Which CMS is best for my website?

Which CMS options are there? The main categories

Anyone asking “What CMS options are there?” quickly runs into dozens of names. It's more helpful to sort them into four groups: self-hosted open-source systems such as WordPress, TYPO3, Joomla, Drupal or Contao; website builders as a rental solution, such as Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace or Webflow; headless CMS platforms such as Strapi, Storyblok or Contentful, which only manage content and deliver it via an API; and e-commerce systems that also come with content pages.

Each group has its own cost model. Open-source systems are license-free but need hosting, updates and maintenance. Website builders charge a monthly fee and take the technology off your hands, but tie you to the vendor. Headless solutions offer the greatest freedom but require development for the frontend. So the question isn't only which CMS is the best, but which operating model suits you.

• Self-hosted open source: WordPress, TYPO3, Joomla, Drupal, Contao
• Website builders: Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace, Webflow
• Headless CMS: Strapi, Storyblok, Contentful
• E-commerce systems with content pages: Shopify, Shopware, WooCommerce

Which CMS for a small website?

For a small website with just a few pages – say home, services, about us and contact – you don't need a complex system. What matters is how often you want to change content yourself. If you only occasionally adjust opening hours or copy, a lean WordPress setup or a website builder will do fine. If content almost never changes, even a static one-page site without a CMS can be the fastest and most secure solution.

For small businesses, WordPress has the advantage that the website can be extended later – with a blog, booking function, multilingual support or a store – without switching systems. A website builder is more convenient at the start but hits limits with custom requirements, load-time optimization or a later move. So clarify up front where your website should stand in two to three years.

Which CMS for beginners?

For beginners, what matters most is that the interface is easy to understand and little can go wrong. Website builders such as Wix or Jimdo are strong here: you drag elements into place with the mouse, and the provider handles hosting and security. WordPress is also beginner-friendly when it's set up properly – with a lean theme, a few vetted plugins and clear editor permissions.

The most common beginner mistake isn't the wrong system but an overloaded installation: dozens of plugins, a heavy theme and no updates. That's how security vulnerabilities and slow load times arise. If an agency sets up the website and you only maintain text and images, you get the best of both worlds – a solid technical foundation and a simple editing interface.

WordPress vs. TYPO3, Joomla and Webflow

WordPress or TYPO3? WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world, has a huge ecosystem of themes and plugins and can be implemented comparatively quickly. TYPO3 is widespread in German-speaking countries, mainly among large companies, universities and public authorities. It stands out with fine-grained editor permissions, multilingual support and many websites in a single installation, but needs specialized developers and more onboarding time.

WordPress or Joomla? Joomla comes with more built-in structure for user management and multilingual support, but has a smaller community and fewer extensions. WordPress or Webflow? Webflow is a website builder with plenty of design freedom for designers, hosting included. In return you remain tied to the platform, and with a US provider you should check data protection questions such as server location and data processing.

• WordPress: flexible, wide choice, regular updates required
• TYPO3: strong for large, multilingual portals with many editors
• Joomla: well structured, but a smaller ecosystem
• Webflow: design freedom and hosting included, but platform lock-in

When a headless CMS is the better choice

A headless CMS separates content management from presentation. Editors maintain text, images and product information in one place, and the content is delivered via an API to the website, app, customer portal or display. This pays off if you serve multiple channels, have high demands on load time and security, or your website is closely interlinked with your own software.

The price is higher development effort: the frontend is custom-programmed, for example with React or Next.js. For a classic company website with a few editors, that is often overkill. A middle path is headless WordPress – the familiar editing interface is kept, while the output is delivered through a modern, fast frontend that can be designed freely.

Which CMS is this website using? How to find out

Seen a website you like and wondering which CMS is behind it? The source code often gives it away: in your browser, choose “View page source” and look for a “generator” entry or typical paths such as “/wp-content/” for WordPress or “/typo3temp/” for TYPO3. Browser extensions such as Wappalyzer or services such as BuiltWith also detect many systems automatically.

It isn't entirely reliable: professionally maintained websites often hide such clues, and headless sites only reveal the frontend framework. And even if you know the system, it says little about quality – design, load time and usability come from the implementation, not from the CMS alone. So it's better to ask who built the website and how it is maintained.