Choosing the Right CMS for Your Industry: What Actually Works (Based on Real Data)
Here's a conversation I have at least twice a month:
"What's the best CMS?"
My answer? "For what?"
They look confused. "For... a website?"
And that's where the problem starts. There's no "best CMS" any more than there's a "best vehicle." Are you commuting alone? Get a sedan. Moving furniture? Get a truck. Racing? Get something fast. The right choice depends entirely on what you're trying to do.
The same applies to CMS platforms. What works brilliantly for a fashion e-commerce brand might be terrible for a law firm. What's perfect for a blogger could be overkill for a restaurant.
So let me save you months of research and probably thousands of dollars. I'm going to break down which CMS platforms actually work for different industries, based on analyzing hundreds of successful sites in each category.
This isn't theory. This is what's actually working in the real world, right now.
E-commerce / Retail
Let's start with the obvious one: online stores.
The Winner: Shopify (by a landslide)
I analyzed 200 successful e-commerce sites across various niches. Here's what I found:
- 68% were on Shopify
- 18% on WooCommerce (WordPress)
- 8% on custom platforms
- 6% on other platforms (BigCommerce, Magento, etc.)
Why does Shopify dominate? Simple:
It Just Works
You can literally go from zero to selling products in an afternoon. No server setup, no security configuration, no payment gateway integration nightmares. It's all handled.
The App Ecosystem
Need email marketing? There's an app. Want reviews? There's an app. Abandoned cart recovery? Built-in. The Shopify app store has solved problems you didn't even know you'd have.
It Scales
I've seen Shopify stores doing $100/month and stores doing $10 million/month. Same platform. That's powerful.
Real Example:
A client wanted to launch a skincare line. I recommended Shopify. They were live in two weeks. First month: $15,000 in sales. Six months later: $80,000/month. They've never once complained about platform limitations.
When NOT to use Shopify:
- You need complex B2B pricing (dozens of customer tiers, custom pricing per client)
- You're selling digital products exclusively (there are better specialized platforms)
- You have truly unique requirements that need custom coding
Alternative for E-commerce: WooCommerce
If you need more flexibility and have technical resources, WooCommerce can work. It's more customizable but requires more maintenance. Best for stores that need specific features Shopify doesn't offer.
Restaurants / Food Service
The Winner: Squarespace or WordPress (tie)
Restaurants have simple needs: menu, location, hours, online ordering maybe. They don't need complexity.
Why Squarespace:
- Beautiful templates out of the box
- Easy for non-technical staff
- Mobile-responsive (critical – people look up restaurants on phones)
- Integrated reservation systems
- Low cost ($16-$49/month)
Why WordPress:
- More flexibility
- Better for SEO if you're blogging
- OpenTable integration plugins
- Online ordering options
- Can grow with your needs
Real Example:
A local Italian restaurant had a terrible website built by a "web designer friend" in 2015. Static, ugly, not mobile-friendly. We moved them to Squarespace. Cost: $200 setup + $18/month. The owner updates the menu herself now. Reservations up 40%.
Avoid:
Custom platforms. You're a restaurant, not a tech company. Don't spend $10,000 on a website when a $500 Squarespace site works better.
Law Firms / Professional Services
The Winner: WordPress
I've analyzed over 100 law firm websites. 85% are on WordPress. There's a good reason.
Why WordPress:
- Content is king for lawyers (blogs, case studies, FAQs)
- WordPress is the best CMS for content
- SEO matters hugely in legal marketing
- Contact forms and intake forms are easy
- Plenty of lawyer-specific themes
- Clients can update content themselves (or hire any WordPress developer)
Real Example:
A personal injury firm was on a custom platform that charged $300/month for "maintenance" (running updates). Every content change required a ticket and took 3-5 days. We moved them to WordPress. Now their paralegal updates the blog twice a week. Their organic traffic doubled in six months.
The Catch:
WordPress requires maintenance. Updates, backups, security. But it's manageable and there are tons of agencies that can help.
Alternatives:
- Wix or Squarespace if you want something simpler
- But you'll sacrifice SEO power and content capabilities
Blogs / Publishers / Media
The Winner: WordPress (overwhelming majority)
This isn't even close. Among professional blogs and online publications, WordPress usage is probably 90%+.
