15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers

15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers

Posted on 02. Jun, 2010 by bmackler in Resources


One of the first questions a client will ask you when you are tasked to develop a website is “how can I maintain it myself”.  It used to be a very daunting prospect to build in functionality allowing a novice to update their own website.  Today, the only difficult part is deciding which CMS you want to use.  When it comes to content management systems (CMS) and publishing platforms, there are more than enough to choose from and it all depends on what exactly you are looking to do.   While many CMS’s are overly complicated and require a certain level of technical expertise you may not have, there are a growing number of light, scalable and intuitive content management systems that will help you develop a dynamic website your client can update themselves.

Today, lets take a look at 15 (now 16) great content management systems that are rich in features, flexible enough for designers, highly customizable and won’t break your budget.

Expression Engine
Probably one of the most popular CMS’s among web designers, and for good reason. It’s extremely powerful but easy to use, adapting to your design process whilst still being easy for your end user. It’s also modular so you can add and remove features with ease.

Which do you like the best?

Best CMS

Best CMS

Cushy CMS

A CMS that is truly simple. It’s free for unlimited users, unlimited changes, unlimited pages and unlimited sites. There is no software to install and no programming required.

cms_02

Best CMS

MODx

Take control of your online content.  You can build sites exactly how you want. There are no restrictions and fast to build. Super-simple templates in regular HTML/CSS/JS (any lib you want).

cms_03

Best CMS

Concrete5

Concrete5 is a solid content management system that’s is very easy to learn.  With a expansive administration panel that has statistics built in, you don’t need to install a plugin/extension or use a third party application like Google Analytics to monitor your site traffic.

cms_04

Best CMS

Joomla!

Joomla is an award-winning content management system (CMS), which enables you to build Web sites and powerful online applications.  It’s ease-of-use and extensibility are what have made Joomla one of the most popular content management systems.

cms_05

Best CMS

dotCMS

The fully functional GPL version of dotCMS continues to forge ahead – providing bleed–edge features and the latest code to a thriving community of developers and users.

cms_06

Best CMS

Impress CMS

ImpressCMS is a community developed Content Management System for easily building and maintaining a dynamic web site. Keep your web site up to date with this easy to use, secure and flexible system. It is the ideal tool for a wide range of users: from business to community users, from large enterprises to people who want a simple, easy to use blogging tool.

cms_07

Best CMS

SilverStripe

SilverStripe is a PHP-based, open-source CMS and offers developers great flexibility and potential for scalability.

cms_08

Best CMS

WordPress

WordPress is a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress is probably the most popular CMS and blogging platform out there.

cms_09

Best CMS

Textpattern

Textpattern is a flexible, elegant and easy-to-use content management system. It is both free and open source. With its built-in simplicity, a blogger can start publishing in minutes. Designers and developers appreciate the ability to control all aspects of XHTML and CSS from the Admin interface, and with hundreds of plugins available, the power of Textpattern is easily extended.

cms_15

Best CMS

Pligg

Pligg is an open source CMS (Content Management System) that you can download and use for free. Pligg CMS provides social networking software that encourages visitors to register on your website so that they can submit content and connect with other users.

cms_10

Best CMS

TYPOlight

TYPOlight is an open source content management system (CMS) for people who want a professional internet presence that is easy to maintain. The state-of-the-art structure of the system offers a high security standard and allows you to develop search engine friendly websites.

cms_11

Best CMS

Radient

Radiant is a no-fluff, open source content management system designed for small teams. Radiant features an elegant user interface, flexible templating with layouts, snippets, page parts, and a custom tagging language and a first-class extension/plugin system

cms_12

Best CMS

Surreal CMS

With Surreal CMS, there’s absolutely nothing to install. Just enter your website’s FTP info and you’re connected! Within minutes, you can enable webpages, add content regions, assign editors, and begin updating your website

cms_13

Best CMS

Plone CMS

A powerful, flexible Content Management solution that is easy to install, use and extend.  Plone lets non-technical people create and maintain information using only a web browser.

cms_14

Best CMS

Late Entry – CMS Made Simple

CMS Made Simple helps experienced web developers and designers to create sites of power and beauty in a fraction of the normal time, avoiding hours of coding and allowing your clients to update their own sites with a minimum of fuss.

cms_16

Best CMS

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32 Responses to “15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers”

  1. Tweets that mention New blog posting, 15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers - -- Topsy.com

    02. Jun, 2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Lane, Cam Olivier, Einar Rice, Alvin Black III, designtutorials4u and others. designtutorials4u said: New blog posting, 15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers – http://bit.ly/aVmnoL [...]

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  3. Joe Valdez

    02. Jun, 2010

    I’m surprised ‘Drupal” isn’t on this list. Good list either way.

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 2nd, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    @Joe Valdez,

    Glad you like the list, no drupal did not make this one as I felt there were many better ones and it no longer has he draw it once had.

    [Reply]

    John Reply:
    June 3rd, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    @bmackler, Totally agree with you, not to mention the pain it is to theme and maintain, my personal choice is Concrete5.

    [Reply]

  4. Laira

    02. Jun, 2010

    Such a nice tutorial Thanks for sharing with us..

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 2nd, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    @Laira,

    My pleasure, glad it was of use to you. hope you enjoy the rest

    [Reply]

  5. Kris Black

    02. Jun, 2010

    You forgot Squarespace.com

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    @Kris Black,

    Not familiar with squarespace, could you tell me about it?

