When it comes to content management systems, or CMS as most of us know them, it can be a difficult decision choosing which one is best for you and your business. With so many systems on offer, and all of them offering different functionality, tools, and solutions, it’s no wonder why business decision-makers lose sleep over it. Is it easy to use? Does it integrate easily? What’s the scalability of the CMS? These are just some of the questions you’re most probably asking web developers and other businesses alike to help decide which CMS to go for.
Team leader Sian Simms and Developer Ellis Fairclough go head to head to battle it out to give you the pros and cons of each CMS to help you decide which route to take.
In the BLUE corner – WordPress
Ellis Fairclough – Developer
Round #1: Usability
The biggest selling point of WordPress is its usability. As it started as a blogging platform, it was designed for users with minimal experience in content management and website development. It has a great range of templates and plugins that can be used to create a brochure website that looks professional without the need of a web developer (depending on the functionality you need) and the hefty price that comes with one.
Round #2: Customisation & plugins
As we have already mentioned, WordPress is famous for its choice of plugins. You can find an add-on for almost anything you need, including a great selection of dedicated SEO plugins which are all Google-approved to help your site to rank more highly in search engine results.
Round #3: Security & updates
The flipside to the abundance of plugins is the potential security risks they pose. Whether it’s half-baked updates, improper installation or poor design, plugins can make your website vulnerable to hackers. That’s why we always recommend only using trusted plugins and, if you’re not sure, always get a website expert to help you to install them.
The verdict…
If you need a brochure website that’s quick to set up and is easy to use, we recommend WordPress. This CMS is currently regarded as the most popular platform online, with 30% of all websites on the internet built on it. Thanks to it being widely- used and open source with a huge catalogue of plugins, it’s perfect for novices looking to get a website live and up and running in no time.
In the RED corner – Umbraco
Sian Simms – Frontend Team Leader
Round #1: Usability
When it comes to usability, Umbraco is a bit more complex than WordPress. Since it was designed as a CMS for developers, Umbraco is more technical and requires some getting used to before you’re fully acquainted and confident with using its templates. The great news is that once you’ve learned the digital ropes, there’s so much you can do!
Round #2: Customisation & plugins
Unlike WordPress, Umbraco’s extensions are coded. Although they aren’t as quick and easy as installing a plugin, it does mean that they are fully customisable and don’t have the restrictions of a pre-built add-on. Provided that you have a trusted team of developers (*cough, cough*), you can customise the platform to perform exactly how you want it to; effectively and efficiently.
Round #3: Security & updates
Umbraco, on the other hand, has a tight grip on security. Between developers across the globe constantly collaborating to make sure that the platform is up to scratch, and Microsoft’s state-of-the-art security firm running penetration tests bi-annually, your CMS is safe and secure from cyber-attacks.
The verdict…
If you’re looking to create a website that has a lot of features and page layouts, then Umbraco is a robust CMS solution. It’s based on .NET and is super user-friendly, especially on websites that have copious amounts of content, which is why a lot of companies take advantage of its customisable abilities. Umbraco is undoubtedly the champion for companies that value customisation and limitless functionalities. The proof is in the pudding – you only have to look at the big businesses like Warner Bros, Barclays, and Microsoft who are using Umbraco to build their empires.
Conclusion:
What CMS to use?
If you’re in the process of building a new website or changing platforms, then you have most likely heard of WordPress and Umbraco. These are two systems that are often pitted against each other, which isn’t surprising considering they are both widely-used, relatively accessible and open source software.
We rallied our developers to help give an encompassing view of each of them and to determine which CMS comes out on top, but most importantly, to help you decide which one is best for you and your business.
The truth of the matter is, everybody’s a winner! We proudly offer websites built on both WordPress and Umbraco, so we think both of these platforms are great. It’s your specific requirements that determine which one is best for you.
Still can’t decide? Talk to us about what you’re trying to achieve and we’ll help you to find the best solution!
If you’re ready to take the next step in your digital ambitions and to see how we can help with your new project, speak to one of our experts today via the contact form below.