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Comparison of the best CMS in 2025: criteria, uses and technical recommendations for choosing the platform that will accelerate your web or e-commerce project.
Comparison of the best CMS: technical and business criteria for 2025
Selecting a CMS is based on technical, financial, and strategic parameters. For the fictitious startup NovaTech, which is looking to launch a B2B platform with a blog and a store, these criteria serve as a compass for comparing WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Shopify, Prestashop, Magento, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, and Typo3.
Key criteria to evaluate include ease of use, flexibility for customization, e-commerce capabilities, referencing natural, security, and operating costs. Each CMS category has a different combination of these characteristics. A smart choice is one that minimizes operational friction while maximizing scalability for expected growth.
- Ease of use: influences the time to production.
- Customization and extensibility: impacts on future features.
- SEO and performance: essential for organic acquisition.
- Safety and maintenance: operational costs and risks.
- Total cost of ownership (TCO): subscription, hosting, plugins, development.
Concrete example: NovaTech evaluated three scenarios. For a quick MVP, a SaaS CMS like Wix or Squarespace reduces time-to-market. For sustained growth with rich content and e-commerce, WordPress + WooCommerce or Magento have more technical options. For complex business needs and deep multilingual pages, Typo3 or Drupal may be more suitable despite a higher learning curve.
| Criteria | Impact | Recommended CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid prototyping | Reduces time-to-market | Wix, Squarespace, Framer |
| Extensibility | Supp1TP4All product developments | WordPress, Drupal, Magento |
| Advanced e-commerce | Catalog management, payments | Shopify, Prestashop, Magento |
For SEO, WordPress maintains a head start thanks to mature plugins and an SEO-friendly structure. Webflow also offers fine-grained control over tags and code for powerful SEO when configured properly. No-code platforms like Wix and Squarespace have made significant progress, but for SEO strategies aggressive, WordPress or Webflow remain safe choices.
- Operational tip: Document content workflows and SEO structure before implementation.
- Financial advice: estimate the TCO over 3 years (hosting, licenses, developers).
- Security tip: Automate backups and schedule regular penetration tests.
Hosting and maintenance are crucial: NovaTech compared the offers and found that optimized hosting (e.g., solutions mentioned in this article) reduces support costs. For a complete mission, the DualMedia agency offers technical audits and tailor-made offers to choose and deploy the appropriate CMS (see choosing a mobile web agency).
Final insight: the precise definition of objectives (content, sales, scalability) determines the choice of CMS. The following chapter reviews the platforms, showcase site and design.
Comparison of the best CMS for a showcase and creative site
Showcase websites often seek a balance between aesthetics, production time, and autonomy. Webflow, Framer, Wix, Squarespace, and Dorik occupy the central positions for design projects. NovaTech tested a marketing prototype on Webflow and a portfolio on Framer to measure visual quality and production speed.
Webflow stands out for its powerful visual editor that renders the granularity of code without writing it by hand. It combines an integrated CMS, high-performance hosting, and advanced design options. For agencies or freelancers looking for a customized rendering without sacrificing maintainability, Webflow is very relevant. Framer, with its AI generators for pages, accelerates prototype production and offers smooth animations adapted to modern portfolios.
- Webflow: design freedom close to code, good SEO if mastered.
- Framer: speed, animations, ideal for portfolios.
- Wix: maximum simplicity, numerous templates, limited export.
- Squarespace: premium templates, user experience high-end.
- Dorik: minimalist and economical option for freelancers.
| Platform | Target audience | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Webflow | Agencies, designers | Fine design control + integrated hosting |
| Framer | Self-employed, small businesses | Fast creation thanks to AI |
| Wix | Beginners, SMEs | Ultra-intuitive drag-and-drop editor |
Case study: For a product landing page, NovaTech compared Webflow and Wix. Webflow allowed for advanced interactions and optimized loading, while Wix allowed for publishing in less than an hour, but with limitations in terms of export and customization. The decision depends on the need: rapid prototype vs. sustainable and scalable site.
Integrations and SEO: Webflow and Framer allow precise control over tags, microdata, and server-side optimization. For those who prefer to outsource creation, DualMedia offers custom Webflow design and integration services, reducing the internal learning curve (DualMedia services).
- Deployment tip: Pre-build reusable templates to speed up future pages.
- SEO tip: define the Hn structure and metadata from the model.
- performance tip: use a CDN and optimize images (WebP).
Final insight: for a showcase site, favor a orme platform that combines visual rendering and operational flexibility. For assistance, DualMedia supports the conception, design and hosting (optimized hosting).
Comparison of the best CMS for e-commerce and online sales
E-commerce imposes fortes requirements on catalog management, payments, scalability and reporting. Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce (WordPress), Prestashop and Magento remain the references depending on the size of the catalog and the level of customization required.
Shopify is the most popular turnkey solution for launching a store quickly. It centralizes the management of payments, shipping, and promotions. However, transaction fees may apply if Shopify Payments is not used. For very large catalogs or ERP integration needs, Magento (Adobe Commerce) or Prestashop offer significant flexibility but require technical expertise for hosting and optimization.
- Shopify: Fast go-live, integrated marketing apps.
- BigCommerce: More native customization, no transaction fees.
- WooCommerce: Ideal if the main site is on WordPress.
- Prestashop: open source solution for European stores.
