WordPress remains the leader in the CMS market, but how does it compare to its competitors?
There are nearly 195 million active websites on the internet today and most of them are powered by a content management system (CMS), like WordPress. A CMS makes web design and content management easy without dealing with code. It also offers a wide range of themes, plugins and third-party tools. These features allow website owners to enhance functionality without requiring advanced technical skills.
There is no denying that WordPress is the clear leader when it comes to CMS market share. While there are other content management systems out there, none really compare to WordPress. But more on that later in the article.
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About CMS
In 2011 around 76% of websites were hand-coded, but by the end of 2022, that number had dropped to about 33%. These days, most websites are powered by a CMS, as more people turn to these platforms for easier and more efficient website management. A CMS (Content Management System) is a platform that lets users create and manage website content without needing to deal with the code. While it makes managing a site easier, building a well-designed, custom website still requires expertise. Popular examples of CMS platforms include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and Joomla.
About WordPress
WordPress has come a long way from being just a blogging tool. It is a full-featured Content Management System (CMS) that powers a huge portion of the web. What started as a simple platform has grown into a go-to solution for businesses looking for something reliable, scalable and flexible for their online presence.
One of the reasons so many businesses choose WordPress is its versatility. Whether you are building a blog, an online store or something more complex, WordPress can handle it all. With its extensive range of plugins, it offers the flexibility to customise your website to meet almost any need.
What are the most popular CMS platforms by market share?
As of 2025, according to W3 Tech’s data, WordPress dominates the CMS market with a 61.7% share, making it by far the most popular platform compared to any other CMS. Shopify holds a 6.7% market share, followed by Wix at 4.9%, Squarespace with 3.2% and Joomla at 2.2%. While platforms like Shopify and Wix have a solid presence, the difference in market share clearly shows how much more popular WordPress is compared to these alternatives.
For the past ten years, the top spot in the CMS market has stayed the same, with WordPress being by far the most popular content management system. It has always been much more widely used than its competitors, keeping a strong lead throughout this time. It doesn’t seem like this will change anytime soon.
Top 5 CMS platforms
We will take a look at the top 5 most popular CMS platforms by market share and explore what makes them stand out from the competition.
WordPress market share – 61.7%
As mentioned above, WordPress holds the top spot in market share. While other platforms have grown over the past 10 years, none have gained as much market share as WordPress. It remains the best platform for building a website. Although it requires more time and effort compared to website builders like Wix and Squarespace, the benefits of WordPress far outweigh the downsides. WordPress continues to grow because of its strong community. As more people join and contribute resources, it is hard to choose other similar CMS platforms. This is why WordPress is still the most popular open-source CMS used today.
Shopify market share – 6.7%
Shopify is an e-commerce platform with a content management system (CMS) that helps store owners create and manage their online shops, including product listings, blog posts and marketing pages.
In the past few years, Shopify has seen a significant boost in popularity, especially between 2020 and 2022. This surge is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many physical stores to close and forced businesses to find easy ways to sell online. Much like WordPress, Shopify provides a variety of third-party apps, plugins and themes, making it easier for users to create high-quality websites.
Wix market share – 4.9%
Wix is the third most popular CMS platform, powering approximately 4.9% of websites that use a CMS, according to W3techs. It is used by 3.4% of all websites.
Wix is a popular website builder, perfect for small businesses that want an easy and affordable way to create a website It is drag-and-drop editor that gives you complete creative control, allowing you to design a website regardless of your skill level. Wix offers a vast array of features and tools to help you get online and grow, but it can be overwhelming, especially for beginners in website building.
Squarespace market share – 3.2%
Squarespace holds a 3.2% share of the market. While it is not as large as some other platforms, it still has a strong presence, especially among smaller businesses and individuals looking for an easy-to-use website builder. This makes sense because it is easy to use and has ready-made templates, which are great for first-time website owners and small businesses.
However, Squarespace has some limits, like fewer options to connect with other tools, which can be a problem for bigger businesses. That is why larger companies often choose more flexible platforms like WordPress, while smaller sites go for hosted platforms like Squarespace or Wix.
Wix’s growth in market share could be because of its large marketing budget. Wix and Squarespace have been closely competing and Wix recently passed Squarespace in overall CMS usage. In 2025, Wix has 4.9% of the market, while Squarespace is at 3.2%. Wix has steadily grown over the years, while Squarespace’s growth has been slower. This shows that Wix and Squarespace are strong competitors, especially in the hosted website builder market.
Joomla market share – 2.2%
Joomla is the fifth most popular CMS platform, with a market share of 2.2%. It is a well-known choice for many people looking to build websites. Joomla is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that is used to create websites. Joomla has strong features, but it also has some downsides, like slower performance on simpler websites and a complex interface that can be tough for new users. Users might also have problems with plugins, as some aren’t updated regularly, which can cause security risks or issues with system.
Our experience with WordPress
At our WordPress web design agency, it is our top choice for building websites. We have been using WordPress for years and have found it to be a reliable and flexible platform for building all kinds of websites. With its wide range of plugins and customisation options, it allows us to create websites that perfectly match our client’s needs. Over time we have seen how WordPress continues to do well, offering features and growth potential that help businesses succeed online.
Conclusion – WordPress vs. competitors
In conclusion, while WordPress is the most popular CMS, it has strong competitors like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify and Joomla. Each of these platforms offers different features, such as ease of use, flexibility or lower costs, which make them appealing to different users. However, WordPress still stands out because of its wide range of plugins, themes and customisation options. The best CMS for you will depend on your specific needs, skills and goals.
In addition to our WordPress development service, we also offer comprehensive WordPress maintenance services. Feel free to contact us to learn how we can help keep your website running smoothly and securely.
