100 Best CMS Apps for Building and Managing Websites
The right content management system depends on your technical skills, publishing workflow, commerce needs, and plans for growth. This first group covers widely used platforms ranging from simple website builders to flexible headless CMS tools.
WordPress
WordPress is an open-source CMS for creating websites, blogs, publications, and ecommerce stores with plugins. It helps teams avoid building publishing tools from scratch by providing themes, editors, and extensibility.
Drupal
Drupal is an open-source CMS for building structured, secure, and highly customizable digital experiences. It helps organizations manage complex content models and permissions without relying on rigid website templates.
Joomla
Joomla is an open-source CMS for publishing multilingual websites with configurable content, menus, and user access. It helps site owners organize multilingual content and user roles without assembling separate systems.
Contentful
Contentful is a headless CMS that delivers structured content to websites, apps, and other digital channels. It helps teams reuse content across channels by separating editorial content from presentation-layer code.
Sanity
Sanity is a headless content platform that lets teams model, edit, and query structured content. It helps developers and editors collaborate on custom content workflows without forcing a fixed page structure.
Strapi
Strapi is an open-source headless CMS for creating APIs and managing content through an admin interface. It helps teams build custom content APIs faster instead of manually developing backend administration tools.
Webflow
Webflow combines visual website design, hosting, and CMS tools for building responsive marketing websites. It helps founders publish polished websites without depending on developers for every layout change.
Wix
Wix is a hosted website builder with templates, drag-and-drop editing, content tools, and business features. It helps nontechnical teams launch and update websites without managing hosting or web development infrastructure.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a hosted website platform offering templates, content editing, commerce, scheduling, and marketing tools. It helps small businesses consolidate website publishing and basic online operations in one managed platform.
Shopify
Shopify is a commerce platform for building online stores, managing products, and publishing storefront content. It helps merchants avoid connecting separate storefront, product catalog, and checkout systems.
Ghost
Ghost is a publishing platform for creating blogs, newsletters, memberships, and subscription-based media sites. It helps independent publishers manage articles, email newsletters, and member access from a focused system.
HubSpot CMS Hub
HubSpot CMS Hub is a CMS for building website pages connected to HubSpot marketing and CRM tools. It helps marketing teams connect website content with customer data instead of maintaining disconnected platforms.
Adobe Experience Manager
Adobe Experience Manager is an enterprise content management platform for websites, assets, and digital experiences. It helps large teams govern content and digital assets across complex brands and web properties.
Sitecore
Sitecore provides content management and digital experience tools for personalized, enterprise-scale websites and campaigns. It helps enterprise marketers coordinate content experiences when audiences, channels, and governance requirements grow.
Optimizely CMS
Optimizely CMS is a content platform for managing web experiences and supporting experimentation workflows. It helps teams test and improve content experiences without separating publishing from optimization efforts.
Xperience by Kentico
Xperience by Kentico is a digital experience platform combining content management, marketing, and commerce capabilities. It helps organizations centralize website content and digital marketing workflows across interconnected customer experiences.
Craft CMS
Craft CMS is a flexible content management system for developers building custom websites and editorial workflows. It helps teams model unique content structures without adapting their business to predefined templates.
TYPO3
TYPO3 is an open-source enterprise CMS for managing multilingual websites with detailed permissions and workflows. It helps distributed organizations control complex multilingual publishing without sacrificing role-based governance.
Umbraco
Umbraco is an open-source.NET CMS for building and managing customized websites and digital experiences. It helps.NET teams create editor-friendly websites without abandoning their existing development ecosystem.
DatoCMS
DatoCMS is a headless CMS for structured content, visual editing, and delivery through APIs. It helps teams manage reusable content while giving editors clearer previews of published changes.
Prismic
Prismic is a headless CMS that provides structured content management and page-building components for developers. It helps marketing teams assemble pages independently while developers retain control over reusable components.
Storyblok
Storyblok is a headless CMS with a visual editor for creating component-based websites and applications. It helps content teams edit modern frontend sites visually rather than working solely through abstract fields.
Hygraph
Hygraph is a headless CMS that uses GraphQL to manage and distribute structured content. It helps teams unify content from multiple sources and deliver only the data each application needs.
ButterCMS
ButterCMS is an API-based CMS that adds blog, page, and content management features to applications. It helps developers add editable marketing content without replacing an existing website or application architecture.