- Magento: Robust platform for large catalogs and complex integration.
| Platform | Ladder | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Small to large shops | Simple interface, many apps |
| WooCommerce | Small to medium | WordPress integration, flexibility |
| Magento | Medium to large | Customization and scalability |
Case study: NovaTech migrated a catalog of 3,000 references to WooCommerce to benefit from SEO content on WordPress. The operation required high-performance hosting and the implementation of application caching. For a store with several thousand daily sales, Magento or a custom headless solution would be more robust.
Cost: WooCommerce may seem less expensive upfront (free plugin), but the total cost will depend on hosting, payment extensions, and development. Shopify charges monthly subscriptions and possibly commissions. Prestashop remains a popular option in Europe for controlling all aspects of your store without default commissions.
- Planning: Size hosting based on estimated traffic (think Black Friday).
- Security: Enable 3DS, PCI audits and monitoring.
- Marketing: integrate emailing, tracking and promotional automation.
Final Insight: The choice between Shopify, WooCommerce, Prestashop, and Magento is made based on the volume, integrations, and control desired. For an optimized implementation, DualMedia offers support for migration, optimization, and configuration.request for quote).
Comparison of the best CMS for content creation and publishing
Content production requires tools that address writing, newsletter deliverability, and subscription management. Ghost, Hashnode, Write.as, and WordPress address these needs differently. Ghost positions itself as a lightweight and fast alternative to WordPress, optimized for paid newsletters and simple publishing.
Hashnode is an ideal platform for tech creators who want a built-in audience and advanced Markdown features. Write.as targets writers who want a distraction-free writing experience. WordPress, however, remains the most versatile choice thanks to its ecosystem of plugins for subscription management, SEO, and content monetization.
- Ghost: speed, native subscription, orienté paid publication.
- Hashnode: tech community, GitHub integration and markdown.
- Write.as: minimalism, anonymity, focus on writing.
- WordPress: Maximum versatility, newsletter and paywall plugins.
| CMS | Type | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost | Open source / SaaS | Blogs, paid newsletters |
| Hashnode | Free Plateforme | Developers and tech content |
| WordPress | Open source CMS | Blogs, publications and hybrid sites |
Use case: For an online magazine looking to offer subscriptions and newsletters, Ghost allows for rapid deployment while WordPress offers more monetization possibilities via plugins and sophisticated marketing integrations. NovaTech tested subscriber management on Ghost and compared it to a WordPress solution + paid plugin; for a medium volume of subscribers, Ghost reduces operational complexity.
- Recommendation: Define the monetization model before choosing the orme platform.
- Migration: plan for the export of subscribers and content (RSS, CSV).
- Automation: Connect the emailing tool and CRM.
Final insight: For intensive content and subscription strategies, Ghost or WordPress are the most relevant options depending on the level of customization expected. DualMedia supports the implementation of workflows éditoriaux and the integration of marketing tools (plugins and integrations).
Migration, security, performance and governance of CMS
Operational aspects—migration, security, monitoring, and governance—determine a site's longevity. NovaTech planned a migration from Drupal to WordPress to simplify content management and reduce costs. This operation highlighted the importance of a structured migration plan: URL inventory, content mapping, 301 redirects, and load testing.
Security remains central: WordPress, due to its popularity, attracts more attacks and requires strict governance (updates, validated plugins, secure hosting). Drupal and Typo3, well configured, offer robust options for environments requiring strict access control and multi-user workflow. Magento requires special attention to security and patching for a high-traffic store.
- Migration plan: inventory, mapping, redirects, SEO tests.
- Security: automated backups, WAF, access management, MFA.
- Performance: CDN, application cache, image optimization and lazy loading.
| Subject | Recommended action | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Backup | Automate and version | Failover, snapshot |
| Monitoring | Monitor Uptime and Errors | NewRelic, Datadog |
| Protection | Enable WAF and MFA | Cloudflare, authenticator |
Resources and partners: For hosting, NovaTech has chosen a managed offer to delegate maintenance. DualMedia offers security audits and recommendations tailored to the chosen CMS, as well as migration and optimized hosting services (SME web hosting).
Technical checklist for a successful migration:
- Initial audit of the source site and dependencies.
- SEO mapping plan and 301 redirects.
- Load testing and validation of post-migration performance.
- Documented rollback process.
- Formation of the editorial and technical teams.
Final insight: Strong governance and DevOps practices minimize post-deployment risks. For end-to-end technical support, DualMedia offers tailor-made services and tailored quotes (get a quote).
Which CMS should you choose between WordPress and Wix for a showcase website?
WordPress is recommended for great flexibility and advanced SEO; Wix is ideal for extremely rapid deployment. For a site requiring scalability and specific plugins, WordPress is the best choice; for a simple need and a quick launch, Wix remains relevant.
Why use Magento or Prestashop for e-commerce?
Magento and Prestashop offer advanced features for stores with large catalogs and ERP integration needs. Magento is suitable for large organizations, Prestashop is perfect for European stores that want to control their platform.
Is WordPress CMS suitable for an intensive SEO strategy?
Yes, WordPress is SEO-friendly thanks to powerful plugins and a flexible structure. Good content architecture, SEO plugins, and high-performance hosting help optimize SEO.
Is Webflow suitable for agencies and freelancers?
Webflow is ideal for agencies and freelancers looking for advanced design control without writing too much code. It delivers visually rich and maintainable sites, while offering performance and integrated hosting.
How to effectively secure a WordPress site?
Securing WordPress involves keeping core and plugins up to date, using secure hosting, enabling a WAF, setting strict permissions, and automating backups. Implementing regular monitoring and audits completes the protection.
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