Overwhelmed by CMS options? You’re not alone.
WordPress, Magento, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, Drupal – just pick one, right? If only it were that simple. Choosing the wrong Content Management System can tank your budget, bottleneck your team and leave you stuck with tech that doesn’t scale.
Here’s the good news: we’re here to help. In the guide, discover what you need from your CMS and which platform is the right fit for your business – not just today, but for the long haul.
When your CMS works for you (not against you), content becomes easier, sales smoother and growth a whole lot faster.
What is a CMS (and why it matters)?
A CMS, or Content Management System, is the tech that powers your website – it’s where you create, edit, organise and publish content. Think of it as the engine behind the scenes.
The right CMS should:
- Be easy for your team to use.
- Scale with your business.
- Handle your content needs, whether that’s blogs, products, downloads or something else entirely.
- Integrate with your marketing tools, CRM and sales platforms.
- Provide a great user experience – for both your team and your customers.
Pick wrong, and you’re stuck with something clunky, restrictive or just plain wrong for your goals. So, like Indiana Jones, make sure you choose wisely.
Key things to consider before choosing a CMS
Before making a big platform commitment, play the field. While this might sound a little sultry, in fact, it just means taking stock of what your business really needs.
- What’s your budget? Not just setup, but ongoing costs like hosting, maintenance, plugins and developer support.
- How big is your site now – and where will it be in 2-5 years?
- What kind of content are you managing? Blogs, product pages, gated downloads, multimedia?
- How tech-savvy is your team? Do you need no-code options or a custom-built dream machine?
- Do you need ecommerce functionality? If so, how complex?
- How important is design freedom and customisation?
- What integrations are essential? CRMs, marketing automation, analytics, PIMs?
Quick overview: the most popular CMS platforms
Like Cinderella’s foot, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Here’s a snapshot of the most commonly used CMS options:
| CMS | Best For | Notable Features |
| WordPress | Blogs, service websites, custom builds | Huge plugin library, flexible, open source |
| Magento | Enterprise eCommerce | Scalable, feature-rich, developer-heavy |
| Shopify | eCommerce, fast setups | Simple, secure, app ecosystem |
| Webflow | Design-led, marketing sites | Visual builder, CMS features, custom code |
| Wix | Small businesses, DIY | Drag-and-drop, low-cost, easy to use |
| Custom CMS | Niche or complex projects | Fully tailored, high control |
WordPress – flexible but needs TLC
- Pros: Open-source, highly customisable, massive plugin library, good for SEO.
- Cons: Needs regular updates, can be slow without proper optimisation, security issues if neglected.
- Best for: Businesses wanting flexibility, especially for blogs, service pages and marketing-led content. Can support ecommerce via WooCommerce.
CMA Cliff Notes: We’ve built everything from simple landing pages to complex multi-language sites with WordPress. Great when you need control and scalability.
Magento – powerhouse for large-scale ecommerce
- Pros: Highly scalable, enterprise-level functionality, strong for B2B and B2C.
- Cons: Developer-heavy, higher cost to maintain, requires strong hosting.
- Best for: Big ecommerce businesses with lots of products, custom checkout flows and serious sales volume.
CMA Cliff Notes: If you’re scaling fast or need advanced features, Magento might be worth the investment.
Shopify – simplified selling, fast setup
- Pros: User-friendly, secure, fast to launch, built-in payment gateways.
- Cons: Less customisable, monthly fees, can get costly with add-ons.
- Best for: Startups, small to mid-size ecommerce brands, quick deployment.
CMA Cliff Notes: We’ve helped brands scale on Shopify with custom themes, apps and automation integrations.
Webflow – design-first, dev-friendly
- Pros: Visual builder, customisable, CMS functionality, fast performance.
- Cons: Learning curve, less ecommerce power than Shopify or Magento.
- Best for: Design-led sites, marketing teams wanting control, SaaS.
CMA Cliff Notes: Webflow can be a sweet deal for brands where design and speed are top priorities.
Wix – plug-and-play for small businesses
- Pros: Easy to use, budget-friendly, drag-and-drop editor.
- Cons: Limited customisation, SEO limitations, not ideal for scaling.
- Best for: Startups, personal sites, micro-businesses.
CMA Cliff Notes: As an agency, we rarely use Wix. But it has its place for tight budgets or quick-turnaround needs – here’s looking at you small and ambitious start ups.
Custom CMS? When off-the-shelf isn’t enough
Sometimes your business needs something totally unique. That’s where custom CMS solutions come in – tailored to your workflows, users, integrations and growth plan.
CMA Cliff Notes: We design and build custom CMS platforms when no other system fits, especially for complex B2B or enterprise projects.
Final thoughts: CM(ye)S
Don’t just chase the latest trend or pick what your competitor uses. Your CMS needs to work for your team, your goals and your customers. Ask yourself: can this platform scale with me? Will it make my life easier? Does it fit my budget and ambitions?
Still not sure? That’s what we’re here for. CMA designs, develops and supports websites across all major CMS platforms. We’ll help you make the right call – and build something brilliant.
