In the ever-changing world of business blogging, picking the right hosted CMS can feel like choosing the perfect pair of shoes. You need something practical and comfortable yet stylish enough to make a statement. With so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s where this article comes in. We’ll break down the best hosted CMS platforms, helping you find the perfect fit for your business website.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to get started, Feather’s notion to blog might be just what you need.
What is a CMS?
Best Hosted CMS
A CMS, or content management system, is more than just a tool; it's the backbone of your site. It allows you to create and modify digital content like text, audio, video, and infographics without knowing a single line of code. Imagine having a website where you can easily update and manage everything without getting tangled in technical jargon.
Themes and Templates for Easy CMS Creation
CMS platforms come packed with themes and templates, making the creation process straightforward and user-friendly. This way, you can focus on writing killer blog posts or other business-growing activities instead of wrestling with web pages or worrying about storing images.
Market Growth and Trends
The content management software industry is booming. In 2023, its global valuation stood at approximately USD 28.15 billion. Experts forecast it to reach USD 54.16 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.54% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2032. This surge is driven by companies prioritizing digital transformation and seeking efficient content management systems to keep their online presence fresh and engaging.
Shifting Preferences in the CMS World
While WordPress remains the top dog in the CMS world, its dominance has slightly waned. Its market share is 62.5%, down from 63.1% a year ago. Shopify is climbing the ranks, becoming a favorite for online stores looking for a robust e-commerce platform.
Wix and Squarespace are also gaining traction thanks to their user-friendly interfaces and appealing design options. Meanwhile, Joomla and Drupal need help to keep up with the competition. Platforms like Magento, now under Adobe Systems, and Webflow hold their ground in this ever-changing market. These shifts highlight how people's needs and preferences evolve when building websites.
29 Best Hosted CMS for Hosting Your Content & Building Websites
Best Hosted CMS
1. Feather CMS: Notion to Blog in Minutes
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog and email newsletter service that lets you publish content directly from Notion without coding or design skills. It’s perfect for teams that want to collaborate seamlessly and manage everything from their CRM to their blog through Notion. Write on Notion and see your content automatically published to an SEO-friendly blog.
Feather also supports subfolder blogs, which are great for SEO. You can:
Customize your design with CSS
Collect emails
Send newsletters directly from Notion
Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today — create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!
2. Joomla: Customization with a Steep Learning Curve
Joomla is a robust open-source CMS that offers a mix of ease and flexibility, designed for various websites. With over 6,000 extensions and templates, it’s a solid choice if you want to create a unique site. It’s not the most beginner-friendly platform due to its steeper learning curve and limited documentation. Joomla is free but you must pay for hosting and a domain name.
3. HubSpot CMS: All-in-One Solution for Businesses
HubSpot CMS is part of the more extensive HubSpot suite, combining:
CMS
CRM
Marketing automation
Sales tools
It's great for businesses that want a unified platform for their digital presence. It's user-friendly with an AI content assistant and drag-and-drop editor, though its premium pricing might deter smaller businesses. Plans start at $360/month for annual payments.
4. Wix: Simple and User-Friendly Website Builder
Wix is a cloud-based website builder known for its simplicity and drag-and-drop interface. It’s ideal for individuals and small businesses wanting a functional website without technical skills. While easy to use, it offers limited design flexibility and tends to have slower loading times. Website plans start at $12.50/month, and e-commerce plans start at $25/month.
5. Optimizely: Advanced Tools for Larger Businesses
Optimizely, formerly Episerver, is a digital experience platform with a strong focus on delivering tailored user experiences. It’s designed for larger businesses that need advanced functionality like AI-powered personalization and A/B testing. While powerful, it’s complex and requires technical knowledge. Pricing starts at $79/user/month for content marketing.
6. Prismic: Flexible Headless CMS for Developers
Prismic is a headless CMS ideal for developers who need a customizable content management system. It lets you decouple the front-end presentation from back-end content management, making it perfect for delivering content across platforms. While it offers real-time collaboration and visual page builders, it requires more technical expertise. Prismic has a free tier, with paid plans available for advanced features.
