs : Ability of the CMS to adapt to your specific requirements in terms of design and functionalities
• Performance and scalability : Ability to support the growth of your audience and the addition of new features
• SEO requirements : Native features to optimize natural referencing
• Security and compliance : Protection against vulnerabilities and compliance with regulations (GDPR in particular)

The importance of natural referencing in choosing a CMS

SEO is a crucial element in choosing a CMS, as it will largely determine the visibility of your site in search engine results. Here are the essential SEO features to look for:

• Customizable URLs : Possibility to create descriptive and optimized web addresses for keywords
• Meta tag management : Easy editing of titles, descriptions, and other important SEO tags
• Optimized HTML structure : Generation of clean and semantic code that promotes understanding by search engines
• XML site map : Automatic creation to facilitate the indexing of your pages
• Charging speed : Ability to produce a fast site, an increasingly important factor for ranking in Google

CMSs differ considerably in their native SEO capabilities. While some like WordPress (with Yoast SEO) or Webflow offer excellent basic features, others may require the addition of plugins or extensions to reach a satisfactory level of optimization.

The best CMS by category: comparative analysis

Traditional open source CMS: the power of personalization

WordPress : the CMS Swiss Army knife?

WordPress has established itself as the reference solution, powering more than 40% of global websites today. This popularity is explained by its versatility and relative ease of use.

What WordPress allows you to do :

• Corporate showcase sites
• Online blogs and magazines
• E-commerce sites (via WooCommerce)
• Community portals
• Booking sites

SEO capabilities : WordPress offers a good SEO base that can be considerably strengthened by specialized extensions such as Yoast SEO or Rank Math, allowing fine optimization of each page.

Ecosystem : One of the main advantages of WordPress lies in its huge ecosystem including thousands of themes and plugins, as well as a global community of developers and experts.

Boundaries and ideal use cases : WordPress is particularly suitable for SMEs, bloggers and small e-businesses. On the other hand, for very specific projects requiring exceptional performance, other solutions may be more suitable.

joomla : versatility and advanced management

Joomla is positioned as a compromise between the ease of use of WordPress and the power of Drupal, offering a robust solution for medium to large sites.

Possibilities offered by Joomla :

• Complex corporate sites
• Corporate Intranets
• Advanced community portals
• Multilingual sites

Integrated SEO features : Joomla natively offers SEO-friendly URLs and an SEO-friendly content structure, although less complete than some WordPress extensions or Webflow.

Benefits for complex sites : The strength of Joomla lies in its advanced user management and its ability to effectively manage large amounts of structured content.

When to choose Joomla : Joomla is particularly suitable for organizations that need fine management of user rights and a complex content architecture, while maintaining a relatively accessible interface.

drupal : robustness for ambitious projects

Drupal is distinguished by its technical power and flexibility, making it the preferred choice for complex and large-scale web projects.

Advanced technical capabilities :

• Highly customizable architecture
• Fine management of content types and taxonomies
• Excellent performance even with large data volumes
• Enhanced security

SEO performance and security : Drupal offers excellent technical foundations for natural referencing and has a solid reputation for security, with regular updates and a vigilant community.

Adapted project types :

• Government sites
• Educational platforms
• Major information portals
• Business sites with specific security needs

Resources needed : The optimal use of Drupal generally requires more advanced technical skills and a larger development budget than other open source CMSs.

Conclusion on traditional open source CMS

Despite their numerous advantages, these open source CMS require significant technical expertise to be fully exploited. Customizing WordPress, Joomla or Drupal often requires knowledge of web development (HTML, CSS, PHP) and an understanding of security issues. A truly tailor-made site generally involves the intervention of specialized developers and an investment of time for maintenance.

Specialized e-commerce CMS: optimized for online sales

PrestaShop : the reference French-speaking solution

PrestaShop has established itself as the preferred e-commerce solution in the French-speaking ecosystem, offering a good balance between functionalities, customization and ease of use.

Native e-commerce features :

• Complete product catalog management
• Multiple payment and delivery options
• Management of promotions and loyalty programs
• Detailed sales statistics

SEO capabilities for shops : PrestaShop offers a good basis for e-commerce referencing: optimized URLs, customizable meta-tags, automatic sitemap and adapted data structure.

Ecosystem and modules : The official marketplace offers hundreds of modules to extend basic functionalities to meet specific needs.

woocommerce (WordPress): the extension that turns WordPress into a store

WooCommerce has revolutionized e-commerce by making it easy to transform a WordPress site into a successful online store.

WordPress integration : This plugin benefits from all the advantages of the WordPress ecosystem while adding complete and customizable e-commerce functionalities.

Business features :

• Flexible catalog management
• Varied payment options
• Automatic tax calculation
• Order and stock tracking

SEO for e-commerce : Compatibility with WordPress SEO extensions allows for advanced SEO optimization, a definite advantage compared to other more closed e-commerce platforms.

Magento : for large-scale e-commerce projects

Now known as Adobe Commerce, Magento targets businesses with advanced e-commerce needs and high sales volumes.

Power and customization : Its unparalleled flexibility makes it possible to create shopping experiences that are perfectly adapted to specific and complex needs.

‍SEO optimization for large catalogs : Magento excels in managing the SEO of large catalogs, with advanced features to avoid duplicate content problems and optimize each product page.

Technical and budgetary considerations : This power comes at a cost: Magento generally requires a larger initial investment and specialized technical resources for its deployment and maintenance.

No-code and low-code solutions: speed and simplicity

Webflow : the no-code design revolution

Webflow has transformed the web creation approach by combining the power of a professional CMS with an intuitive visual design interface, allowing you to create sophisticated sites without writing code.

