5 Best CMS Software Solutions for Online Businesses

Building a website used to mean hiring a developer, learning to code or spending hours trying to figure out how everything worked.

Thankfully, things have changed.

These days, there are plenty of tools that let you build a website, add products and update your content without needing to know your HTML from your CSS.

The tricky part? Working out which one is right for your business.

Some platforms are great for getting a small website up and running. Others are better suited to businesses with hundreds of products, regular content updates or more complicated online stores.

Before you commit to one, let's look at what a CMS actually does and five popular options worth considering.

What is a CMS?

CMS stands for Content Management System. It's software that lets you create, edit and manage the content on your website without having to write code every time you want to make a change.

Think about a small bakery with a website. Maybe you want to add photos of a new cake, update your opening hours or publish a blog about your latest creations.

With a CMS, you can log in, make those changes and publish them yourself.

Depending on the platform, you could use it to manage:

• Website pages and blog posts
• Product descriptions and images
• Menus and navigation
• Landing pages and promotions
• Other content your customers see online

Is a CMS the same as an ecommerce platform?

Not quite, although the two often overlap.

A CMS helps you manage your website's content. An ecommerce platform gives you the tools to sell online, including product listings, shopping carts, orders and checkout.

Some website builders offer both. Others, like WordPress, can be turned into an online store by adding ecommerce software such as WooCommerce.

And while your platform might let you build a lovely online shop, you'll still need to check how customers can pay. Not every website builder supports every payment gateway.

That's why it's worth thinking about the website and the payment setup together, especially if selling online is your main goal.

What should you look for in a CMS?

Before getting distracted by fancy templates and features you might never use, think about what you'll actually need to do on your website.

How much will it cost?

It's easy to see an affordable monthly subscription and think you've found a bargain.

But don't forget about the extras.

Depending on the platform, you might also need to pay for hosting, a domain name, premium themes, plugins or additional ecommerce features.

If you're selling products, check whether there are transaction fees or other payment charges too.

Rather work out what the complete setup will cost you each month than get a surprise once your store is up and running.

Can you manage it yourself?

If you're running a small business, chances are you've already got enough on your plate.

You probably don't want to call a developer every time you need to update a product price or change a picture.

Look for a CMS that you feel comfortable using. Most platforms offer demos, tutorials or free trials, so spend a little time exploring before committing.

And if you've got staff helping with your website, check whether you can give them access without sharing your own login details.

Does it have the features your business needs?

A photographer and an online clothing store probably won't need the same things from their websites.

If you're selling products, you'll want to look at stock management, product variations, delivery options and order notifications.

If you're offering services, appointment bookings or enquiry forms might be more important.

Make a list of what you actually need before comparing platforms. It'll help you avoid paying for features you'll never use.

Will it help customers find you on Google?

Your website won't be much help if nobody can find it.

A CMS should let you manage basic SEO elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, URLs, headings and image descriptions.

It's also worth checking whether you can create redirects, connect your own domain and publish blog content.

These features won't magically put your website at the top of Google, but they give you more control over how your business appears in search results.

Can customers pay through your website?

If you're planning to sell online, don't leave this question until you've finished building your store.

Check which payment gateways work with your chosen platform and which payment methods customers will be able to use.

For example, iK Pay Gateway is a payment gateway for South African online stores that offers ready-made plugins for WooCommerce, Wix, Shopstar and Savvy. It also offers an API for custom-built websites.

If you're considering Shopify, Squarespace or Webflow, you'll need to check their supported payment providers separately, as iK Pay Gateway doesn't currently offer ready-made integrations for those platforms.

It's much easier to sort this out before you build your store than to discover later that your preferred payment provider isn't supported.

If you want a more detailed look at selecting a store platform, read our guide on how to choose the right ecommerce platform for your business.

1. WordPress and WooCommerce

WordPress is one of the better-known content management systems, and there's a good reason it's so popular.

You can use it to create anything from a simple blog to a full business website, with plenty of themes and plugins available to help you customise things.

If you're looking to sell products online, you can add WooCommerce to turn your WordPress website into an online store.

It lets you manage products, orders, stock and checkout while keeping control over the rest of your website.

WordPress could be a good fit if:

• You want flexibility over how your website looks and works.
• You plan on publishing blogs or other useful content regularly.
• You want to add ecommerce features using WooCommerce.
• You're comfortable learning a little about plugins, hosting and website maintenance.

