Definition
What is a content management system (CMS)?
A content management system, or CMS, is software that lets you create, edit and publish the pages of a website without writing code. It separates the content (text, images, products) from its presentation, which lets a non-technical team keep a site alive. WordPress is the most widespread of them.
How a CMS works
In a classic CMS such as WordPress, content is stored in a database and assembled into templates on every visit. The person editing a page works in an admin interface: they change some text, replace an image, then publish. The site's code does not change.
Each plugin adds a feature to the CMS (a form, a store) and one more piece of software to keep up to date.
The three main families of CMS
- A CMS installed with a host (WordPress, in its WordPress.org version) gives you control of the code, plugins and data. Its upkeep is your responsibility.
- A hosted site builder (Wix, Squarespace or WordPress.com) takes care of upkeep. Your freedom then depends on the plan you choose.
- An eCommerce platform (Shopify) builds catalogue management, payment and security into the service.
According to W3Techs, WordPress powers about 43% of all websites and nearly 60% of those that use an identifiable CMS.
What a CMS really costs
The licence for a CMS like WordPress is free. The real cost is paid in upkeep: updates to the core, theme and plugins, backups, and security monitoring. A neglected CMS can slow the site down, break it, or expose it to an intrusion at the worst possible moment for your sales.
Fictional example: a clinic wants to post its summer hours. With a CMS, someone on the team opens the page in the admin interface, edits two lines and publishes. Without a CMS, the same change goes through someone who knows how to edit the site's code.
We choose the CMS based on what the site has to do and who will maintain it, not on popularity. WordPress remains our ground for content sites and corporate sites. For eCommerce, we recommend Shopify or Shopify Plus instead: payment, security, updates and scaling are handled by the platform.
We also offer a third route, the AI-managed website. Its pages are pre-built, and changes are written as instructions to Claude or ChatGPT rather than in a dashboard you have to learn. In all three cases, cost is measured over the life of the site, not at the build price.
Not to be confused with
- Managed ecommerce platform
- A managed platform includes a CMS, but the provider also handles hosting, security and updates in exchange for a subscription. A self-installed CMS leaves those tasks to you.
- Pre-built site
- A pre-built site describes how pages are delivered: made in advance rather than assembled on every visit. It can be fed by a CMS or do without one.
- Website maintenance
- Website maintenance is the ongoing upkeep of a site by a provider. The CMS is the software being maintained.
Related concepts
- Pre-built site
- Managed ecommerce platform
- Website maintenance
- Attack surface
- Total cost of website ownership
- AI-managed website
- Website redesign
Further reading
- WordPress for business: what the free software really costs
- Choosing your ecommerce platform: the three real constraints
- How much does a website cost in Quebec? Real prices and three-year cost
- Website redesign: what makes projects fail
- Shopify Plus: the calculation that tells you whether to move up
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Which CMS should a small business choose?
It depends on what the site has to do and who will maintain it. WordPress suits content sites and corporate sites well. For an online store, a platform such as Shopify takes care of payment and security.
Can I change CMS without losing my search rankings?
The change can be made without lasting loss if every old address is matched to its new one in a complete URL mapping table, then redirected with a 301.
