WordPress, Squarespace or Storyblok? The CMS comparative guide you need to make the right choice for your tech business

In this present era of rapid technological and AI advancement, tech businesses are in the box seat for growth.

Just think about it.

5.1 billion people are now Internet users - 67% of the global population. This means there are almost 1 billion more Internet users now than there were back in 2019 (4.3 billion). 

Following the disruption of COVID and the subsequent acceleration of digital adoption, consumers and business owners are primed for new apps, platforms and solutions.

But is your website set up to help you take advantage of this new environment? Can your existing Content Management System (CMS) support the growing demands of your target market?

With client expectations growing, it’s vital to make a great first impression with a fast, responsive and robust website. This means it’s time to re-evaluate your existing website and see if your current CMS is still fit for purpose.

Why it’s time to re-evaluate your website

If it’s been a few years since you last updated your website, now’s a good time to take action. With digital transformation reaching every sector, if your site is slow, outdated or not optimised for your target audience, it’s a good bet you’re missing out on new business and access to emerging markets.

Here are four reasons why your current website may no longer be fit for purpose:

1. Client expectations - with digital transformation driven by customer demand for easier and more timely responses, clients may not get the smooth user experience they’ve come to expect with an older website.

2. Cybersecurity - the emergence of more sophisticated security threats is seeing older sites more vulnerable to attacks, leaving your site (and your business) open to reputational and economic harm.

3. Search ranking - recent Google updates are placing more emphasis on useful content and a good user experience as ranking factors, placing pressure on older and slower sites to keep up.

4. AI - more advanced technology is opening up opportunities to harness AI and apps to strengthen website speed and security, something that older sites may struggle to fully utilise.

If any of these issues strike a chord with you, it’s time to consider upgrading your website. This involves not only reviewing your branding and design - it also means reviewing CMS options to see which one best suits the needs of your tech business.

There are a growing number of options to choose from - hence this comprehensive CMS comparative guide. However, while CMS platforms are plentiful, they pretty much all fall into 3 major options - making it much easier to choose the right one for your tech business.

What are the 3 main CMS options for tech businesses?

While it seems like a new player comes on the scene each month, CMS platforms generally fall into three main categories:

• Drag and Drop - a user-friendly solution to get you set up quickly (e.g. Squarespace, Wix).

• Monolithic - a traditional CMS where the front-end and back-end layers are coupled (e.g. WordPress).

• Headless - a CMS system that separates the front end from the back end for more flexibility (e.g. Storyblok).

Drag and Drop

This is a user-friendly solution to get you set up quickly - think Squarespace and Wix. Drag and Drop CMS systems take care of the back-end coding for you, streamlining the time and effort required to build a new site. You simply log in, drag and drop to create your design, load up your content and pay a monthly subscription for hosting and continued access. 

This is a simple solution for small teams who don’t want the stress of maintaining a complex website. However, this simplicity does come at the cost of customisation as you don’t have access to the back-end code. You’re also tied to the platform thanks to your hosting plan.

If you have a larger team, drag-and-drop solutions don’t offer the same level of backup or review stages as their monolithic or headless counterparts. This could eventually lead to issues and confusion when multiple parties make updates to the site. 

PROS: Easy to set up, quick to launch, user-friendly to maintain and update, hosting included.

CONS: Stuck to one platform, limited customisation, monthly subscription fee, poor backup options, limited SEO tools.

Monolithic

Sites like WordPress fall under the monolithic banner, which uses open-source software to support a variety of websites. Free to start with, any add-ons like hosting and premium themes will increase your running costs. However, this option gives you more control, allowing you to install modules (plug-ins) to customise all aspects of your site. 

Every time someone accesses a page, a monolithic CMS runs software on the database to load that page. This means you need good caching options to manage this load and maintain site speed. To get the most from this system (which can sometimes feel outdated), an IT team is required - something not every small business has on-site.

PROS: More customisation, thousands of plug-ins, manage own hosting, drag and drop builder, open-source platform, built-in SEO tools.

CONS: Costs can add up, need good caching, coding needed for advanced customisation, and no dedicated customer support.

Headless

Sites like Storyblok separate the back end and the front end of your site to improve speed, maximise security and reduce storage constraints. This gives you the ultimate flexibility to integrate with any platform and publish everywhere.

This “headless” approach serves several purposes. 

First, it gives you more options to play with. You are not confined by the limitations of WordPress, Wix or Squarespace. This means you can choose best-of-breed systems or create your own solution for ultimate control and customisation.

Second, separating the front end from the back enhances the speed of your site. With both ends operating independently of each other, latency is reduced, helping to deliver a lightning-fast site for a better customer experience.

Static vs dynamic page loads

Third, with both ends run separately, this offers a super-secure solution. As no one has access to both ends, the risk of a successful cyberattack is quite low - which is a big plus for tech businesses looking to protect their reputation with clients.

PROS: Dedicated support team, visual editor, enhanced security, faster site speed, unlimited customisation, seamless integration with apps.

CONS: Steep learning curve, requires coding experience, integration options can be overwhelming. 

CMS comparative guide for tech businesses

So, which CMS platform is the best fit for your tech business as you get ready to embark on your website redesign process? 

Unsurprisingly, there are pros and cons to each option and it will depend on various factors, including the size of your business, internal resourcing and your future business plans. 

To help you get started, the CMS comparative table below sets out the main features of each CMS type so you have all the information you need to make the right decision.

Want to chat more?
Let's Talk