7. Shopify: Leading CMS for E-commerce
Shopify is a top CMS platform for e-commerce businesses, known for its ease of use and comprehensive solution for creating and managing online stores. It includes:
While user-friendly, it has limited customization and transaction fees. Plans start at $24/month (annual payments) or $32/month (monthly payments).
8. Squarespace: Design-Focused Platform for Creatives
Squarespace is popular among individuals, small businesses, and creatives for its sleek, design-focused approach. It’s perfect for those wanting visually appealing websites without complex setups. Squarespace offers:
Drag-and-drop functionality
Reliable hosting
AI-powered features
Plans start at $17/month for personal use.
9. Ghost: Streamlined for Content Creators
Ghost is a streamlined CMS for content creators and bloggers optimized for writing and publishing. It offers a distraction-free experience with features like:
Memberships
Subscriptions
While fast and lightweight, it has limited customization and functionality. Plans start at $9/month (annual payments).
10. WordPress: Versatile and Popular CMS
WordPress is one of the most well-known CMS platforms, offering a vast library of templates and plugins for customization. It’s available in two forms:
WordPress.com: Fully hosted option with a monthly fee. While WordPress.org is free, you must pay for hosting and some themes and plugins.
11. Webflow: Advanced Design Capabilities
Webflow is a highly customizable website builder with impressive content management features. It’s best for creating unique websites with advanced design elements. Webflow offers free and paid templates, each mobile-responsive. Ideal for creative professionals, it provides total control over every pixel.
12. Drupal: Customization for Large Enterprises
Drupal is a highly customizable open-source platform perfect for large enterprises needing scalable and custom sites. It offers over 40,000 modules and 2,500 themes. While free, it has a learning curve, making it better suited for those with coding experience or a seasoned developer.
13. Concrete CMS: Intuitive and Easy to Use
Formerly known as Concrete5, this open-source platform offers an intuitive, point-and-click interface, making it ideal for those without coding knowledge. It includes SEO tools and a WYSIWYG editor, ensuring your page looks as expected when published. While not flashy, Concrete CMS is a solid choice for those seeking a simple, easy-to-use CMS with helpful core features.
14. TYPO3: Enterprise-Level CMS with Accessibility Features
TYPO3 is a free, open-source platform marketed as an enterprise-level CMS. It offers features like accessibility compliance capabilities and mobile-first, responsive web design. TYPO3 also integrates with digital asset management systems, making it easy to manage brand assets. Perfect for managing multiple websites and domains, it offers more than 8,000 extensions.
15. Storyblok: Cloud-Native Headless CMS
Storyblok is a cloud-native, headless CMS with a user-friendly interface. It features a visual editor for real-time collaboration and a live preview function. Storyblok consolidates content and asset management in one platform with an advanced search function for easy asset access. Ideal for content localization and digital asset management.
16. Craft CMS: Custom Websites with Full Control
Craft CMS is designed for developers and content creators who prioritize customization and flexibility. It focuses on bespoke websites with control over content modeling, design, and functionality. While it requires technical expertise, it offers powerful e-commerce integration through Craft Commerce.
17. Umbraco: Flexible and Scalable Open-Source CMS
Built on the Microsoft .NET framework, Umbraco is known for its flexibility and ease of use. It’s suitable for small businesses and large projects, focusing on content management and user experience. Great for .NET developers, it’s fully open-source with no licensing fees.
18. Contentful: Multi-Platform Content Delivery
Contentful is a headless CMS that delivers content across multiple platforms. It decouples content management from presentation, allowing custom front-end experiences. It is ideal for multi-platform content delivery, requires technical knowledge, and has higher pricing tiers for advanced features.
19. Magnolia CMS: Enterprise-Grade Java-Based CMS
Magnolia CMS is known for its scalability and modular architecture, allowing companies to build digital experiences across platforms. Ideal for large businesses, it offers features like personalization and complex integrations. It requires Java expertise and has high licensing costs for enterprise use.
20. Strapi: Fully Customizable Open-Source CMS
Strapi is a headless CMS that allows developers to create customizable APIs. It’s perfect for managing content across web and mobile platforms, with solid API capabilities. While fully customizable and open-source, it requires technical expertise to set up and maintain.