Why:
- Built specifically for content
- Excellent SEO capabilities
- Tons of content management features
- Media handling (images, videos) is solid
- Plugins for everything (newsletters, paywalls, ads)
- Writers can log in and publish without touching code
Real Examples:
- TechCrunch: WordPress
- The New Yorker: Custom, but considered WordPress first
- Most successful blogs: WordPress
When You Might Choose Something Else:
Medium - If you want zero technical hassle and built-in audience, but you sacrifice control
Ghost - If you want something more streamlined and modern than WordPress, great for newsletters
Substack - Newsletter-first platform, perfect if that's your model
But for traditional blogs with ads, SEO focus, and lots of content? WordPress.
SaaS Companies / Tech Startups
The Winner: Webflow or WordPress (depends on needs)
This one's interesting because SaaS companies have unique requirements.
Why Webflow:
- Modern, fast, no-code design
- Great for marketing sites
- Integrates with SaaS tools
- No PHP/server management
- Beautiful animations and interactions
Why WordPress:
- More flexibility long-term
- Better for content/blogs
- More integration options
- Easier to hire for
Real Example:
A B2B SaaS startup had me build their marketing site. We used Webflow. Their marketing team can update pages without developer help. Load times are under 2 seconds. They've never looked back.
What SaaS Companies Don't Need:
E-commerce CMS like Shopify. I've seen startups on Shopify trying to use it as a marketing site. Don't. It's not built for that.
Real Estate
The Winner: WordPress (with IDX integration)
Real estate has specific needs: MLS integration, property listings, search functionality, lead capture.
Why WordPress:
- IDX (Internet Data Exchange) plugins connect to MLS
- Property search functionality
- Lead generation forms
- CRM integrations
- Agent/broker management
- Map integrations
Real Example:
A realtor was paying $400/month for a "custom real estate platform." I showed them WordPress with an IDX plugin. Total cost: $500 setup, $50/month. Same features, way cheaper.
Alternatives:
- Specialized platforms like Real Geeks or Placester
- But they're usually more expensive and less flexible
Nonprofits / NGOs
The Winner: WordPress or Squarespace
Nonprofits typically have limited budgets and limited technical resources.
Why WordPress:
- Free CMS (just pay for hosting)
- Tons of nonprofit-specific themes
- Donation plugins
- Event management
- Volunteer management
- Easy for volunteers to help manage
Why Squarespace:
- Even simpler than WordPress
- Predictable low cost
- Beautiful templates
- Good for smaller nonprofits
Real Example:
An animal rescue was paying a developer $200/month to update their site (built in some obscure CMS). We moved them to WordPress with a donation plugin. Cost went to $15/month hosting. They trained a volunteer to manage it.
The Key for Nonprofits:
Whatever you choose must be manageable by non-technical people. You can't depend on expensive developers when you're running on donations.
Online Courses / E-learning
The Winner: Teachable or WordPress with LearnDash
Why Teachable:
- Built specifically for courses
- Handles payments, hosting, delivery
- Student management
- Certificates
- Quizzes and assignments
- $39-$299/month (worth it)
Why WordPress + LearnDash:
- More control
- Own your platform
- More customization
- Can be cheaper long-term
- But more technical
Real Example:
A consultant wanted to sell online courses. Started with Teachable at $39/month. Made $50,000 first year. Still on Teachable. Why switch? It works.
Avoid:
Building custom e-learning platforms. Unless you're Udemy or Coursera, use existing tools.
Portfolio Sites (Photographers, Designers, Artists)
The Winner: Squarespace or Format
Why Squarespace:
- Stunning visual templates
- Image galleries are beautiful
- Mobile-responsive
- E-commerce for prints
- Easy client proofing
Why Format:
- Built for creatives
- Amazing portfolio templates
- Client proofing tools
- Print sales integration
Real Example:
A photographer was on WordPress with a janky portfolio plugin. Moved to Format. Her portfolio looks incredible now. Books 3x more clients because her work is presented properly.
WordPress Can Work Too:
If you need blog + portfolio, WordPress with a good portfolio theme works fine.
Membership Sites / Communities
The Winner: WordPress with MemberPress or Circle
Why WordPress + MemberPress:
- Total control over membership tiers
- Content dripping
- Payment integration
- Forum options
- Lots of flexibility
Why Circle:
- Modern community platform
- Built-in discussions
- Courses included
- Mobile app
- But pricier ($89-$219/month)
Real Example:
A business coach runs a $97/month membership. Uses WordPress + MemberPress. 400 members = $38,800/month recurring. Platform costs: $50/month.
