WordPress is the open-source publishing and website CMS distributed through WordPress.org. It provides a block editor, pages, posts, media and user roles, with themes and plugins extending the site. This profile covers the software you deploy with a chosen host, rather than the separately operated WordPress.com service. Buyers should specify who maintains the installation and its extensions before treating the absence of a core licence fee as the full cost of a live website. Learn more about WordPress
Who should take a closer look?Teams wanting control over their WordPress hosting, extensions and site implementation
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Block-based content editing
- ✓Pages, posts and media library
- ✓Themes and plugin extensions
Free self-hosted softwareThe WordPress software is free under GPLv2 or later. This does not include a free production hosting service, domain or every third-party extension.
WordPress.com is a hosted website and publishing service running WordPress. It combines the CMS with a hosting plan, so the buying decision concerns service entitlements as well as editing features. A permanent Free plan is available, while paid plans add capabilities such as custom-domain use and plugin installation. All current paid plans support plugins; developer access, storage and commerce capabilities still need a plan-specific check. WordPress.com is distinct from downloading WordPress and arranging hosting independently. Learn more about WordPress.com
Who should take a closer look?Publishers and organisations seeking a hosted WordPress service with defined plan entitlements
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Managed WordPress hosting
- ✓Block editor and themes
- ✓Pages, posts and media
Free hosted planA permanent Free hosted plan is available. Connecting a custom domain, removing WordPress.com ads and installing plugins require a suitable paid plan.
Drupal is an open-source CMS for structured websites and applications. Content types, fields, editorial workflows and a modular architecture support projects that need more than a collection of static pages. The core software is available without a licence fee; the organisation still needs hosting, a supported implementation and an upgrade process. A Drupal evaluation should model real content relationships and editorial permissions, then check how the selected modules and custom code will be maintained. Learn more about Drupal
Who should take a closer look?Organisations defining structured content, publishing permissions and a maintainable custom website
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Structured content and fields
- ✓Modular extensions and themes
- ✓Editorial workflows
Free self-hosted softwareDrupal is free open-source software under the GPL. Hosting, implementation, maintenance and commercial services are separate.
Joomla is an open-source CMS for publishing and managing websites. Its core includes menu management, access controls and multilingual content, with templates and extensions adapting the site to a particular organisation. The software can be downloaded without a licence charge, but operating a public site requires a hosting and maintenance arrangement. Evaluate the actual template, extensions and publishing roles together; the capabilities of a third-party extension should not be assumed to be part of every Joomla installation. Learn more about Joomla
Who should take a closer look?Teams wanting an open-source website CMS with built-in access and multilingual publishing controls
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Article and menu management
- ✓User groups and access controls
- ✓Multilingual content associations
Free self-hosted softwareJoomla is free open-source software under the GPL. Any free or trial hosting offer is a separate service with its own conditions.
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform centred on a publication, its newsletter and its members. Teams can run the software themselves or buy Ghost(Pro) managed hosting. The operational difference matters: a self-hosted installation needs infrastructure and email delivery arrangements, while Ghost(Pro) packages managed services into plans. Membership payments and custom themes are plan-dependent on Ghost(Pro), so a paid publication should evaluate the intended tier rather than assume the entry plan includes every publishing capability. Learn more about Ghost
Who should take a closer look?Publishers building a publication and subscriber relationship around web and email content
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Website and publication editor
- ✓Email newsletters
- ✓Member accounts and segmentation
Free self-hosted softwareThe open-source Ghost software can be self-hosted without a software licence fee. Ghost(Pro) is paid managed hosting; its trial is not a permanent free hosted plan.
Adobe Experience Manager Sites is an enterprise CMS for managing and delivering content across websites and other digital experiences. It supports visual authoring, reusable content and headless delivery alongside governance for multiple sites. This profile covers Sites rather than treating the entire Experience Manager portfolio as one included purchase. The proposed authoring architecture, deployment model and integrations need to be defined before comparing a quote; related Adobe applications and add-ons have their own scope. Learn more about Adobe Experience Manager Sites
Who should take a closer look?Enterprise content teams evaluating governed multi-site publishing and Adobe ecosystem integrations
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Visual authoring and editable templates
- ✓Multi-site content management
- ✓Structured and reusable content
Custom commercial subscriptionNo permanent free production plan is advertised on the Sites pricing page. Request a scoped demonstration or commercial proposal; evaluation access is not a free licence.
SitecoreAI is Sitecore’s current platform incorporating the CMS previously marketed as XM Cloud. It brings content management and related marketing capabilities into a shared workspace, while purchased entitlements still determine access. This profile concerns that SaaS platform, rather than assuming it is the same purchase as Sitecore XM or XP. Existing XM Cloud customers do not need to replatform for the SitecoreAI transition; buyers of other Sitecore editions should confirm a separate migration path and delivery architecture. Learn more about SitecoreAI
Who should take a closer look?Enterprise teams evaluating Sitecore’s SaaS content platform and its contracted marketing capabilities
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Cloud content management
- ✓Unified marketing workspace
- ✓Personalisation and search capabilities
Commercial platform; scope by proposalA permanent free production plan was not established in the reviewed official SitecoreAI materials. Obtain commercial and evaluation terms from Sitecore.
Optimizely CMS is a commercial content management product offered through distinct SaaS and PaaS approaches. These are different implementation choices, not interchangeable descriptions of one deployment. A buyer should choose the delivery and development model before assessing editing, governance and integration requirements. The wider Optimizely portfolio includes other products, so CMS evaluation should identify which experimentation, marketing or other capabilities are actually contracted rather than assuming a suite-wide entitlement. Learn more about Optimizely CMS
Who should take a closer look?Organisations comparing commercial CMS delivery models against editorial and development requirements
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Content authoring and publishing
- ✓SaaS and PaaS product options
- ✓Visual editing capabilities
Commercial SaaS or PaaS offeringNo permanent free production CMS plan was established in the official product materials reviewed. Demonstrations and evaluation access should be assessed separately from production licensing.
Xperience by Kentico is Kentico’s current content and digital experience platform, built on ASP.NET Core. It combines website and reusable content management with marketing capabilities and web, email or headless channels. Licensing depends on the channels, tier and services selected; Kentico-managed SaaS and private-cloud hosting are different options. This profile covers Xperience by Kentico rather than the legacy Kentico Xperience 13 product, so older feature lists and trial descriptions should not determine a new purchase. Learn more about Xperience by Kentico
Who should take a closer look?Teams wanting commercial CMS and marketing capabilities with explicit channel and hosting choices
Capabilities to explore
- ✓Reusable structured content hub
- ✓Web, email and headless channels
- ✓Visual editing and templates
Paid licence; local evaluation availableLocal development evaluation is available for 30 days. This is not a permanent free production licence or a free Kentico-managed SaaS plan.
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