When the question of choosing a CMS arises, there are plenty to select from the pool. However, as each has its unique features, it also depends on what purpose they are being used for. Some are easier to install and have free features whereas for others, you have to pay additional costs.
Content Management Systems are generally used to manage content on the website. There are two main components of CMS:
- Content Management Application (CMA)
- Content Delivery Application (CDA)
The former facilitates those who don’t have knowledge of HTML, in administrating, changing, and eliminating content, without assistance from the website. The latter assembles information which is updated on the website. Other features in the CMS differ, depending on the type of CMS but common features include publishing on web, managing format, controlling revision, and cataloging, exploring and recovering. Here are the CMS that work for a large number of users:
Drupal
This CMS is highly useful to a group with greater knowledge of the website. Its users range from bloggers to corporations. Its popular features include:
- It is highly technical; therefore may not be easy to use for people without HTML and PHP knowledge
- It needs less system resources, which imply that upgrading it every time, is not a necessity.
- Loading and rapid response time are faster with the provided functionality of plug-ins
- Customization is possible with themes and plug-ins and even the core files can be edited, which makes this CMS flexible.
- Although the software is free but installation requires web hosting which has to be purchased.
WordPress
WordPress is a widely known CMS which is easier to use as it doesn’t involve PHP or HTML understanding. It was initially evolved for blogging and designing simple websites but now, it has updated its plug-ins, themes, and widgets which help in the making of advanced websites too. The key reasons for its extensive use are:
- Quicker and simpler to set up because it provides the facility to install automatically, and even manual installation doesn’t take up a lot of time.
- Copying and pasting is effortless through MS Word.
- It provides support and tutorials to set up which makes is easier for the novice user to organize their website.
- Customization is less of a hassle after the advancement of plug-ins.
- With all these facilities, it is completely free for everyone, with the added advantage of free themes and plug-ins too. Paid themes and plug-ins are also present if more variety is needed by the user. Hosting of this CMS is free as well.
Joomla
This one has features of both WordPress and Drupal. It functions effortlessly even with added features and also, doesn’t need technical knowledge to make it work. This CMS is suitable for many users because:
- Social networks can effortlessly be developed with Joomla and are efficient too.
- Less technicality and faster speed makes Joomla the most compatible CMS.
- It can be used without any cost on the users’ own web servers but the hosted ones come with a price.
- It also consists of themes and plug-ins like most other CMS, but most are paid.
- It guides the person using it, through the help portal, which is quick and cheap.
The choice of CMS depends on the person’s technical knowledge and the type of website they want to create. These CMS are used, in general, by a large part of the population and can be used for a variety of different websites.