With the changes in technology, people and organisations need ways of making, storing and delivering their content and systems have become the solution. A CMS helps users add, change, and create further web content with minimal reliance on technical professionalism, thus increasing the Internet population.
In this vast array of products, the top open-source CMS systems are characterised by high, scalability and user support.
This blog will highlight the 10 best CMS open-source software and will also review top options in the best free open-source CMS and more to help you with your decision.
What is Open Source CMS Software?
Open source CMS software is a CMS software whose source code is not proprietary and can be accessed by anyone. This means that anybody can look at the code, change it, and even improve it. Customisation is made possible with open-source CMS solutions, which allow people and organisations to create the right website. This gives the ability to extend functionality to be as the user needs or prefers it to be, with layout and, interoperability with other software.
Many open-source CMS platforms are backed by vibrant communities that continually work on making new enhancements to the program. Such communities offer main platforms where members can share experiences, write documents, or post tutorial videos in case of a problem. Due to this characteristic of open source, CMS solutions often get updates and enhancements, meaning there is constantly improved security, performance and functional capabilities.
Why Choose Open Source CMS?
Choosing an Open Source CMS Software offers numerous advantages that can be especially beneficial for startups, small businesses, and even large enterprises:
Cost-Effective
The majority of the best free open-source CMS platforms are free to use in their basic forms. Although hosting and premium plugin costs may be required, no licensing fees mean that everyone can take advantage of these platforms. This kind of financial flexibility means that an organisation can free up resources in other areas like marketing or development.
Customisation
Many content management systems allow users to install their extensions or available ones and set parameters to their preferences. If, for example, you wish to change the design, assimilate new operations or styles, create new operations or styles, or develop specific options, open source gives you the necessary tools.
Community Support
Most open-source projects are supported by communities with forums, documentation, and even tutorials that simplify cases of debugging and learning. Attracting such support from the community can go a long way in developing any script, especially for first-timers who need a lot of hand-holding.
Security and Updates
Being open source, risks can be found and fixed fairly often, and the system is well-protected and updated as often as possible. Most of the Open Source CMS Software also have their security teams who focus on enhancing the software and fixing the problem as soon as possible.
SEO-Friendly
Most open-source CMS platforms offer SEO features or components that help improve online visibility. Business-service establishments need to develop a greater flow of visitors and their subsequent consumption.
Key features to look at in Open Source CMS
When evaluating the best open-source CMS software, consider the following features:
User-Friendly Interface
Search for an accessible layout of controls and tools that them ease when it comes to content creation and administration. Reducing confusion regarding its operations means that new users will find it easier to handle this tool and domestic operations will become easier to handle.
Customisation Options
Ensure that themes and plugins are flexible to adapt your website properly. That is, open source systems are convenient to expand with new capabilities or redesign the look of the site without major efforts.
SEO Capabilities
Ensure that the CMS has built-in SEO features or a plugin that can be interlinked. Good SEO-integrated features will make your site appear at the top of the search results, hence leading to better organic traffic.
Scalability
Select a CMS that can handle future traffic and additional content if more content is added in the future. A scalable solution comes in handy for any growing organisation or one that expects increased traffic at some point in time say during holidays.
Content Versioning
The availability of features that let the user track changes and recover previous editions lasts longer. By using different versions of the content, it becomes easier to retain a clean audit trail.
Top 10 CMS Open Source Options for 2024
Here’s a closer look at the top 10 CMS open-source platforms for 2024, each offering unique features to cater to different needs:
1. WordPress
WordPress is undoubtedly the most used open-source CMS, used in more than 40% of websites currently in the world. With its origin in 2003 as a blogging tool, it has grown with the world web trend to be a complete solution for any type of website. It is easy to use and has a large selection of plugins and themes, it can be used effectively for building simple blogs and even complex e-commerce sites.
The strong community backing fosters the guarantee that assistance is never far away – handy to know whether you’re a complete novice or a professional developer.
Key features
- Extensive Plugin Library: For diverse purposes, web developers can find over a thousand plugins which range from SEO to social media integration.
- Lots of Themes: There are many themes to choose from. This helps you make your site look special.