Directus
Directus is an open-source platform that provides data management, APIs, and no-code content administration. It helps teams make existing database content manageable for nontechnical users without rebuilding their data layer.
Contentstack
Contentstack is a headless CMS for creating, managing, and delivering content across digital channels. It helps teams avoid duplicated channel-specific content by centralizing reusable content in structured entries.
Magnolia
Magnolia is a composable digital experience platform with content management and integration capabilities. It helps organizations connect content with existing systems instead of replacing every marketing technology at once.
Agility CMS
Agility CMS is a headless CMS that combines content management, page management, and API delivery. It helps marketers update pages independently while developers retain flexibility over frontend implementations.
Kontent.ai
Kontent.ai is a headless CMS for governing structured content and delivering it through APIs. It helps content teams maintain consistent messaging across websites, apps, and other customer touchpoints.
Builder.io
Builder.io provides a visual content platform for building and editing digital experiences on existing frontends. It helps nontechnical teams publish layout changes without waiting for developers to code every update.
Payload CMS
Payload CMS is an open-source, TypeScript-based headless CMS built for custom applications and APIs. It helps developers avoid separate backend stacks by embedding content administration within JavaScript projects.
KeystoneJS
KeystoneJS is an open-source Node.js framework for building database-driven applications and content management interfaces. It helps developers create tailored editorial tools without building authentication, data models, and admin screens from scratch.
Decap CMS
Decap CMS is an open-source Git-based CMS for editing content stored in repository files. It helps static-site teams give editors a friendly interface while preserving version-controlled content workflows.
TinaCMS
TinaCMS is a Git-backed content management system with visual editing for modern websites. It helps content editors preview and update repository-based sites without directly editing Markdown files.
Statamic
Statamic is a Laravel-based CMS offering flat-file and database content management options. It helps PHP teams choose simpler file-based publishing before adopting database-backed content structures when needed.
ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine is a flexible CMS for building and managing custom websites with structured content. It helps publishers organize complex content types without forcing their site into a fixed template model.
Silverstripe CMS
Silverstripe CMS is an open-source PHP CMS and framework for creating customized web applications. It helps development teams build bespoke publishing experiences while giving editors structured administration tools.
concrete CMS
concrete CMS is an open-source CMS with in-context page editing and website management tools. It helps site owners make small page changes directly on the page instead of navigating complex dashboards.
MODX
MODX is an open-source CMS and application framework for building highly customized websites. It helps developers implement unconventional site designs without being constrained by rigid theme systems.
October CMS
October CMS is a Laravel-based content management system for building websites and web applications. It helps Laravel developers add editable website content without assembling a separate custom administration layer.
Grav
Grav is an open-source flat-file CMS that stores content in folders and Markdown files. It helps small teams launch lightweight sites without maintaining a database server or database updates.
ProcessWire
ProcessWire is an open-source CMS and framework that models custom content through flexible fields. It helps teams manage unusual content structures that do not fit standard posts, pages, and categories.
Pimcore
Pimcore is an open-source platform combining product information, digital asset, data, and content management. It helps commerce teams reduce product-data inconsistencies by managing content and product information together.
dotCMS
dotCMS is a hybrid CMS supporting headless delivery, visual editing, and multi-site management. It helps organizations serve developers and marketers from one platform rather than maintaining separate CMS tools.
Crownpeak DXM
Crownpeak DXM is a digital experience platform offering content management and digital governance tools. It helps distributed teams maintain publishing standards through centralized workflows, permissions, and governance controls.
Zesty.io
Zesty.io is a cloud-based headless CMS for managing and delivering structured web content. It helps teams separate content from frontend code so redesigns need fewer content migrations.
Core dna
Core dna is a digital experience platform combining content management, commerce, and customer experience tools. It helps brands reduce disconnected website and commerce operations by managing them through one platform.
Mura CMS
Mura CMS is an open-source content management system for building and managing enterprise websites. It helps organizations control multi-site publishing through reusable content, permissions, and site administration features.
Plone
Plone is an open-source CMS known for managing secure, structured content and editorial workflows. It helps institutions manage permission-sensitive publishing by providing detailed roles and workflow controls.
Ibexa DXP
Ibexa DXP is a digital experience platform with content management for commerce and customer portals. It helps B2B teams deliver personalized information across portals and websites from governed content.
Liferay DXP
Liferay DXP provides portal, content management, and workflow tools for building employee and customer websites. It helps organizations unify fragmented portals and publishing processes within a centrally managed digital platform.
