There are many tools for creating websites in the world of web development, but free CMS platforms remain the favorite choice of many users. 2024 brought us new features and improvements, and now it’s even harder to choose the best platform.
We decided to make this process easier and have prepared a selection of the most effective and popular free CMSs that provide ample opportunities to create a website of any complexity.
Let’s dive into the world of technology and find the perfect option for you!
How we test and review free CMS platforms
To understand which free CMS platform is right for you, we test each of them on different levels. From the ease of installation to the possibilities of expanding the functionality, everything is subject to our close analysis.
The development team studies how easy it is to integrate third-party plugins, and marketers pay attention to SEO optimization and the convenience of publishing content. Thus, we don’t just share theoretical knowledge – we test everything in practice to provide you with the best experience.
1. WordPress – free CMS (pros and cons)
WordPress is one of the most popular CMSs in the world, and there are reasons for that. One of the main advantages is that it is free, and a huge number of ready-made themes and plugins allow you to create websites of any complexity and design. Many bloggers, news portals, and even corporate websites choose WordPress for its ease of use, flexibility, and scalability. Learn more: How to create a WordPress website in 2024
However, not everything is so smooth. Vulnerability to hacking and viruses is a serious problem. Frequent updates can help, but for complete protection, you should use additional WordPress security plugins.
As for online stores, WordPress may not be the ideal solution, as it requires additional modules to implement e-commerce functionality, which can affect the speed of the site. You will also need high-speed hosting for WordPress.
2. Opencart – free CMS (pros and cons)
OpenCart is a great choice for those who want to create an online store without spending a lot of money. As a free CMS, it offers many ready-made solutions that greatly facilitate the process of launching an online business. The platform supports a variety of payment systems, allows you to manage products, orders, and customers, and has a fairly large selection of modules to expand the functionality.
But it also has its drawbacks. First, the interface may seem a bit complicated for beginners, especially when setting up additional modules. Secondly, when scaling a store, OpenCart may require more server resources, which affects the speed of work. Nevertheless, it is a stable platform that, with the right settings, can be a reliable tool for growing your online business. You will also need hosting for your OpenCart online store
3. Joomla – free CMS (pros and cons)
Joomla is a powerful and free CMS that is suitable for both blogs and large-scale online stores. Its main advantages include flexibility in customization and the ability to expand functionality thanks to numerous plugins and modules.
This allows you to adapt the platform to any needs, giving the webmaster full control over the design and functionality of the site.
However, you should keep in mind that Joomla requires initial speed optimization, as the platform can require significant resources from your hosting. In addition, it may take time for beginners to master all the management features. This makes Joomla a great choice for those who are willing to invest time in learning and customizing it. You will also need hosting for Joomla
4. Drupal – free CMS (pros and cons)
The fourth most popular CMS is Drupal, a platform that has won the hearts of many developers due to its power. One of the key advantages of Drupal is its ability to handle large amounts of content.
Additionally, Drupal provides a wide range of modules that can be integrated to extend the functionality of the site. This allows you to customize various aspects of a web project according to your business needs. At the same time, it is worth considering that certain technical knowledge is required to work with Drupal. The platform can be complicated for those who have no experience in web development.
And one more thing: Drupal customization can take a lot of time, and it also requires powerful Drupal hosting to ensure stable operation of the site. If you are up for the challenge, Drupal will be a great choice for creating a unique and functional web resource.
Recommendations from the Hostkoss team
If you’ve decided to build your own website, it’s important to choose the right platform for its development. Our team at Hostkoss has researched four free CMSs, and while there are actually a lot of them out there, we have a few recommendations to help you make the right choice.
If you are a beginner and plan to launch a blog, we highly recommend choosing WordPress. It is the most popular CMS in the world, which allows you to easily customize your site with the help of ready-made themes and plugins. However, don’t forget about the importance of hosting: WordPress requires reliable and fast hosting to keep your site running smoothly.
If your goal is to create an online store, OpenCart is the best choice. This platform is specially designed for e-commerce and provides many functions for managing products, orders, and payment systems. Also, pay attention to the choice of theme: choose one that ensures fast website loading, as this will affect the user experience and SEO.
We also recommend that you read the additional articles we’ve attached below to deepen your knowledge of choosing a CMS and customizing websites.
- The best SEO plugins and tools for WordPress
- The best WordPress backup plugins
- The best WordPress page builder plugins
- The best free WordPress blog themes
- The best WordPress themes for a lightning fast site
- Access to the WordPress dashboard
- What is a landing page and how to create it
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Questions and answers
The most popular free CMSs are WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and OpenCart. Each of these platforms has its own features and is suitable for different types of projects, from blogs to online stores.
WordPress is the most popular CMS due to its ease of use, a large number of free themes and plugins, and an active community. This makes it easy to customize your site to suit your needs, even if you have no technical knowledge.
Joomla offers flexibility in customization and the ability to create complex websites. However, for beginners, it may seem difficult to use because it requires some technical knowledge. This makes it a better choice for users with experience.
OpenCart is ideal for creating online stores. The platform has all the necessary tools to manage products, orders, and payments. Its simple interface allows you to quickly get up and running, even for those who are just starting out in e-commerce.
