Picking the right content management system (CMS) is one of the bigger calls you’ll make when you build a website. CMS Compass is a no-nonsense guide for anyone trying to compare the platforms people actually use today.
Use the menu up top to dig into each one — WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly. Every page covers where the platform came from (who built it, when, and whether it’s free and open source or a paid service) and the things that make it worth a look. The Blog is where I keep the latest news, release announcements, and usage numbers from across the CMS world.
Open Source vs. Hosted: The Big Split
The platforms here really fall into two camps. The open-source ones — WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla — are free to download, you own your site outright, and you can host them just about anywhere. The catch is that hosting, updates, and security are on you. The hosted builders — Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly — wrap all of that into a paid subscription. They’re easier to start with and there’s nothing to maintain, but you give up flexibility and you can’t just pack up and move your site somewhere else.
How to Use This Guide
- Read each platform’s page to compare where it came from and what it does well.
- Pay attention to whether it’s open source or a paid, hosted service.
- Check the Blog for current news, stats, and release updates.
- Match a platform’s strengths to what your own project needs and what you’re comfortable doing yourself.