What Webflow allows :

• Professional showcase sites with advanced animations and interactions
• Highly personalized creative portfolios
• Online blogs and magazines with structured content management
• E-commerce sites for creative shops

Native SEO capabilities :

Webflow is particularly distinguished by its excellent integrated SEO features:

• Full control over meta tags, titles, and descriptions
• Clean and semantic HTML structure
• Customizable URLs and easy to set up redirects
• Excellent loading speed thanks to optimized code
• Automatic generation of sitemaps and structured data

Benefits for designers and entrepreneurs :

• Creative freedom without technical compromises
• Professional visual results without relying on a developer
• Precise control of animations and interactions
• Clean and efficient code export
• Optimized accommodation included in the packages

Wix : accessibility and all-in-one accommodation

Wix has positioned itself as a solution accessible to complete beginners, with a simplified approach to web creation.

Possibilities offered :

• Simple showcase sites
• Small blogs
• Basic portfolios
• Online mini shops

SEO features : Although Wix has improved its SEO capabilities in recent years, the platform still suffers from significant limitations:

• Less optimized code structure sometimes resulting in heavier pages
• Limited control over certain technical aspects of SEO
• Difficulty implementing some advanced SEO strategies

Comparison with traditional CMS : Wix offers undeniable ease of use but at the cost of reduced flexibility and scalability compared to more professional solutions such as Webflow or WordPress.

Ideal use cases : Wix is mainly suitable for very small structures with simple needs and a limited budget, without strong ambitions in terms of SEO or advanced customization.

Shopify : the solution dedicated to simplified e-commerce

Shopify has democratized access to e-commerce by offering a turnkey solution to quickly launch an online store.

Native features :

• Simplified product catalog management
• Integrated secure payments
• Integrated marketing applications (emails, social networks)
• Analytical dashboard

SEO optimization : Shopify offers good SEO features but with some structural limitations, especially concerning the architecture of the URLs and the customization of the code.

Comparative advantages : The strength of Shopify lies in its simplicity of implementation and its reliability, making it possible to quickly launch a functional store without technical skills.

Customization limits : The possibilities of technical customization remain limited compared to solutions such as WooCommerce or Magento, and the business model includes sales commissions according to the formulas chosen.

How to make the right choice: methodology and practical advice

Analysis of your specific needs

Before you start choosing a CMS, take the time to answer these fundamental questions:

• What are your short and long term goals? A simple showcase site or an evolving platform gradually integrating new functionalities?
• What is your level of internal technical expertise? Do you have skills in web development or will you have to rely entirely on service providers?
• What budget can you allocate? Not only for initial creation, but also for maintenance and evolution.
• What are your ambitions in terms of SEO? A local positioning or a national/international SEO strategy?
• What types of content are you going to publish? Simple blog posts or complex multimedia content?

The importance of a long-term vision should not be underestimated. A CMS that perfectly meets your current needs but lacks flexibility could become an obstacle to your future growth.

Comparison of CMS according to different use cases

For a business showcase site

• Recommended solution : Webflow is particularly distinguished for professional showcase sites thanks to its advanced design capabilities and its excellent native referencing.
• Alternatives : WordPress remains a solid option, especially with a premium theme optimized for performance.
• To avoid : Too basic solutions like Wix that could limit your evolution and your SEO.

For a blog or news site

• Recommended solution : WordPress remains the reference for editorial sites thanks to its intuitive content management system and its ecosystem of dedicated extensions.
• Interesting alternative : Webflow also offers excellent capabilities for editorial sites with a more personalized design.

For an online store

• For beginners : Shopify offers the most accessible solution to quickly launch a simple store.
• For existing WordPress sites : WooCommerce makes it easy to add e-commerce functionalities.
• For custom projects : PrestaShop or Magento depending on the size and complexity.
• Alternative design : Webflow Commerce for creative stores that focus on the user experience.

For a community or intranet site

• Small scale : WordPress with community extensions like BuddyPress.
• Complex projects : Drupal particularly excels in this field thanks to its advanced management of permissions and content types.
• Specialized solution : Joomla offers a good compromise between power and accessibility for this type of project.

For a creative portfolio or site

• Ideal solution : Webflow is the perfect choice for creatives thanks to its ability to animate and interact without code.
• Alternative : WordPress with a quality portfolio theme can be a viable option.
• To avoid : Too rigid solutions that limit creative expression and personalization.

Feedback and mistakes to avoid

The experience of many companies reveals some classic pitfalls in choosing a CMS:

• Underestimating the importance of native SEO : Many organizations had to migrate their site after noticing the SEO limitations of certain platforms.
• Prioritize immediate ease at the expense of scalability : A CMS that is too simple can quickly become limiting when your business grows.
• Overlooking total cost of ownership : Beyond the initial price, consider the costs of hosting, maintenance, extensions and possibly specific developments.
• Choosing based solely on popularity : The most used CMS is not necessarily the most suitable for your particular case.

For a successful transition between CMS, focus on:

• Careful planning including content migration
• An in-depth test phase before production
• Adequate training for teams that will use the new tool
• Support by experts from the chosen CMS

Conclusion

Choosing a CMS is a strategic decision that will have a lasting impact on the effectiveness of your digital presence. Beyond trends and fashion effects, it is the adequacy with your business objectives that should guide your selection.

Among the solutions studied, Webflow stands out particularly for companies and professionals who value design excellence, technical performance and SEO optimization at the same time. Its ability to create professional sites without the usual limitations of no-code platforms makes it a preferred choice for ambitious projects.

Open source CMSs like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla remain relevant for specific use cases, especially when standalone hosting or advanced technical customizations are required.

The key to success lies in a lucid analysis of your current and future needs, as well as in a realistic assessment of the resources you can devote to your online presence. Do not hesitate to seek the support of experts to guide you in this decisive choice for your digital success.