Content Management System (CMS) Software

What is the best Content Management System (CMS) Software?

A Content Management System (CMS) is a suite of software tools for creating, editing, storing, publishing, and collaborating on digital content.

CMS systems are important because they provide more control over website content and give companies the ability to make necessary edits or changes so that content stays updated and relevant for a great web experience. 

The top CMS features include:

  • Content Creation
  • Content Editing
  • Workflows and Organization Tools
  • Role-Based User Permissions
  • Personalization
  •  Reporting & Analytics
  • Security & Compliance
  • Flexibility 
  • Scalability
  • Multilingual Content Tools

The benefits of a Content Management System (CMS) are:

  • Employees spend less time tracking down necessary documents and information.
  • Paper documents can be converted to digital documents, allowing easy access on your network. This may allow businesses to save resources on file storage.
  • Because file sharing is now easier, collaboration among employees in different departments or locations is facilitated.
  • Relationships with long-term customers improve thanks to Case Management Software that closely tracks all customer interactions.
  • Online and social media presence is improved with W-CMS tools that make content creation and sharing easier.
  • Compliance with legal regulations is easier to ensure and document.
  • Customizable Content
  • Simple Content Collaboration
  • Seamless Scheduling of Content
  • Mobility & Accessibility
  • Quick, Easy Installation

There are several types of CMS solutions including W-CMS and DMS.

  • Web CMS solutions are used primarily for creating, managing, and publishing content online. W-CMS tools and features are designed to help enhance your company’s web presence through social media, blogs, online storefronts, and websites. A CMS website can help promote successful ecommerce and offer the opportunity to gather and organize feedback gained through customer interaction with your website or social media sources.
  • DMS solutions, on the other hand, are designed to aid in the storage, organization, and management of internal documents or materials that are not intended for sharing outside of your organization. A DMS solution best benefits companies that rely upon large amounts of internal data or documents and can also help streamline internal business processes as well.

Open-source CMS deployment is becoming increasingly popular, especially for web content management. An open-source CMS is an easily accessible system for managing and publishing online content with ease. The open-source nature of this type of solution is typically much more cost effective and is constantly being enhanced, upgraded, and improved through a community of developers.

If your business revolves around large amounts of highly sensitive content and data, then you may opt for a proprietary CMS solution instead. A proprietary solution will likely cost more to implement, but will offer increased levels of customization and security for internal document management.

CMS system pricing varies depending on the type of solution you choose for your business, and providers offer subscription and licensing pricing models. In a subscription based pricing model, you will pay a monthly fee based on the number of users and specific tools and features you’ll need. However, in a licensing model, you will pay a larger, one-time fee to license the software and manage it inside your company.

Choosing the perfect CMS solution that will serve your business content needs for years to come may seem a complex task. However, if you plan and prepare properly with these key tips for selecting your CMS, you’ll likely choose a solution that will serve your business well into the future.

Top 10 Content Management System (CMS) Software

WordPress / Widen / Box / DocuShare / Content Central / Dropbox / Agility / Canto / Adobe Experience Manager / Shelf

WH Score
9.0
WordPress
109reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
While Wordpress is known largely as a blogging and hosting platform, the Wordpress core also offers a comprehensive content management system that can be used to manage and curate content for individuals and businesses. This is easier to understand once you realize that all data put into Wordpress i...
WH Score
8.6
Widen
45reviews
Starting Price:N/A
The Media Collective is Widen’s answer to a total digital asset management solution. This software collects images, documents, videos, audio, project files, and any other creative material into one easy workspace. Users can upload, search, organize, analyze, share, and download content all wit...
WH Score
8.6
Box
45reviews
Starting Price:$5 per user / per month
Box is a leading online content management solution that provides users with secure storage, file sharing, and collaboration capabilities. With a customer base exceeding 275,000 businesses, Box offers comprehensive features to meet diverse needs. Notably, it supports over 200 file types, enabling co...
WH Score
8.6
DocuShare
15reviews
Starting Price:N/A
DocuShare by Xerox is an enterprise content management solution that helps improve efficiency in workers by focusing on three things: people, paper, and processes. The intersection of these three aspects of business is where DocuShare’s tools help improve teamwork and reduce challenges. All pa...
WH Score
8.5
Content Central
10reviews
Starting Price:$35 per user / per month
Content Central by Adamero gives users all the abilities of a standard document management system, but from the simplicity and portability of a web browser. Instead of packing a laptop with you when you work, you can log into your DAS anywhere, and access, manage, store, or edit documents on the go....
WH Score
8.4
Dropbox
18reviews
Starting Price:$9.99 per user / per month
Finally now all your tools, content, and collaborators are accessible from the same place. Dropbox Business is more than secure storage—it's a smart, seamless way to optimize your existing workflow.      
WH Score
8.4
Agility
19reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
Through their cloud-based content management system, Agility makes designing, implementing, and managing all of your online properties simple. This software is more than just a content manager; it’s an enterprise content management system, with enough features to keep your business, organizati...
WH Score
8.4
Canto
16reviews
Starting Price:N/A
When Canto was founded 25 years ago, we couldn’t have imagined how far the industry would come. We were one of the very first companies to help customers digitize their asset archives and over the years, we’ve come to intimately know the people behind some of the most iconic brands in the world. We’...
WH Score
8.3
Adobe Experience Manager

Adobe Experience Manager

32reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Adobe Experience Manager makes it simple for users to develop and use websites, mobile apps, and other forms with their wide range of digital asset management tools. By keeping all your documents, files, and experiences in one central management portal, it’s easy to keep your brand consistent,...
WH Score
8.2
Shelf
16reviews
Starting Price:$20 per user / per month
Shelf is a cloud-based content management system that helps businesses, small teams, and even individuals keep an entire knowledge base in a single workspace. Migrate content and digital assets that are spread out among services like Dropbox, Drive, social media, and email into Shelf to keep it all ...
The right software for your business

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