Key Takeaways

  • WordPress remains the global leader, powering 43.3% of all websites, but its CMS share dropped from 65.2% (2022) to 60.7% (2025).
  • SaaS-based CMS platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace are rapidly growing, appealing to small and mid-sized businesses seeking simplicity and managed hosting.
  • Over 71% of all websites now use a CMS, representing more than 200 million active sites globally.
  • Open-source CMSs (e.g., Joomla, Drupal) continue to decline, replaced by SaaS solutions offering faster deployment and lower maintenance.
  • Strategic CMS selection now directly impacts SEO, performance, scalability, and overall digital competitiveness.

The Current CMS Landscape (October 2025)

The content management system (CMS) market is undergoing one of its biggest shifts in two decades.
While WordPress continues to dominate, its long reign is no longer unchallenged. SaaS builders—notably Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace—are gaining serious traction.

According to W3Techs (October 2025), 71.4% of all websites now use a CMS. With Netcraft reporting 281 million domains, that equates to roughly 200 million CMS-powered websites.

Top 10 CMS by Market Share (October 2025)

Rank CMS Type Market Share (CMS only) Usage (All Sites)
1 WordPress Open Source 60.7% 43.3%
2 Shopify SaaS 6.8% 4.8%
3 Wix SaaS 5.7% 4.1%
4 Squarespace SaaS 3.4% 2.4%
5 Joomla Open Source 2.0% 1.4%
6 Webflow SaaS 1.2% 0.9%
7 Drupal Open Source 1.1% 0.8%
8 Tilda SaaS 1.1% 0.8%
9 Adobe Systems Open Source 1.0% 0.7%
10 Duda SaaS 1.0% 0.7%

Source: W3Techs, October 2025

WordPress: The End Of Unquestioned Dominance

For years, WordPress has been synonymous with website creation. It still powers over 43% of all known websites—but its market share has fallen nearly seven percentage points since 2022.

Once celebrated for its flexibility and ecosystem of themes and plugins, WordPress now faces challenges in usability, maintenance, and security management.
While its open-source nature remains attractive to developers, SaaS CMS options offer simplicity and built-in hosting, reducing technical overhead for growing businesses.

Key Insight:

WordPress is no longer growing by default—it’s competing in a diversified market where convenience often beats customization.

SaaS Platforms On The Rise

Shopify

With 6.8% market share (4.8% of all websites), Shopify has become the second most popular CMS globally. Its performance in Core Web Vitals and reliability for ecommerce has made it a trusted choice for enterprise and SMBs alike.

Shopify’s growth trajectory:

  • Pandemic surge: +52.9% (2020–2021)
  • Continued expansion: +26.9% (2021–2022)
  • Stabilized at 6.8% in 2025

Shopify’s strength lies in its turnkey scalability—a unified platform handling hosting, payments, and SEO at once.

Wix

Wix’s share climbed to 4.1% of all websites, reflecting its popularity among small businesses and creative professionals.
Its 32.6% growth from 2024 to 2025 demonstrates that easy-to-use builders are capturing a large segment of the market once dominated by WordPress.

Executives increasingly view Wix as a mid-market solution—a design-friendly CMS that balances customization and simplicity.

Squarespace

Squarespace’s clean design and low maintenance have pushed its share to 3.4% of CMS installs.
It now powers 2.4% of all websites, up nearly 10% year-over-year.

Squarespace’s appeal lies in its aesthetic-first experience—perfect for creators and SMBs who prioritize design over deep customization.

Webflow and Tilda

Webflow (1.2%) and Tilda (1.1%) are gaining visibility among designers and agencies, offering hybrid control: visual editing with underlying code flexibility.
Webflow’s market share has doubled since 2023, driven by demand for developer-lite workflows and performance-focused design tools.

Open-Source Platforms in Decline

The once-strong trio of WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal now shows a clear hierarchy shift.

  • Joomla fell to 2.0% of CMS installs, down 20% since 2024.
  • Drupal dropped by 31%, now at 1.1%.
  • Combined, they hold just over 3%, compared to 15% in 2014.

Both platforms struggled to modernize their UI/UX and attract non-technical users, leading to migration toward managed builders.

The “No CMS” Decline

Only 28.6% of websites now operate without a CMS—down nearly 3% from last year.
This highlights an industry-wide shift toward structured, scalable platforms.
Custom-coded websites are fading as businesses embrace template-driven, drag-and-drop environments that reduce development complexity.

Elementor And WooCommerce: The Hidden Giants

While not standalone CMSs, Elementor and WooCommerce wield enormous influence within WordPress.

  • Elementor is installed on 18.1% of CMS-based websites, outpacing Wix and Squarespace combined.
  • WooCommerce, powering 8.9% of all sites, dominates the ecommerce CMS market with 12.4% share, surpassing Shopify and all other platforms combined.

Together, they highlight WordPress’s adaptability—but also its dependency on a sprawling plugin ecosystem.

Why CMS Market Share Matters

The evolving CMS landscape isn’t just a numbers game—it shapes the web’s technical and strategic foundations.

  1. SEO Impact: Different CMSs handle site architecture, sitemaps, and metadata differently, influencing search visibility.
  2. Security & Maintenance: SaaS systems offer managed security, while open-source tools require manual updates.
  3. Performance & Core Web Vitals: Shopify and Webflow excel in page speed benchmarks, critical for SEO success.
  4. Cost Efficiency: SaaS builders lower setup and maintenance costs, but reduce backend control.
  5. Scalability: WordPress remains the best for enterprise flexibility, while SaaS systems win in ease-of-deployment.

Did You Know?

In 2018, WordPress held the same CMS share (60.7%) it does today. After peaking during the pandemic, it has effectively reset to pre-2020 levels.

Conclusion

The CMS market in 2025 marks a strategic inflection point.
WordPress is still the global leader—but its decline signals a maturing ecosystem where ease of use, automation, and managed hosting define the next growth frontier.

For business leaders, marketers, and SEO professionals, the takeaway is clear:
Diversify your platform expertise.
The future of web publishing is plural, SaaS-driven, and performance-optimized.

FAQs

What CMS has the largest market share in 2025?

WordPress leads with 43.3% of all websites and 60.7% of sites using a CMS.

Which CMS is growing the fastest?

Wix grew the fastest from 2024 to 2025 (+32.6%), followed by Shopify and Squarespace.

Is Joomla still relevant?

Joomla retains a small, loyal base but has fallen to 2.0% market share—down sharply from its 2010s peak.

What CMS is best for SEO?

WordPress remains the most flexible for SEO, though Shopify and Webflow perform better in Core Web Vitals benchmarks.

Should I switch from WordPress to a SaaS CMS?

If you prioritize simplicity, uptime, and lower maintenance, SaaS CMS options like Shopify or Wix can be strong alternatives.

References