21. Kentico: Integrated CMS and Marketing Platform
Kentico is designed for mid-to-large-sized businesses, integrating content management with digital marketing. It offers multilingual support, e-commerce functionality, and advanced SEO tools. While scalable, it has a steep learning curve and higher cost than other platforms.
22. Agility CMS: Hybrid Approach to Content Management
Agility CMS offers a hybrid approach, supporting headless and traditional CMS needs. It provides a visual editor for marketers and a flexible API-first approach. While intuitive for non-developers, it may require technical expertise for full implementation and has higher pricing for smaller businesses.
SilverStripe emphasizes flexibility and control over website development. It's suitable for businesses needing a custom-built solution, and it’s developer-friendly with strong customization options. While open-source with no licensing fees, it requires coding knowledge to set up and maintain.
24. Ghostwriter: Optimized for Content-Heavy Sites
Ghostwriter is a headless CMS designed for content-heavy websites like blogs and news portals. It allows fast content management and delivery through APIs. While it offers a simple interface, customization requires technical knowledge. Pricing starts at $29/month for premium plans.
25. ButterCMS: Easy Integration with Any Tech Stack
ButterCMS is a headless CMS designed for easy integration, allowing developers to focus on front-end builds. It’s perfect for small teams and startups wanting a quick CMS solution. While easy to use, it requires technical expertise for custom front-end builds. Pricing starts at $83/month.
26. Builder.io: Visual Content Creation for All
Builder.io bridges the gap between marketers and developers with its drag-and-drop interface. It allows highly customized digital experiences without writing code. Perfect for businesses wanting agility in marketing strategies, it integrates seamlessly with e-commerce platforms and web frameworks.
27. Kontent.ai: Unified Hub for Content Management
Kontent.ai is a headless CMS enabling marketers to manage content in one hub while developers choose their tech stack. It’s ideal for building modern digital experiences, though security features could be improved under certain conditions.
28. Sitecore: Comprehensive Digital Experience Platform
Sitecore offers solutions for content management, digital asset management, commerce, personalization, and marketing automation. It’s designed to handle complex content needs across thousands of touchpoints, making it suitable for enterprise-level businesses.
29. dotCMS: Hybrid-Headless CMS for Enterprises
dotCMS is an open-source hybrid-headless CMS built on Java, offering flexibility for marketers and developers. It allows personalized content delivery for any channel with no-code, low-code, and high-code development options. Ideal for enterprises, it combines headless CMS flexibility with traditional CMS efficiency.
A CMS is like a backstage pass to your website, letting you build, manage, and update without diving into the deep end of coding. Imagine you want a website but don’t have time for HTML or CSS. Enter the CMS; it offers an intuitive interface where you create and organize content, design pages, and update without wrestling with code.
At its core, a CMS breaks down into two main parts:
1. Content Management Application (CMA)
This is your playground for:
Creating
Editing
Publishing content
Think of it as a word processor for your site. You can add text, images, videos, and links through a simple editor. The CMS handles the complex stuff, so you don’t have to.
2. Content Delivery Application
This handles how your content is shown to visitors. Once you hit "publish," the CMS organizes and formats the content to display correctly on your site. It ensures everything loads appropriately on different devices and browsers, optimizing for SEO and performance.
Platforms like Feather, WordPress, and Ghost simplify the process by offering:
Easy content management
Drag-and-drop interfaces
Flexible customization options—all without needing coding skills
But if you want more control, most CMS platforms let developers tweak things in the background.
Why Feather Stands Out
Feather takes this ease of use to the next level. It’s an SEO-friendly blog and email newsletter service that lets you publish directly through Notion—no coding or design skills are needed. You can create blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to your Feather blog. Feather even supports subfolder blogs (domain.com/blog) for better SEO.
Feather isn’t just about publishing. It lets you:
Manage your CRM and website blog through Notion
Customize designs with CSS
Collect emails and more
You can collaborate with your team during publishing and send newsletters to subscribers directly from Notion. It’s like getting the whole HubSpot experience with minimal effort.
Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today — create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!
Consider a CMS against a website builder when setting up your online presence. So, what’s the deal? A content management system (CMS) is like the engine of your site. It runs on your server, managing your content behind the scenes, regardless of how it appears to visitors. You have complete control over your content, making it a solid choice for businesses with specific needs.
On the other hand, website builders are like the all-in-one packages. Often fully hosted, they offer a drag-and-drop interface ideal for beginners. These platforms simplify the process, letting you build your site without a developer's skills.
The Headless CMS: Freedom for Developers
A headless CMS is a bit more complex, but it’s a dream for developers. Think of it as separating the content storage from the front-end design. Your team can use whatever tech they want to make the site look exactly how you envision it. It’s like giving your developers a blank canvas and all the brushes they could ever want. They pull the content from wherever it's stored and connect it to the website design.
Because of this flexibility, enterprise organizations often go for headless systems. They’re not locked into one way of doing things, which is a huge plus.
All-in-One Website Builders: Keep it Simple
If you’re new to building websites and want to keep things simple, an all-in-one website builder might be your best bet. These platforms operate on a CMS but have built-in features that make your life easier. They’re fully hosted, so you don’t need to worry about finding a server for your content. Just drag and drop elements on your screen to create your website on the fly.
It’s all about making the process as user-friendly as possible, especially if your technical skills aren’t at the expert level.
5 Popular Types of CMS?
Best Hosted CMS
1. All-in-One Website Builders: Ready, Set, Go!
Think of these as the Swiss Army knives of content management. All-in-one website builders provide everything you need to launch and manage your site, from design tools to blog management. They're perfect for small business owners who want to get up and running quickly without diving into complex configurations. These systems often boast user-friendly interfaces, allowing you to manage SEO, files, and even the backend without breaking a sweat.
2. Enterprise CMS: The Big Guns of Content Management
When handling vast amounts of data and users, enterprise CMS steps in. These systems are designed for larger institutions and offer advanced features to manage unstructured data like emails and reports. They excel in delivering relevant content to target audiences by supporting complex workflows and integrations. This is the choice for organizations that need robust solutions to manage their digital assets efficiently.
3. Headless CMS: Content Without Borders
Gone are the days when content was tied to a single platform. Headless CMS allows you to create and publish content without a front-end interface, giving you the freedom to deliver it across web platforms, mobile devices, and IoT products. This type of CMS is ideal for businesses looking to provide a seamless experience across multiple channels, ensuring consistency and coherence in their messaging.
4. Open-source CMS: Freedom to Forge Your Path
Open-source CMS might be the answer if you're seeking flexibility and control. These systems allow you to customize your site's look, feel, and functionality to your heart's content. The trade-off? They're more complex to learn and use, making them better suited for web developers or businesses with the resources to invest in custom solutions. But the possibilities are nearly endless for those who can handle the challenge.
5. Cloud-based CMS: The Sky’s the Limit
Cloud-based CMS offers convenience and flexibility hosted by a third-party provider. There are two types:
Full cloud
Partial cloud
The provider fully manages full cloud CMS, while partial cloud CMS allows some customization through source codes or specific modules. This type of CMS is ideal for businesses looking to offload the burden of managing their infrastructure, though it may require ongoing support.
Key Features of a CMS
Best Hosted CMS
Mastering Publishing Controls in a CMS
Publishing controls are the backbone of any robust CMS. They allow you to assign roles and permissions, ensuring that content creation and publication are orderly and secure. It's not just about preventing mishaps; it's about creating a smooth workflow. Imagine authors, editors, and admins knowing their roles and working harmoniously. This way, each piece of content is polished and error-free before it reaches your audience.
Streamline Content Creation with Editing Tools
Creating engaging content should be a smooth process. A CMS with strong content editing tools makes the process seamless. With just a few clicks, you can easily upload:
Images
Videos
CTAs
Forms
Drag-and-drop features allow for quick content scheduling and updating, ensuring your posts are always fresh and relevant. This ease of use lets your team focus on crafting compelling narratives rather than wrestling with a complicated platform.