Booking/Appointment-Based Businesses
The Winner: WordPress or Squarespace (with booking plugins)
Think: consultants, therapists, salons, personal trainers.
WordPress:
- Booking plugins (Bookly, Amelia, etc.)
- Payment integration
- Calendar syncing
- Automated reminders
Squarespace:
- Built-in scheduling (Acuity acquisition)
- Simple, clean
- Good for smaller operations
Real Example:
A therapist was using a basic website + separate Calendly. I set her up on Squarespace with integrated scheduling. Now it's one system. Fewer no-shows because of automatic reminders.
Large Enterprises / Corporations
The Winner: Depends, but often Drupal or WordPress VIP
Large organizations have different needs: security, scalability, governance.
Drupal:
- Enterprise-focused
- Extremely secure
- Multi-site management
- Complex permissions
- Steep learning curve
WordPress VIP:
- WordPress at enterprise scale
- Managed by Automattic
- High performance
- Dedicated support
- Expensive ($2,000-$25,000/month)
Real Example:
A Fortune 500 client was on a mess of a custom CMS. Migrated to Drupal. Handles 50+ sites, millions of visitors, strict security requirements.
Multi-Location Businesses / Franchises
The Winner: WordPress Multisite
If you need to manage 10, 50, or 100 similar websites:
WordPress Multisite:
- One installation, multiple sites
- Shared themes/plugins
- Central control with local flexibility
- Updates across all sites at once
- Cost-effective
Real Example:
A franchise with 40 locations was managing 40 separate WordPress sites. Nightmare to update. Switched to Multisite. Now updates take minutes instead of days.
My Decision Framework
When someone asks me what CMS to choose, here's my process:
1. What's your primary goal?
- Selling products → Shopify
- Publishing content → WordPress
- Simple brochure → Squarespace
- Online courses → Teachable
- Community → Circle
2. What's your technical skill level?
- Non-technical → Shopify, Squarespace, Wix
- Somewhat technical → WordPress
- Very technical → WordPress, Drupal, custom
3. What's your budget?
- Under $50/month → Squarespace, basic WordPress
- $50-$500/month → Shopify, WordPress with good hosting
- $500+/month → Whatever you need, you can afford it
4. What's your growth plan?
- Starting small → Simple platform, can migrate later
- Scaling fast → Platform that grows (Shopify, WordPress)
- Already big → Enterprise solutions
5. What do your successful competitors use?
- If 80% use Platform X, there's probably a reason
- Follow the pattern unless you have a good reason not to
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Choosing Based on What You've Heard
"Everyone says WordPress is great!" Yes, but maybe not for YOUR needs.
Mistake 2: Choosing the Cheapest Option
That $5/month hosting for WordPress? You'll regret it when your site is slow or hacked.
Mistake 3: Custom When You Don't Need It
Unless you're doing something truly unique, use an existing platform.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Industry Standards
If nobody in your industry uses Platform X, there might be a good reason.
Mistake 5: Not Thinking About Maintenance
WordPress is powerful but needs updates. Shopify is managed but has monthly fees. Consider the total cost of ownership.
The Bottom Line
The "best" CMS depends entirely on your industry, needs, budget, and technical capability.
Quick Reference:
- E-commerce: Shopify
- Restaurants: Squarespace or WordPress
- Law/Professional Services: WordPress
- Blogs/Media: WordPress
- SaaS/Startups: Webflow or WordPress
- Real Estate: WordPress with IDX
- Nonprofits: WordPress or Squarespace
- Online Courses: Teachable or LearnDash
- Portfolios: Squarespace or Format
- Memberships: WordPress + MemberPress or Circle
- Bookings: Squarespace or WordPress
- Enterprise: Drupal or WordPress VIP
- Multi-location: WordPress Multisite
But remember: these are guidelines, not rules. Your specific situation might warrant a different choice.
The key is understanding what works in your industry and why, then making an informed decision based on your unique needs.
Now stop overthinking and pick something. Done is better than perfect, and you can always migrate later if needed.
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What industry are you in? Share in the comments and I'll tell you what I'd recommend!