    [Reply]

    Kris Black Reply:
    June 7th, 2010 at 4:50 am

    @bmackler, Squarespace is an online system to create, manage and host websites. They provide you with web based software to develop your site that includes design templates, pre-coded pages/forms/scripts, blog creation tools, automatic feed generation with podcast support, XML-RRC pinging, comment management and anti-spam filtering, trackbacks and reference capabilities, traffic logs and much more (depending on the plan you choose).

    More details can be found here:
    http://www.squarespace.com/features/
    http://manual.squarespace.com/

    [Reply]

    Irene Reply:
    June 5th, 2010 at 5:07 am

    @Kris Black, squarespace is awful. It’s like designing with handcuffs…no server side scripts, poor editor and they make it difficult to do tests. Forget about split runs and other things…

    We’re using it but will be moving off it.

    [Reply]

  6. Jason Pang

    02. Jun, 2010

    What about Drupal? Didn’t make it into your list.

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    @Jason Pang,

    Yes, drupal is a big name. I personally never loved it and felt that many others on this list covered the features pretty well.

    [Reply]

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  9. Goran

    03. Jun, 2010

    Great post, but maybe you should conceder mentioning CMSMadeSimple http://www.cmsmadesimple.org it’s a great System easy to Template and even easier for a customer to use.
    Also i would dare to mention Symphony CMS http://symphony-cms.com/ i think it is a rising star and could find it’s way to be one of the powerful ones.
    I wouldn’t put Pligg together in the category with other systems mentioned here since it’s functionality is focused for sharing other web content and social networking.

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 3rd, 2010 at 10:09 am

    @Goran,

    You are completely right and not the first to mention this omission to me. I was not familiar with this CMS but after looking at the site and hearing what other people think of it, I added it as number 16

    While I Agree with you that Pligg is different than the others on the list I added it because I felt this functionality is very interesting and would be worthwhile for people who are looking to create such social networking sites.

    thanks!

    [Reply]

  10. Ivan Ray

    03. Jun, 2010

    This post is awesome. I really agree with what you said about the growing numbers of design and kinds one can have in its cms especially if your client wish to update it on its own. It’s true that web site architecture is important to consider. Simple web design is going out of style. There’s a sea of change going on in the world of web design and web site architecture is one of the great changes. We enjoy creating sites with complex web site architecture so that it can be presented to the visitor in a user-friendly way with content management systems Drupal and Joomla. Our site is http://www.datascribe.biz/.

    [Reply]

  11. Kasper Bergholt

    03. Jun, 2010

    Great compilation of content manamgenet systems. I also missed Drupal –and a brief list of pros and cons would’ve been nice!

    [Reply]

  12. Kate Fosson

    04. Jun, 2010

    Thanks for the options! I am trying to break into using CMS and I’m finding Drupal to be daunting. I will definitely check these out!

    [Reply]

  13. Eric

    04. Jun, 2010

    Another forgotten CMS is ocPortal. I use this CMS for a couple clients of mine. And its staff and community members are very helpful when needed with assistance.

    I encourage the creator of this article and also those encouraged on other CMS’ other than these 15 to also check out ocPortal.

    http://ocportal.com

    [Reply]

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  16. Ryan

    04. Jun, 2010

    nice list going to check a couple out… thanks

    [Reply]

  17. richard

    05. Jun, 2010

    From a design and template point of view, I’d have to say Wordpress is the best CMS/blog platform. I’ve had trouble getting clients to really understand how it can work as a CMS, ie the difference between posts/pages, explaining how the different plugins work, and why the “WYSIWYG” editor doesn’t always show the “WYG” bit, especially when it’s being used as a CMS and not a blog platform.

    It is for this reason that I have to go with concrete 5 every time. The graphical editor makes it so simple for a client to edit their content because this IS a WYSIWYG editor in the true sense of the term.

    [Reply]

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    15 Great Content Management Systems for Designers | Web Design ……

    …d use for free. Pligg CMS provides social networking software that encourages visitors to register on your website so that they can submit content and ……

  19. t-bone

    11. Jun, 2010

    Yes, very good list but I’m wondering why you missed mentioning ocPortal. This is a fantastic CMS. It’s free and open source. Tons of built-in features you don’t have to get from 3rd parties. Very customizable, make your site whatever you want it to be. It is cutting edge and way ahead of most and perhaps all when you consider what it includes right out of the box. Still you must be willing to put some work into it to make it your own but it will reward your efforts. It is a great CMS. I created http://prehistoricsillustrated.com with it. Find out more at: http://ocportal.com.

    [Reply]

  20. Magic Logix

    22. Jun, 2010

    Joomla, drupal, wordpress..They are all great. It is always good to be able to customize your CMS to meet the needs of each user. Excellent list! Which do you prefer from the list?

    Bethany Davidson
    professional Web Development

    [Reply]

    bmackler Reply:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:25 am

    @Magic Logix,

    Yes, customization is key. while I really love Wordpress, I think my all around favorite is expression engine.

    [Reply]

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  22. coa

    26. Aug, 2010

    Joomla, Joomla.!!!!!

    [Reply]

  23. alaex

    26. Aug, 2010

    come on guys . . .
    drupal is not on the list? . . .
    lets say that i agree with all the above comments about drupal but still . .
    is like saying 15 best image-graphic designing softwares and leaving photoshop behind . . .
    . . name me something you cant do with drupal!!! . . .it’s not just a cms it’s a web developemt-software platform . . .
    i think that for the millions supporters out there is just rude not to be included !
    p.s : i know it’s difficult to start with . . . but trust me once you are there . . . there’s no way back afterwards ;) . . .

    [Reply]

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