Tracking Success with Built-in Analytics
Having analytics integrated into your CMS is a game-changer. It provides insights into how visitors interact with your content, whether on desktop or mobile. This data helps you understand what's working and what needs tweaking. Integrating a tool like Google Analytics is a smart move if the CMS doesn't have built-in analytics.
Either way, having this information at your fingertips allows for data-driven decisions that enhance your content strategy.
Protecting Your Assets with Security Measures
Security is non-negotiable. A CMS with solid security protects your site from threats and ensures that your content and data remain safe. Look for built-in security protocols and understand what steps you need to take to maintain compliance. This vigilance protects your organization and users, who trust you to safeguard their information.
Choosing the Right Templates and Themes
A suitable theme can transform your site’s appearance and functionality. Consider your specific needs; an e-commerce site has different requirements than a blog. Some CMS platforms offer a variety of themes, while others might require you to purchase them separately. Ensure your chosen theme is responsive and works well across all devices to provide a consistent user experience.
What Are the Benefits of Using a CMS?
Best Hosted CMS
Enhanced Team Collaboration Without Borders
A robust content management system (CMS) facilitates teamwork, especially for a content marketing team aiming to boost certain pieces. With a browser-based CMS, team members worldwide can access and collaborate on projects in real-time. Gone are the days of emailing file versions back and forth. This means a seamless workflow that keeps everyone on the same page, literally and figuratively. It’s a game-changer for productivity.
User-Friendly for Everyone – No Coding Required
You don’t need to be a tech whiz to use a CMS. Designed simply, these systems let anyone navigate and manage content without specialized skills or coding knowledge. This means you can distribute content tasks across your team more efficiently. With an intuitive interface, even those with limited tech experience can contribute significantly.
The streamlined process also reduces training time, so your team can focus on what matters—creating great content.
SEO Made Easy with Built-In Tools
SEO can feel daunting, but a suitable CMS simplifies it. Most come with built-in SEO tools or plugins that guide you through optimizing content for search engines. This means you can focus on creating quality content without getting bogged down by technical SEO details. By providing actionable insights and recommendations, these tools help you make informed decisions about your content strategy.
Scalability to Match Your Business Growth
A CMS isn’t just for today; it’s built to grow with you. Whether you’re running a blog, eCommerce site, or something else entirely, the suitable CMS can scale with your business needs. This means you can add new features and functionality as your business evolves, all while keeping your existing content organized and accessible. With flexible options for customization and integration, a CMS empowers you to build a site that meets your unique needs.
Consistent Branding Across All Channels
Consistency is key to branding, and a CMS helps you achieve it. With built-in processes for categorizing and tagging content, you can ensure that your brand voice and messaging remain consistent across all channels. This means your audience will recognize and trust your brand wherever they encounter it. Plus, with options for customization and integration, you can create a site that looks and feels like your brand.
Organizational Tools for Content Management
As your organization grows, so does your content library. A CMS provides the tools to stay organized and manage your content effectively. With scheduling, permissions, and more options, you can streamline your workflow and ensure your content is always up-to-date and relevant. This means you can focus on creating new content instead of getting bogged down by the logistics of managing it.
Streamline Your Content Creation with Feather
Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today! Create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!
How Does a CMS Impact Website SEO?
Best Hosted CMS
Your CMS shapes how your website is laid out. It impacts everything from navigation paths to content hierarchy. A streamlined structure makes it easy for search engines to crawl your site. And when search engines can understand your site, they’re more likely to rank it higher.
Features like clean navigation and logical content hierarchies are essential. Breadcrumbs and internal links help users and search engines navigate your site. A CMS that supports a well-organized site boosts SEO and user experience.
Speed is King
Page speed isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical ranking factor. A CMS that’s optimized for speed helps your site load faster. Faster page loads mean better rankings. Look for features like:
Caching mechanisms
Image optimization tools
Clean code
These can shave seconds off your load times. Remember, a slow website frustrates users and leads to higher bounce rates, which can tank your SEO.