- Easy to Use: The dashboard is simple to use for everyone, no matter how much you know.
- Friendly Community: Many helpful people share tips and answer questions.
Pros
- Very flexible and can change easily.
- Updates come often to help keep it safe and add new features.
Cons
- If not taken care of, it can have safety problems.
- Too many plugins can make it slow.
Best used for
Blogs, business websites, online shops, and portfolios.
Pricing
Free and open-source; hosting costs typically range from $3 to $30+ per month, depending on the provider and plan. Premium themes and plugins may also incur additional costs.
Website
https://wordpress.org
Ratings
4.6/5
2. Joomla
Joomla is a robust Open source CMS, which offers middle-ended simplicity and consistency for building websites. Since the Joomla project started in 2005 this cms attracted developers and web workers teams who like to work with free and flexible platforms. WordPress is less developed than it, so users can create complex websites that include many data and content management options. A lot of importance is provided to user management, making Joomla a perfect platform for community-oriented websites.
Key features
- User Management: You can set different user roles, great for community sites.
- Multi-Language: It can work in many languages.
- Many Extensions: Many add-ons exist for more features, from making sites easy to find to social networking.
- Organised Content: Helps you manage and sort content well.
Pros
- Good for complicated sites with many users.
- Great for community and social sites.
Cons
- It’s harder to learn than WordPress.
- You might need extra help with online shopping options.
Best used for
Community websites, social networks, and membership sites.
Pricing
Free and open-source; hosting costs range from $5 to $30+ per month. Additional expenses may arise from premium extensions.
Website
https://www.joomla.org
Ratings
4.2/5
3. Drupal
Drupal is acknowledged for its robust functionalities and high modifiability, which put it on the list of the most suitable platforms for creating sophisticated websites with a heavy data processing focus and nested content types. Drupal began in 2001 and is more suitable for organisations with high traffic and excess content. Due to its relatively high level of security and adaptability, it can be successfully applied in enterprise applications.
Key features
- Content Management: You can create special types of content for unique website designs.
- Strong Security: It has good safety features for big websites.
- User Permissions: You can control who can do what on your site.
- Modular Design: You can add many modules for extra features.
Pros
- Very customisable for bigger projects.
- Great support for large applications.
Cons
- Needs more tech knowledge to set it up and use.
- It might be too much for smaller sites.
Best used for
Large websites, business applications, and data-rich websites.
Pricing
Free and open-source hosting typically ranges from $5 to $50+ per month, depending on traffic and resource needs. Premium modules may incur costs.
Website
https://www.drupal.org
Ratings
4.5/5
4. Magento
Magento is an advanced open-source solution aimed at internet shops only, no matter which size they are. It was established in 2008 as a business-oriented platform, which offers businesses a solid package of useful features for e-commerce: product management, customer segmentation, and marketing tools. Because it is customisable and highly scalable, Magento is ideal for constructing complex e-shops for modern commercial activity.
Key features
- Product Management: Tools to easily handle your products, stock, and orders.
- Marketing Tools: You can target specific customers with promotions.
- Scalable: It works for all businesses, from small to big.
Pros
- Great for building detailed online shops.
- Strong community with many add-ons.
Cons
- Needs lots of resources and more tech skills to run.
- Hosting and maintenance can be expensive.
Best used for
All sizes of online shops, especially big ones.
Pricing
Free community edition available. Magento Commerce (now Adobe Commerce) pricing starts at $22,000 per year, based on business size and needs. Hosting costs can also vary widely.
Website
https://business.adobe.com
Ratings
4.3/5
5. Ghost
Ghost is an impressive modern CMS for professional writing and blogging: it is open-source. After its launch in 2013, Ghost aimed to offer a well-organized platform for writers and other publishers. That is why lightweight architecture is chosen for such sites to load the content quickly as fast as possible. About the user interface, Ghost concentrates much on making it simple so that the user can write without interruption.
Key features
- Writing Space: A clean, simple design for writers.
- Very Fast: Made to work quickly and deliver content well.
- SEO Built-In: Helps your site be found on search engines.
Pros
- Perfect for blogs and content-focused sites.
- Focuses on user experience and speed.
