How to Choose the Right Platform
Choosing the right CMS is crucial for website success. Whether you’re launching a blog, an eCommerce store, or a business website, or converting from one platform to another, finding the right platform can make all the difference. 96 Monkeys has hands-on experience with vetting and selecting the CMS that is right for you.
The CMS you select will determine how easily you can build, manage, and grow your website.
Choosing the right Content Management System (CMS) is a critical decision for small businesses. The CMS you select will determine how easily you can build, manage, and grow your website.
With so many options available, how do you know which CMS is best for your needs? Whether you need a simple website, a fully functional online store, or a customized platform, this guide will help you find the right CMS for your business.
We’ve tested and compared the best CMS platforms for smaller businesses based on ease of use, flexibility, SEO-friendliness, and scalability. Let’s dive in.
What to Look for in a Smaller Business CMS
Before choosing a CMS, consider the following:
- Ease of Use: Can you manage content without technical skills?
- Customization: Does it support plugins or extensions?
- SEO Features: Will it help your site rank well on Google?
- Scalability: Can it grow as your business expands?
- Cost: Are there hidden fees for hosting, plugins, or themes?
All-Purpose Website Builders (Easy to Use)
If you need an easy-to-use CMS with built-in features, these platforms are great for beginners.
| CMS | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | Blogs, Business Sites, eCommerce | Highly customizable, 60,000+ plugins, SEO-friendly |
| Wix | Drag-and-drop website building | Easy to use, built-in hosting, design flexibility |
| Squarespace | Small business websites & portfolios | Beautiful templates, built-in SEO & marketing tools |
Best CMS for eCommerce
For businesses that sell products online, these CMS platforms provide robust eCommerce functionality.
| CMS | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Online stores | Built-in payment processing, scalable, easy to use |
| WooCommerce | eCommerce on WordPress | Fully customizable, works with WordPress |
| BigCommerce | Large-scale eCommerce | SEO-focused, powerful integrations |
Best CMS for Blogging & Content-Heavy Sites
If content marketing is your focus, these CMS platforms make managing blog posts and articles easy.
| CMS | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org | Blogging, content-heavy sites | Full control, large plugin ecosystem |
| Ghost | Blogging & membership sites | Fast, lightweight, SEO-friendly |
| Medium | Personal & business blogging | Simple interface, built-in audience |
Best CMS for Developers & Advanced Users
| CMS | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Drupal | Complex websites, government & enterprise | Secure, scalable, flexible content structure |
| Joomla! | Community websites & small businesses | Multilingual support, strong access control |
| Grav | Flat-file CMS (no database) | Fast, flexible, great for developers |
Best CMS for Headless & API-Driven Content
| CMS | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Strapi | Headless CMS for developers | Open-source, API-first, flexible content modeling |
| Contentful | Enterprise headless CMS | Scalable, structured content delivery |
| Sanity | Modern headless CMS | Real-time collaboration, API-driven |
Final Recommendation: Which CMS Should You Choose?
With so many CMS options, here’s a quick recommendation based on your needs:
- Best All-Purpose CMS: WordPress
- Best for eCommerce: Shopify or WooCommerce
- Best for Blogging: Ghost
- Best for Ease of Use: Wix or Squarespace
Still not sure which CMS is right for you? Let us help you decide.
—Need Help Choosing the Right CMS?
96 Monkeys has extensive experience helping businesses find the perfect CMS. Let us guide you through the selection, setup, and optimization.