Stop CMS vs CMS—Use a Decision Matrix to Find Your Best Fit

Confused by all the CMS choices out there? If you’ve explored side-by-side CMS comparisons and found them overwhelming, you’re not alone—and there’s a better way forward. Choosing a content management system (CMS) often feels like a battle of brands—WordPress vs TYPO3, Headless vs Traditional, Drupal vs Sitecore. But here’s the truth: there’s no universal winner.

If you’ve explored CMS comparison guides and still felt unsure, you’re not alone. With so many options and evolving features, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The good news? There’s a better way.

In this blog, we introduce a smarter, context-driven approach that focuses on your goals, your team, and your roadmap—so you can confidently choose the CMS that truly fits your needs.

If you want to explore more about CMS comparisons, we recommend reading our in-depth blogs like :

• TYPO3 vs Joomla
• TYPO3 vs WordPress

So, without waiting any longer—let’s dive right in!

A Content Management System (CMS) is software that helps you create, manage, and publish content on a website—without needing to code.

Popular CMS platforms include TYPO3, WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Some CMSs are traditional (everything in one place), while others are headless (content is managed separately and sent to websites, apps, or devices via API).

In short, a CMS makes it easy for anyone—marketers, editors, developers—to manage a website efficiently.

Back in 2019–2022 our most‑read articles pitted TYPO3 against WordPress, Joomla and so on! or other platforms. They ranked well, but they also framed the conversation as a zero‑sum game: pick the winner, ditch the rest.

After hundreds of client projects (and miles of hindsight) we’ve learned that choosing a content‑management system is less like Top Trumps, more like assembling a toolbox. A hammer isn’t “better” than a screwdriver; it’s either right or wrong for the job at hand. The same is true for TYPO3, WordPress, Sitecore, Webflow or a headless stack.

1. Single “winner” logic masks nuance - Your shortlist should stem from business goals, team skills, compliance and growth trajectory       – not a league table. 

Pixelmatters puts it bluntly: “Selecting a CMS is not about choosing the ‘best’ platform, but the one that aligns with your team’s context, priorities and goals.” (pixelmatters.com)

2. CMS Recommendations Get Outdated Fast

The CMS landscape changes quickly:

• New licensing models
• Plugin ecosystems shift
• Hosting and security standards evolve

What worked last year might not work today. “Revisit your requirements and re-score platforms often.” — O8 Agency (2025 CMS Guide)

3. Architecture Comes First—Not the Tool Name

Most modern teams now choose architecture before choosing a product. That means deciding between:

• Traditional / Coupled CMS
• Headless CMS
• Hybrid / Decoupled CMS

4. Market Share Doesn’t Mean It’s Right for You

Just because a CMS is popular doesn’t mean it fits your needs.

•    WordPress powers 43.4% of the web but 56% of websites choose something else

Popularity ≠ suitability. Choose what works for your context. — W3Techs.com

5. There’s No One-Size-Fits-All CMS

Every organization has different:

• Team structures
• Publishing workflows
• Security or compliance goals
• Language and governance needs

“The best CMS is the one that fits your strategy, not someone else’s.” — Dev.to (2025 CMS Roundup)

6. Buyers Want Frameworks, Not Verdicts

Teams don’t want to be told what’s best—they want tools to figure it out themselves. A decision matrix or pilot sprint helps them:

• Rank CMS options based on actual needs
• Run proof-of-concepts before choosing
• Align marketing, IT, and business users

1. Stakeholder matrix

Business, marketing, IT/DevOps, security/legal each rank their top 8‑10 requirements (scored 1‑5). Average the totals and you’ll see which criteria truly matter.

2. Critical factors to score - 

• Editor autonomy – WYSIWYG freedom vs governed workflows
• Total cost of ownership – licences, cloud bills, upgrades, LTS support
• Ecosystem & community – extension depth, vendor vitality, official partners.
• Security / compliance – GDPR, ISO 27001, accessibility (WCAG 2.2)
• Integration fit – ERP, CRM, PIM, marketing automation
• Scalability & performance – caching, multi‑site, global CDNs
• Localisation & governance – multi‑language, permissions, audit trail

3. Weighted score‑card 

Build a spreadsheet with criteria as rows, weight % in column B, and 1‑to‑5 scores across shortlisted platforms. Multiply, sum, sort. (Drop us a note if you’d like the downloadable template.)

4. Reality check → pilot
Short‑list two platforms, run a two‑week proof‑of‑concept with a real content model, real editors and one live integration. Measure time‑to‑publish and performance, not marketing claims.

Real-World Examples: Choosing the Right CMS

1. German Public Sector Website

A government agency chose TYPO3 v12 for its stability, accessibility features, and strong support for German regulations. Legal compliance and localization needs outweighed CMS popularity.

2. Mid-Size Non-Profit Organization

A mid-size nonprofit organization was struggling with limited control over user roles and translation workflows. To solve this, they migrated from WordPress to TYPO3. TYPO3 offered more advanced user permissions and better support for managing content in multiple languages. The transition didn’t increase their hosting costs, making it both a functional and budget-friendly upgrade. In this case, the ability to manage governance and translations was more important than the number of available plugins.

3. Global Lifestyle Brand

Meanwhile, a global lifestyle brand needed to publish content across many channels—including their website, mobile app, and in-store kiosks. They adopted a headless setup using Next.js and Contentful. This allowed their team to create content once and deliver it everywhere. While they gave up some of the editing comfort that comes with traditional CMS platforms, they gained the flexibility needed for a true omnichannel experience. For them, agility and reach were more important than built-in editorial tools.

• 43.4 % of all websites run WordPress, but 28.9 % still run no CMS at all – proof that share alone doesn’t dictate suitability. (w3techs.com)
• 0.4 % overall web share for TYPO3 translates to 0.9 % inside the global Top‑1 M sites – concentrated in enterprise, DACH‑region and public‑sector niches. (w3techs.com)
   

Side‑by‑side CMS battles made sense when the web was young and options were few. In 2025, context beats comparison:

• Define outcomes, not favorites.
• Short‑list by architecture fit, then score with a stakeholder matrix.
• Prove it in a fortnight, using your own content and constraints.

Ready to get started?

• Download our CMS Decision‑Matrix template (excel) – or
• Book a 30‑min strategy call with the T3Planet team.

Let’s replace “Which CMS is best?” with “Which CMS is best for you?” – and build websites that serve users, not verdicts.