Something to keep in mind: WordPress gives you plenty of freedom, but you'll also need to keep your website, plugins and security updates under control.

If you're not confident doing that yourself, you might need someone to help.

Also, be aware that WordPress.com and WordPress.org aren't exactly the same. WordPress.com offers hosted plans, while WordPress.org lets you run the software on your own hosting.

2. Shopify

If selling products is the main reason you're building a website, Shopify is worth looking into.

Unlike a traditional CMS that's mainly focused on managing content, Shopify is built around running an online store.

You can upload products, manage orders, track stock and customise your storefront without needing to build everything from scratch.

There are also apps available for things like marketing, delivery and customer service.

Shopify could be a good fit if:

• Your website is mainly going to be an online shop.
• You want product and order management tools in one place.
• You'd prefer not to manage your own hosting.
• You're planning to grow your product range over time.

Something to keep in mind: Shopify has monthly subscription costs, and some apps or features cost extra.

If you're based in South Africa, make sure you check which payment gateways and delivery providers are available before signing up. Not every service will integrate with Shopify.

3. Wix

Want to create a website without getting too involved in the technical stuff?

Wix could be a good place to start.

It has a visual website builder that lets you choose a template and customise your pages. You can add images, text, contact forms and, if you need them, online selling features.

It's particularly handy if you're starting your first website and want to make updates yourself.

Wix could be a good fit if:

• You're building your first business website.
• You'd rather use a visual editor than work with code.
• You want your hosting and website tools together.
• You need a website with the option to sell products online.

Something to keep in mind: While Wix is easy to get started with, some features and ecommerce tools depend on which plan you choose.

If you're planning on accepting payments, check that your chosen plan and payment provider support what you need.

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is another website builder that's popular with businesses that want their websites to look good without having to design everything themselves.

It's known for its templates, making it worth considering if your business relies heavily on visuals.

Think photographers, interior designers, beauty businesses or someone selling a small collection of handmade products.

Along with managing website content, you can add features for selling products and services, depending on your plan.

Squarespace could be a good fit if:

• You want a website with a strong visual focus.
• You'd prefer to start with a professionally designed template.
• You're running a service business or selling a smaller range of products.
• You want to manage your website without hiring a developer.

Something to keep in mind: Squarespace has its own way of doing things, which can limit how much you customise certain features.

If you're selling online in South Africa, double-check which payment and delivery options you can use before committing.

5. Webflow

If you've got a specific idea of how your website should look, Webflow gives you more freedom to bring it to life.

It's a visual website-building platform with a CMS for managing content such as articles, case studies and other pages that follow a similar layout.

It also offers ecommerce features, although setting up and managing them may take a little more planning than with a simpler website builder.

Webflow can be a good choice when you want something more customised and have a bit of design experience, or someone who can help.

Webflow could be a good fit if:

• You want more say over your website's design.
• You're creating a website with lots of different content.
• You have access to someone with website design experience.
• You're happy spending some time learning how the platform works.

Something to keep in mind: Webflow has more of a learning curve than Wix or Squarespace.

And if you're planning on using its ecommerce tools, check the available payment providers, pricing and South African compatibility first.

Which CMS is best for your online business?

That depends on what you need your website to do.

If you want lots of flexibility and plan to publish plenty of content, WordPress is worth considering.

If you're mainly focused on selling products, Shopify might suit you better.

Wix is useful if you're after something easy to manage, while Squarespace could work well for a business where design is a big part of the appeal.

And if you've got a more specific design in mind, Webflow gives you room to customise.

Still unsure? Write down the three things your website absolutely needs to do. Then compare each platform against that list.

It's a much easier way to make a decision than trying to work out which one has the most features.

A little homework now can save you trouble later

Switching website platforms after you've built your store, uploaded hundreds of products and started getting orders isn't exactly anyone's idea of a fun weekend.

So, before you commit, take advantage of any demos or free trials on offer.

Try adding a product, updating a page and checking how your website looks on your phone. Find out what the monthly costs are and, importantly, make sure customers will be able to pay you.

If you're new to building websites, our beginner's guide to building a website is another useful place to start.

You don't need the most expensive platform or every fancy feature available. Just choose something you can manage, afford and use to give your customers a good experience.

The rest can come as your business grows.