CMS Popularity in 2025 – What’s Hot and What’s Not
When you need a site, the first question is usually: which CMS should I use? The answer isn’t as simple as “WordPress forever,” but the platform still holds a huge share of the market. At the same time, headless and low‑code systems are grabbing attention from developers who want more flexibility or faster builds. Below, we break down the current landscape, point out the strengths of each major player, and give you practical tips for picking the right tool for your project.
Why WordPress Keeps the Crown
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, and the number isn’t dropping fast. Its plugin ecosystem lets you add e‑commerce, SEO, forms, and almost any feature without writing code. That’s why agencies and freelancers love it – you can deliver a polished site in days rather than weeks. The platform also gets regular security updates and a massive community that produces tutorials, themes, and support forums. If you’re a small business or a blogger looking for a balance of ease‑of‑use and customization, WordPress is still a safe bet.
One thing to watch out for is performance. A poorly built WordPress site can be slow, hurting SEO and user experience. To keep things fast, use a lightweight theme, limit unnecessary plugins, and add a caching solution or a CDN. Those steps turn a vanilla WordPress install into a speedy, SEO‑friendly site.
The Rise of Headless and Low‑Code CMS
Headless CMSs like Strapi, Contentful, and Sanity are gaining ground, especially for projects that need a custom front end built with React, Vue, or Next.js. In a headless setup, the CMS only stores and serves content via an API. This gives developers full control over the UI and lets them serve the same content to web, mobile, and even IoT devices.
Low‑code platforms such as Webflow and Wix are also climbing the popularity charts. They let designers build responsive sites visually while still offering some code access for fine‑tuning. For agencies that need quick turn‑around and clients who want to edit content themselves, these tools strike a good balance.
Choosing between headless and low‑code depends on your team's skill set. If you have a solid dev crew comfortable with JavaScript frameworks, a headless CMS can future‑proof your site and deliver lightning‑fast performance. If you prefer drag‑and‑drop simplicity and fewer hand‑offs, low‑code is the way to go.
Another factor is cost. Open‑source headless options are free but may require hosting and dev time, while SaaS solutions charge per user or per request. Low‑code platforms usually have tiered pricing based on site traffic and features. Compare the total cost of ownership – not just the subscription fee – before you decide.
In short, WordPress remains the workhorse for many, but headless and low‑code alternatives are no longer niche experiments. Look at your project’s size, timeline, technical resources, and budget, then match those needs to the CMS that fits best. The right choice will save you time, keep visitors happy, and make future updates easier.
Ready to pick a platform? Start by listing the must‑have features for your site, then test a quick prototype in the CMS you’re eyeing. A short trial will reveal quirks you might miss in a sales pitch. Whichever system you choose, keep performance, security, and scalability front‑and‑center – those three factors determine long‑term success more than any buzzword.
