Content Management Systems (CMS) help people build websites without needing to code. While some are for advanced users, most focus on being as user-friendly as possible.
PHP-based CMS platforms are a top choice for millions of websites. Their versatility and intuitive tools make it simple for anyone to create and manage a website, bringing their ideas online with ease.
There is such a wide range of options, we’ll take a look at the main factors to consider when choosing from multiple CMS platforms below.
What’s a CMS?
Content Management System (CMS) is a tool that helps people build websites without needing any programming knowledge. Most CMS platforms are designed to be as user-friendly as possible. We will focus on a PHP-based CMS.
How to Choose the Best CMS Platform for Your New Website.
Here are five key criteria for choosing the best CMS platform for a new website:
- Ease of Use / User Interface (UI):
The platform should have an intuitive dashboard and editor, making it simple for content creators and administrators to manage and update the website without needing extensive coding knowledge. - Scalability and Performance:
The CMS must be able to handle future growth (more traffic, content, and features) without sacrificing loading speed or overall performance. - Security and Reliability:
Look for robust built-in security features, regular updates, and a strong community/vendor support system to protect your website from vulnerabilities and ensure high uptime. - Cost and Budget (Initial & Ongoing):
Evaluate the total cost, including licensing fees, hosting, premium themes/plugins, and potential development or maintenance expenses. - Ecosystem and Extensibility (Plugins/Integrations):
The platform should offer a wide variety of available themes, plugins, and third-party integrations to easily add functionality (e.g., e-commerce, SEO tools, analytics) as your needs evolve.
WordPress
WordPress - open-source Content Management System (CMS) written primarily in PHP that utilizes a MySQL database to store content and manages website structure, presentation, and functionality through a core system extensible via themes and plugins.
Link: Wordpress
WordPress is a widely used, open-source CMS that powers millions of global websites. Initially a 2003 blogging platform, it has evolved into a versatile system handling everything from simple blogs to e-commerce and corporate sites.
It features a user-friendly interface for easy content creation and publishing without extensive technical knowledge. Users can customize their site's design using themes and enhance functionality with thousands of available plugins.
WordPress supports diverse content types and includes a built-in editor and basic SEO features. A major strength is its large, active community, which provides extensive support and an abundance of free and premium themes/plugins for customization. Built on PHP and MySQL, WordPress is highly scalable for websites of all sizes, including large enterprise-level sites with heavy traffic.
Core Details
- Open-source CMS.
- PHP and MySQL foundation.
- Global website powerer.
- Began as blogging platform.
- Extensible via plugins/themes.
Pros
- User-friendly interface.
- Vast community and support.
- Massive plugin and theme library.
- Highly scalable for growth.
- Good starting SEO features.
Cons
- Frequent updates needed.
- Plugin conflicts are common.
- Can be security risk if outdated.
- Performance issues without optimization.
- Learning curve for advanced features.
- Bloat from excessive plugins.
Joomla
Joomla! is a powerful, award-winning open-source PHP CMS renowned for its robust core architecture, making it ideal for developing complex applications, corporate websites, and community portals, not just simple blogs.
Link: Joomla!
It provides developers with advanced tools like sophisticated Access Control List (ACL) management and strong built-in multilingual support, simplifying high-demand, multi-user environments. Highly flexible, it integrates smoothly with multiple SQL databases and is easily extensible via a vast library of components, which is why major brands like eBay and IKEA have utilized it for their large-scale web needs.
Core Details
- Open-source PHP framework.
- Advanced Access Control List (ACL).
- Built-in multilingual support.
- Uses various SQL databases.
- Strong for structured websites.
Pros
- Granular user permission control.
- Excellent for complex sites.
- Native multilingual functionality.
- Extensive library of extensions.
- Proven high-traffic stability.
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than WordPress.
- Smaller community support.
- Fewer themes available.
- Can be resource-heavy.
- Configuration setup is complex.
- Requires strong technical skill.
Drupal
Drupal is recognized as a sophisticated, open-source Content Management Framework (CMF) built on PHP, providing a flexible and robust architectural foundation suitable for complex, enterprise-level web applications, not just simple websites.
Link: Drupal
Its power lies in a core system designed for high scalability and customization, relying on thousands of community-contributed Modules (its term for extensions) to introduce features like powerful content modeling and superior security controls.
This developer-centric platform features extensive API-first capabilities, making it ideal for decoupled (headless) content delivery, and its proven stability has made it the digital platform of choice for prestigious organizations globally, including The White House, NASA, and various Fortune 500 companies.
Core Details
- Open-source PHP CMF.
- Highly powerful and flexible.
- Uses "Modules" for extensions.
- Excellent API-first capabilities.
- Designed for large enterprises.
Pros
- Superior scalability and performance.
- Robust, enterprise-level security.
- Strong content modeling tools.
- Ideal for decoupled (headless).
- Large, supportive developer community.
Cons
- Steepest learning curve.
- Higher development cost.
- Requires strong coding skills.
- Complex initial configuration.
- Modules can be expensive.
- Fewer simple theme options.
Contao
Contao is an open-source PHP CMS built with a focus on accessibility and delivering rich, semantic HTML5 output by default. It features an intuitive, Ajax-powered administrative interface that streamlines content creation and maintenance for editors.
Link: Contao Open Source CMS
Developers appreciate its structured, modular architecture and extensive customization options, including built-in support for responsive image management and theming. Contao is often chosen by professional agencies for building complex, standards-compliant, and secure medium-to-large corporate websites.
Core Details
- Open-source PHP CMS
- Built on Symfony framework
- Focus on web accessibility
- Intuitive, modular backend
- Powerful hierarchical page structure
Pros
- High security and stability
- Excellent accessibility standards
- Clean, semantic HTML5 output
- Developer-friendly, very flexible
- Built-in modules (News, Forms, etc.)
Cons
- Smaller user community/ecosystem
- Fewer themes and extensions
- Documentation mostly in German
- Steeper learning curve than WordPress
- Can be complex for small simple sites
- Finding experienced Contao developers harder
October CMS
October CMS is a self-hosted content management system built on the powerful Laravel PHP framework.
Link: October CMS
It is primarily known for its developer-centric approach, emphasizing simplicity, clean code, and minimal constraints on HTML/CSS output. The CMS utilizes a file-based structure for themes and templates, which integrates seamlessly with version control systems like Git for efficient teamwork. Its modular architecture and component system allow for rapid development of anything from simple websites to complex web applications.
Core Details
- Laravel-based, developer-centric, modular CMS.
- Uses Twig templating and file-based themes.
- Component system for reusable functionality.
- Features a clean, intuitive backend for clients.
- Now a commercial, subscription-licensed platform.
Pros
- Developer friendly with clean, flexible code.
- Excellent Laravel framework integration.
- Intuitive backend for content editors.
- Great Git version control integration.
- Scalable and easily extensible via plugins.
Cons
- Smaller community and plugin marketplace.
- Paid license required for continued use.
- Limited documentation for advanced features.
- No built-in visual page builder tool.
- Steeper learning curve for non-developers.
- Theme switching can lose static page content.
Summary
This article, "Top 5 PHP CMS Platforms For Developers in 2025," highlights the continued strength and modernization of the PHP ecosystem.
The curated list focuses on the most robust, high-performing, and secure content management systems available. It guides developers toward platforms that offer superior scalability and the necessary modern architecture for building complex, future-proof websites and applications. The review serves as a vital resource for selecting a powerful foundation for any ambitious web project.