Key facts
- W3Techs (October 2026) reports WordPress on 39.6% of all websites and 58.4% of sites with a known CMS
- W3Techs puts Shopify at 5.3%, Wix at 4.2% and Squarespace at 2.4% of all websites
- Self-hosted (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla) vs hosted platforms (Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow)
- WordPress uses the block editor, also called Gutenberg, for page content
- Hosted platforms handle updates and security; self-hosted gives more control and needs maintenance
- A static site has no CMS unless one is added; edits need a developer
What a CMS does
A content management system separates your content from the code that displays it. You log in, edit a page in a visual editor, add a photo or a blog post, and press publish. The CMS stores the content, usually in a database, and its templates turn it into web pages. Without one, every change means editing HTML, which is why owners of old hand-coded sites often pay a developer for every typo.
Most CMSs also handle the things you do not see: user accounts and permissions, page addresses, image resizing, sitemaps for search engines and, on ecommerce platforms, stock, orders and payments. Choosing a CMS is really choosing how your business will look after its website for years to come, so it is worth getting right before design starts.
The main options
Web technology surveyor W3Techs (checked October 2026) reports WordPress on 39.6% of all websites, which is 58.4% of sites using a CMS it can detect, followed by Shopify at 5.3%, Wix at 4.2% and Squarespace at 2.4%. It also finds 32.1% of sites use none of the CMSs it tracks.
| CMS | Type | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | Self-hosted, open source | Content-heavy sites, flexibility, WooCommerce shops | Needs updates, backups and sensible plugin choices |
| Shopify | Hosted, subscription | Online shops of most sizes | Monthly fees and paid apps; less suited to content-led sites |
| Webflow | Hosted, subscription | Design-led marketing sites | CMS item limits on each plan; check before committing |
| Squarespace and Wix | Hosted builders | Simple sites you build yourself | Less control over code, speed and SEO details |
| Drupal and Joomla | Self-hosted, open source | Complex permissions, large organisations | Smaller pool of developers, more technical |
Hosted or self-hosted?
Hosted platforms such as Shopify, Wix, Squarespace and Webflow run the software and servers for you. Security patches and updates happen automatically. You pay a subscription, and you are tied to what the platform allows. Self-hosted systems such as WordPress run on hosting you choose. You get full control over code and data and no platform fee, but someone must keep the core, theme and plugins updated. See what website maintenance involves.
How to choose
- Selling products? Shopify or WooCommerce. See ecommerce costs.
- Publishing a lot of content or service pages? WordPress is hard to beat for flexibility.
- Rarely change anything? A fast static site can be cheaper to run and very quick.
- Who will edit it? Pick the editor your team finds easiest; test it before you commit.
- Can you leave? Check how you would export content if you move platform later.
What editing actually looks like
On WordPress, pages are built in the block editor, sometimes called Gutenberg. Each paragraph, image, heading or button is a block you can add, move or edit, and a well-built theme gives you ready-made patterns for things like service lists or calls to action that already match your design. On Shopify, products are edited in a straightforward admin with fields for title, description, price, variants and images, and pages are edited with the theme editor. Webflow gives designers fine control and gives editors a simpler Editor view for content changes.
Whatever the platform, the editing experience depends heavily on how the site was built. A site that uses structured fields for things like prices, opening hours and team members is easier and safer to update than one where everything is free-form. That is why we set up the editing side as carefully as the design, and include a training session and recorded walkthrough with our Business package.
When to call us
We build on WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify and other platforms, and we recommend the one that fits your business rather than the one we prefer. Every Business package includes a training session and recorded walkthrough so you can edit your own site. See WordPress web design or get in touch on 01623 650333.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular CMS?
WordPress. W3Techs (checked October 2026) reports it on 39.6% of all websites and 58.4% of websites with a known content management system. Shopify, Wix and Squarespace follow, a long way behind.
Is WordPress free?
The WordPress software is free and open source. You pay for hosting, a domain, and often premium themes or plugins. WordPress.com is a separate hosted service with its own plans, different from self-hosted WordPress from WordPress.org.
Can I update my website myself without a CMS?
Not easily. Without a CMS, changes mean editing code. If you want to change text, images or add pages yourself, a CMS is the practical choice. If changes are rare, a static site with occasional developer edits can still be cost-effective.
Is Shopify a CMS?
Yes, a hosted ecommerce platform with a CMS for products, pages and blog posts. It is excellent for shops; for content-heavy sites with complex page layouts, WordPress is often more flexible.
Can I move my website from one CMS to another?
Yes, but it takes planning. Content can usually be exported and imported, while design and functionality are rebuilt. Map old URLs to new ones and set 301 redirects so you keep your Google rankings.
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