Popular CMS Alternatives to WordPress and Joomla

While trying to settle on the perfect content management system, WordPress and Joomla are usually the first options that come to mind. This is mainly because they offer great features and are a huge hit with a global base of users. However, you can consider other reliable CMS options too.

Drupal: This open source content management system is a huge hit with those who stay away from WordPress and Joomla. The fact that it is open source has made it a huge hit with over 630,000+ users and developers. Anyone can download and share the CMS, while customization is easily done.

Big names like Sony Music, AOL Corporate, and even the White House make use of Drupal, and it comes as no surprise that it is ranked as the third most familiar CMS out there. With over 16,000 add-on modules, Drupal allows you to create pages that are unique and attractive. Organizing and finding previous content is a breeze, as well.

Umbraco: This CMS makes the list because it was part of the top 5 most popular downloads on the Microsoft Web Platform Installer in 2010. The SEO-friendly URL’s make Umbraco an interesting choice among other CMSs out there.

Supporting various databases such as MySQL, VistaDB, SQL Server, etc.; this is a good CMS for low-cost sites. The only drawback is that many features need to be purchased unlike other systems that provide it free. If you’re a .NET developer, then Umbraco will be a good system to work with.

ExpressionEngine: Remember pMachine? CMS experts will tell you that it used to be one of the most popular CMS options in the past. ExpressionEngine has identical roots and is a flexible CMS that allows you to manage your website efficently.

Built on the PHP framework, Codelgniter, this CMS is utilized by companies such as Disney, Apple, BBC, and many other high profile names. Its open source foundation and team of dedicated developers makes ExpressionEngine a good choice. Simple add-on creation is another reason why developers switch to EE.

Modx: This is much more than just a CMS, as it offers a PHP framework for the web. If you’re using a particular JavaScript library like jQuery, then Modx should be your choice. Users can control URL structure and Meta data, thus making it easier for search engine optimization.

This is a lightweight CMS option that is not too quick but gets the job done. Since it doubles up as a web application framework, it can be a good selection for certain specific users.

The four names mentioned here could turn out to be a good choice if you don’t need anything as extensive as WordPress or Joomla. When compared, Drupal leads the race as the number one CMS after the top two. All these content management systems are regularly updated; so you can be rest assured of constant development. Make sure you choose a platform that is robust and flexible. Stay away from a CMS that is restricted and doesn’t have the features you need.

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