Cons
- Fewer themes and plugins than some other CMSs.
- Not great for complicated sites.
Best used for
Blogs, online magazines, and publications.
Pricing
Free and open-source for self-hosting; hosted plans start at $9 per month for the Basic plan, going up to $199 per month for the Business plan.
Website
https://ghost.org
Ratings
4.6/5
6. Strapi
Strapi is an Open-source headless CMS with API-first architecture to build powerful and flexible solutions for developers. Established in 2019, Strapi enables users to develop new APIs exceptionally fast with complete freedom in the frontend design. Its contemporary structure accommodates multiple databases and technologies and as such well well-suited for web and mobile applications.
Key features
- API Creation: Fast setting up and managing APIs.
- Custom Content: You can make content however you need it.
- Multi-Database Support: Works with many databases like MongoDB and SQLite.
- User-Friendly: Easy to manage content and users.
Pros
- Great for developers who want a headless solution.
- Helpful community and has lots of tips.
Cons
- Needs tech knowledge to use well.
- Still growing compared to regular CMS options.
Best used for
Websites and apps that need a flexible backend.
Pricing
Free and open-source; paid plans for enterprise features start at around $49 per month.
Website
https://strapi.io
Ratings
4.8/5
7. KeystoneJS
Keystone.js – is a free, Node. Js-based CMS and web application platform started in 2013 to deliver a flexible framework for projects with unique requirements. KeystoneJS is perfect for developing dynamic websites and applications without spending too much time on the setup because it will handle the heavy lifting for you.
Key features
- Custom Content Model: Easy to set up different types of content.
- GraphQL API: A smart way to get data quickly.
- Custom Admin UI: You can change the dashboard to fit your needs.
- User Authentication: Helps manage who can log in and what they can do.
Pros
- Good for developers who want to customize a lot.
- Strong community for support.
Cons
- It’s a bit harder to learn if you don’t know Node.js.
- A smaller community than bigger CMS platforms.
Best used for
Custom apps, content-focused projects, and dynamic sites.
Pricing
Free and open-source; costs may include hosting and potential paid support options.
Website
https://keystonejs.com
Ratings
4.5/5
8. Plone
Plone is an open-source CMS used at the enterprise level that stands out with its security and versatility. Plone was started in the year 2001 and it is especially suited for complicated content management requirements, for example, governmental organizations and business organizations. It provides all the important functionality for content workflow, users and multilingual sites and is a good option for large and important work.
Key features
- Safety Features: Good tools for keeping data safe.
- Workflow Management: Custom steps for approving and publishing content.
- Good User Management: You can set detailed roles and permissions.
Pros
- Very secure and reliable for big applications.
- Helpful community focused on quality.
Cons
- Can be complex for non-developers to set up.
- Fewer design options than other CMSs.
Best used for
Government sites, big applications, and safe content management
Pricing
Free and open-source; hosting costs typically range from $5 to $30+ per month. Support options may incur additional costs.
Website
https://plone.org
Ratings
4.4/5
9. OctoberCMS
OctoberCMS is a modern content management system that’s built on the Laravel framework and is known for being simple and flexible. Since it started in 2014, it’s drawn in developers who like its clean design and straightforward way of managing content. It makes it easy for users to create custom web projects without a lot of fuss, which is why it’s a great choice for those wanting to simplify their development work.
Key features
- User-Friendly Admin Panel: An easy-to-use backend for managing content.
- Customizable with Plugins: You can add a bunch of plugins to enhance functionality.
- Supports Front-End Development: Designed with developers in mind, it lets you easily integrate front-end frameworks.
- Easy to Extend: Adding new features or tweaking existing ones is a breeze.
Pros
- It’s friendly for developers with modern coding styles.
- People who aren’t tech-savvy find it easy to use and manage.
- Perfect for custom web projects and websites for small businesses.
Cons
- It has a smaller community compared to bigger platforms like WordPress or Joomla.
- Not as many themes are available compared to more well-known platforms.
Best used for
Custom web projects, portfolios, and websites for small businesses.
Pricing
Free and open-source; costs for hosting typically range from $5 to $30+ per month, with potential expenses for premium plugins.