OpenText Web CMS
OpenText Web CMS helps enterprises create, manage, and deliver website content across digital channels. It reduces the difficulty of governing large volumes of web content across complex enterprise sites.
Oracle Content Management
Oracle Content Management is a cloud platform for managing digital assets and publishing structured content. It helps teams avoid scattered assets and inconsistent content when supporting websites and business applications.
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint enables teams to create intranets, document libraries, team sites, and internal publishing pages. It addresses the challenge of finding shared documents and internal updates across disconnected team folders.
Bloomreach Content
Bloomreach Content is a headless CMS for creating and delivering content across commerce experiences. It helps commerce teams reuse product-related content without rebuilding it separately for every channel.
RWS Tridion
RWS Tridion manages structured, multilingual content for delivery across websites, portals, and digital touchpoints. It helps global teams control translation and content reuse across many regional publishing channels.
Ingeniux CMS
Ingeniux CMS provides headless and traditional content management for websites, portals, and customer experiences. It reduces reliance on developers for routine publishing workflows while supporting structured content delivery.
Progress Sitefinity
Progress Sitefinity is a.NET CMS for building, managing, and personalizing business websites. It helps.NET teams manage marketing sites without maintaining custom publishing tools from scratch.
Enonic XP
Enonic XP is a content platform for building headless CMS projects and web applications. It helps developers combine content management and application development within one extensible platform.
Alfresco Content Services
Alfresco Content Services manages documents, records, workflows, and enterprise content repositories. It helps teams organize regulated documents and reduce manual handoffs in approval-heavy processes.
Nuxeo Platform
Nuxeo Platform manages enterprise content, digital assets, workflows, and content-driven business applications. It addresses difficulty handling large, varied content repositories through configurable metadata and automation.
Jahia DX
Jahia DX combines content management, digital experience tools, and personalization capabilities for enterprise websites. It helps teams coordinate website content and audience-specific experiences from a shared management environment.
FirstSpirit
FirstSpirit is an enterprise CMS for managing multilingual content across websites, commerce systems, and applications. It helps multinational organizations maintain consistent approved content across markets and digital properties.
Terminalfour
Terminalfour is a web content management system used to create and maintain institutional websites. It helps distributed editors publish governed web updates without needing direct access to site code.
Cascade CMS
Cascade CMS is a web content management platform for creating accessible, structured institutional websites. It helps communications teams keep large websites organized while enabling many nontechnical content contributors.
Squiz Matrix
Squiz Matrix is a CMS for managing content, forms, workflows, and public-sector digital services. It helps service teams centralize publishing and form management for complex government or education websites.
ApostropheCMS
ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js CMS for building customizable, content-driven websites. It helps JavaScript teams give editors useful publishing controls without abandoning their preferred development stack.
Contao
Contao is an open-source PHP CMS for building accessible websites with structured content management. It helps small organizations maintain accessible websites without developing every administrative feature themselves.
CMS Made Simple
CMS Made Simple is a PHP-based CMS for creating and maintaining straightforward business websites. It helps site owners update pages and navigation without repeatedly requesting developer assistance.
Textpattern
Textpattern is a lightweight CMS for publishing articles, pages, and customizable website content. It helps independent publishers manage editorial content without the overhead of a larger platform.
ClassicPress
ClassicPress is an open-source CMS fork focused on the classic WordPress editing experience. It helps users seeking familiar traditional editing workflows avoid adapting to block-based publishing interfaces.
Bludit
Bludit is a flat-file CMS that stores website content in files rather than databases. It helps small-site owners avoid database setup and simplify deployment for basic publishing projects.
Publii
Publii is a desktop CMS that creates static websites from locally managed content. It helps offline-minded publishers build fast static sites without configuring a server-side database.
Hugo
Hugo is a static site generator that builds websites from content files and templates. It helps technical teams publish fast sites while avoiding ongoing server-side CMS maintenance.
Jekyll
Jekyll is a static site generator that transforms markup files into publishable websites. It helps developers manage documentation and blogs through version-controlled files instead of databases.
Wagtail
Wagtail is a Django-based CMS that provides structured content editing, workflows, and flexible page models. It helps teams avoid custom admin interfaces by supplying editors a polished, configurable publishing workspace.
django CMS
django CMS is a Django content platform using reusable plugins, page publishing, and multilingual site tools. It helps developers add editable website sections without building every content component from scratch.