Optimize Content Easily
Content optimization tools are a must-have in a CMS. These features make it easier to fine-tune your site for search engines. Look for tools that allow you to:
Customize meta tags
Optimize for keywords
Create SEO-friendly URLs
These elements are crucial for improving on-page SEO. A CMS with robust content optimization tools helps you meet search engine requirements.
Mobile Optimization is Key
With mobile-first indexing, having a mobile-optimized website is non-negotiable. Many CMS platforms offer responsive design features that automatically adjust your site for mobile devices. Responsive themes ensure your site looks good on any device. A mobile-friendly interface improves user experience, which in turn boosts SEO. Choosing a CMS that enables easy mobile optimization is crucial for staying competitive.
Your CMS should offer easy access to features like:
Canonical tags
Robots.txt files
XML sitemaps
These elements are critical for maintaining a search engine-friendly site. A CMS that supports these technical SEO tools can help you avoid common pitfalls and keep your site running smoothly.
Stay Updated
Regular updates are crucial for keeping your site secure and optimized. A CMS offering frequent updates ensures your site is compatible with the latest SEO best practices. Updating your CMS and any plugins or themes helps maintain your site’s performance and security. An outdated CMS can introduce security vulnerabilities that harm user trust and SEO.
Best Hosted CMS FAQs
Best Hosted CMS
What is the best CMS for 2024? It depends on what you're looking to achieve. Are you after a platform that's easy to use, collaborates well, integrates seamlessly, and scales as you grow? Then, look for a CMS that ticks all these boxes. Most modern systems have:
Drag-and-drop interfaces
SEO tools
Marketing integrations
Feather might be your top pick if you're focused on content like blogs and newsletters with minimal coding. It manages everything through Notion, making it a breeze for companies wanting a simple, SEO-friendly, newsletter-ready CMS.
What Makes a CMS Powerful? It's All About Customization
If you're searching for a powerful CMS, look for platforms that offer:
Customization
Robust integrations
Scalability
These systems can handle:
Content creation
Marketing automation
E-commerce and more
They might require technical skills, but Feather is worth considering if you want a simple, effective option without coding. It operates through Notion and allows for CSS customization, offering flexibility without the complexity of traditional CMS platforms.
Fast-Growing CMS Platforms: Embracing No-Code and Low-Code
Today, fast-growing CMS platforms are all about no-code and low-code approaches. They let users build and manage sites without relying on developers. Feather is gaining traction because it integrates with Notion, allowing teams to create and publish content quickly without technical barriers.
For quick growth, ease of use, and SEO-friendly features, Feather provides a streamlined experience aligned with current trends in content marketing.
The Most Widely Used CMS in 2024: WordPress Still Dominates
In 2024, WordPress is still the most widely used CMS, powering over 62% of all websites globally. Its popularity is due to its:
User-friendly interface
Extensive plugin ecosystem
Strong community support
Other notable CMSs include Joomla, Drupal, Wix, and Feather.
Speedy CMS Options: Performance Depends on Various Factors
CMS speed depends on factors like hosting, site complexity, and optimization. Due to their robust architecture, Joomla and Drupal often perform well for high-traffic sites. With proper optimization, most CMS platforms can perform exceptionally well.
Go From Notion to Blog With Ease Today with Feather
Feather redefines simplicity in content management by integrating seamlessly with Notion. Think about it: write your blog posts directly in Notion and see them magically appear on your Feather blog without a hitch. No coding, no design headaches. Just pure, unadulterated convenience. And the subfolder setup? That’s a game-changer for SEO. Search engines love it when your blog lives at domain.com/blog instead of blog.domain.com.
Effortless Content Collaboration with Feather
Collaboration is seamless with Feather. Your entire team can edit and refine the content in Notion before it goes live. There are no more bottlenecks or confusion, just a smooth, streamlined process. It’s like having a finely tuned orchestra all working together to create something beautiful.
The Power of Newsletters from Notion
Feather doesn’t stop at blogs. It lets you manage and send newsletters directly from Notion. This means less hassle, more engagement, and a better connection with your audience. You can draft, edit, and send your newsletters without leaving Notion, making the whole process feel like a walk in the park.