Website
https://octobercms.com
Ratings
4.3/5
10. Grav
Grav is a flat-file CMS developed specifically for high performance and easy use by those who do not want or need to use databases. Since 2014, Grav has acquired a consistent following due to its ease of use and comparatively minimal system requirements. This makes it one of the best options for users who wish to get an easy way of creating their place on the Internet without compromising the possibility of customization.
Key features
- Flat-File Architecture: Many do not have a database – which makes installation and management easier.
- Markdown Support: Create textual matter quickly with Markdown formatting available.
- Fast Performance: Compact and efficient with low overheads in terms of database usage.
- Simple Installation Process: It can be quickly primarily configured for use rather than complicatedly set up before use.
Pros
- Very lightweight and very fast, best for those websites that don’t have complex functionality.
- Intuitive to set up rather than using the features of a database.
- Full of richness through plugins as well as flexible and customizable.
Cons
- Considerably fewer integrated tools in comparison with other multifunctional platforms.
- Complex pricing structure
Best used for
Small businesses and firms
Pricing
Free and open-source; hosting costs typically range from $5 to $30+ per month.
Website
https://getgrav.org
Ratings
4.5/5
How to Choose the Right Open Source CMS
When selecting the best open-source CMS, consider the following steps to ensure you make an informed decision:
Identify Your Requirements
Find out what you require from a CMS; do you require shopping carts, blogs, or a portfolio? Knowing your goals will determine the selection that you make.
Evaluate User Experience
Check out the various CMS choices to identify the one that features the simplest-to-use interface for you and your group. As for the peculiarities of different platforms, most of them provide users with the opportunity to examine the offering in their demo versions or during a trial period, as a rule.
Community Support
Another step is to assess the activity level of the community associated with the use of CMS. Having friends, you can discuss the problems and make your site better and better with their help.
Consider Future Needs
Consider what your website will look like 5 years from now and what changes it will go through as time passes on. To do this, select a CMS that has the scalability to grow with website development and features that are unlikely to be supported by a change in platforms.
Assess Performance and Security
When doing your research look for information that indicates how the system performs and how often it gets hacked. A fast secure CMS will improve the quality of the site and your users’ experience while keeping the site safe from threats.
Integration Capabilities
Determine how effectively the CMS can work with other support tools and applications – for example, CRM systems, e-mail marketing tools, and social networks.
Budget Considerations
Although there are many free available open-source CMS options you have to take into consideration the cost of hosting, premium plugins, themes and more the cost of maintaining the site. To arrive at this figure you have to be certain of the total cost of ownership.
Conclusion
When it comes to selecting the right open source CMS software for your needs it can prove to make a huge difference. Since there are so many choices and since all of the different types of systems have their advantages, what you need to do is take a close look at your needs. No matter whether you are developing a simple blog an elaborate web store, or an even more intricate corporate website, there is a CMS that would enable you to build and manage a rich, compelling experience.
The goal is achieved when you know your options and features that relate to your goals and help improve your website content management.
Hope you liked the blog!
Thank You!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which of the open source CMS is most used?
Still today, WordPress is the world’s biggest open-source content manager system used in more than 40 percent of all websites available online. Due to its easy-to-use interface and richness in features, it is a preferred choice of many.
Is it possible to use open-source CMS for e-commerce?
There are numerous best free open source CMS platforms available which are notably developed to encompass especially the e-commerce functionality that includes the basic and efficient tools that are needed to manage an excellent e-commerce store.
Can I use open-source CMS to make my website secure?
Despite this, the best open source CMS can be secure but security depends on updates and standard practice of web hosting. To avoid potential threats one has to be informed on its presence and to take necessary actions to protect oneself.
Is it necessary to possess technical knowledge to implement open-source CMS?
Most best open-source content management systems are intended for users of different experience levels. Even though prior knowledge of technology may be helpful in the majority of cases, most interfaces allow users to use most of the basic functions without offering them the necessary technical abilities due to the intuitive design of interfaces.
How frequently should I update my open-source CMS?
Updating the CMS is often suggested as it makes the CMS current with new security enhancements and updates. Most platforms offer such alerts whenever an update is ready so it is easy to maintain up to date.