Orchard Core
Orchard Core is a modular.NET CMS supporting content types, themes, workflows, and multi-tenant applications. It helps organizations tailor one platform for multiple sites instead of maintaining separate CMS installations.
Sulu
Sulu is a Symfony-based CMS offering structured content, multilingual publishing, APIs, and customizable administration. It helps Symfony teams give editors control over content while retaining developer-defined data structures.
Backdrop CMS
Backdrop CMS is an open-source PHP CMS with configurable content types, layouts, modules, and permissions. It helps smaller organizations manage complex websites without the overhead of a large enterprise platform.
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware combines website publishing with wikis, forums, calendars, trackers, and collaboration tools. It helps distributed groups consolidate documentation and community features instead of stitching together separate applications.
ImpressPages
ImpressPages is a PHP CMS with inline editing, drag-and-drop content blocks, themes, and plugins. It helps nontechnical editors update page content directly without navigating complex backend administration screens.
Microweber
Microweber is a website builder and CMS featuring live editing, templates, modules, and ecommerce support. It helps founders publish and revise business websites visually without relying on code for routine changes.
Fork CMS
Fork CMS is an open-source PHP CMS offering content modules, themes, user permissions, and marketing tools. It helps small teams organize website administration through a straightforward interface and extensible module system.
GetSimple CMS
GetSimple CMS is a flat-file PHP CMS with XML storage, themes, plugins, and simple page editing. It helps site owners avoid database setup when maintaining a lightweight informational website.
Wolf CMS
Wolf CMS is a lightweight PHP content management system with page management, layouts, plugins, and permissions. It helps developers deploy simple editable sites without adopting a heavier, database-intensive publishing stack.
Flextype
Flextype is a flat-file CMS and API platform with content collections, extensions, and flexible routing. It helps developers manage structured website content without requiring a traditional database server.
Typesetter CMS
Typesetter CMS is a PHP CMS with file-based storage, WYSIWYG editing, themes, and add-ons. It helps small businesses make routine page edits without database administration or technical publishing workflows.
Anchor CMS
Anchor CMS is a minimalist blogging platform focused on Markdown writing, custom themes, and simple publishing. It helps writers reduce dashboard clutter and concentrate on creating straightforward editorial content.
Webiny
Webiny is a serverless CMS platform for AWS deployments, offering GraphQL APIs and content modeling. It helps cloud-focused teams build content APIs without operating traditional CMS servers and infrastructure.
CloudCannon
CloudCannon is a Git-based CMS that adds visual editing to static sites and repositories. It helps content teams edit static websites while developers retain version-controlled source files and workflows.
Flotiq
Flotiq is an API-first CMS for defining content types and delivering structured content through APIs. It helps developers centralize reusable content for multiple channels instead of maintaining disconnected data sources.
Arc XP
Arc XP is a digital experience platform for publishers, providing content creation, delivery, and audience tools. It helps news organizations coordinate high-volume publishing across websites, apps, and editorial teams.
Brightspot
Brightspot is a content management platform for building digital experiences with workflows, templates, and integrations. It helps enterprise teams standardize publishing operations across multiple brands, sites, and content contributors.
Quintype
Quintype is a digital publishing platform offering newsroom CMS tools, website delivery, and audience products. It helps publishers manage fast-moving editorial workflows without assembling separate publishing and distribution systems.
BLOX CMS
BLOX CMS is a digital publishing CMS for news organizations, with site management and newsroom tools. It helps local publishers run websites and editorial operations through a platform designed for news workflows.
DNN Platform
DNN Platform is an open-source.NET CMS with page building, extensions, security roles, and administration. It helps Microsoft-stack teams create editable web portals without building content management features themselves.
OpenCms
OpenCms is a Java-based web content management system with templates, workflows, and role-based editing. It helps Java organizations provide governed web publishing without replacing their existing application technology stack.
SPIP
SPIP is an open-source French CMS featuring editorial workflows, templates, multilingual content, and collaborative publishing. It helps editorial teams manage multilingual articles and approval processes without custom publishing software.
Movable Type
Movable Type is a publishing platform for blogs and websites, offering templates, permissions, and workflows. It helps organizations govern multi-author publishing with controlled roles and repeatable content production processes.
These CMS options illustrate the trade-offs between ease of use, developer flexibility, ecommerce support, and enterprise governance. The next sections can help narrow the field by matching platforms to your team’s workflow and technical requirements.