I've used WordPress in the past with no major issues, but recently I've run into some problems that are pushing me to explore alternatives. I mostly work with small to medium-sized companies and nonprofit organizations, and I'm trying to find a content management system (CMS) that fits their needs.
Here are my requirements:
1) It should be easy to set up on a shared hosting plan—things like Docker or Node aren't an option for me, but databases are fine.
2) My clients want the ability to edit content themselves. I don't need a full page builder, but having something visual would be helpful, or custom fields that I can pre-set for them would work too.
3) Ideally, it should be free or low-cost. Nonprofits often have tight budgets, and it's tough to justify spending $250 a year on a CMS when WordPress is free. If there's unavoidable cost, I'd prefer it not to involve vendor lock-in, which rules out platforms like Wix that don't allow for easy data transfers.
Finding an alternative is surprisingly challenging. Most options seem too enterprise-focused or have high costs, whereas headless CMSs only complicate things further when my clients expect a straightforward billing process. I'm curious if I'm overlooking any good options or if this niche really is tough to fill.
5 Answers
Have you considered Concrete CMS? It's user-friendly and your clients will appreciate the ease of editing content. Plus, as a developer, you'll find everything you need is well-integrated. Just be aware that understanding its concepts might take a bit of time.
For a low-cost option without vendor lock-in, Kirby could work. It’s file-based (no database to manage), has a visual panel for clients, and just involves a one-time license fee.
Definitely a tricky niche to fill! If you're looking for something less bloated, you might want to check out Kirby CMS or Grav CMS for simple setups on shared hosting. ProcessWire could also be a solid option if you need more flexibility with custom fields.
Joomla could be a great fit! It's free and open-source, has multi-language support, user management, custom fields, and a robust extensions library. Plus, it's straightforward to work with.
There are plenty of open-source alternatives out there that utilize PHP. I don’t get why it's hard for you to find something suitable if you only need basic features.
Related Questions
How to Build a Custom GPT Journalist That Posts Directly to WordPress
Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate Setup Guide
How To Effectively Monetize A Site With Ads