In the course of the previous few months, we’ve been testing the Web optimization capabilities of the world’s hottest CMS techniques in 2024.
We’ve been revealing the outcomes of our particular person checks as we go. And it’s protected to say that some CMS techniques carried out higher than others.
This publish is an replace of an analogous check we did 3 years in the past, the place we additionally answered the query of which CMS is finest for Web optimization.
Again then, WordPress was the clear winner. However is that this nonetheless the case?
Now it’s time to get to the nitty gritty, as we:
- examine the CMS techniques we examined head-to-head, and
- reveal the CMS we consider would be the finest Web optimization selection for content-based websites in 2024
If you wish to know why we got here to our conclusions, then we’ve received all the information you want developing…
However hey, we all know you is perhaps busy. So for those who’re simply searching for a fast reply, right here it’s!
Fast solutions
One of the best CMS for Web optimization proper now
One of the best CMS for Web optimization in 2024 can be the world’s hottest: WordPress. This was the case once we examined them three years in the past too, so it’s not likely a shock.
Nevertheless, Joomla (significantly model 5) runs it shut. And though Joomla already did very nicely in our final check, it appears to have improved fairly a bit since then.
However when mixed with the YOAST Web optimization plugin, WordPress’s out-of-the-box pace, full management over all on-page Web optimization fundamentals, and big neighborhood assist nonetheless give it the sting.
One of the best website-building platform for Web optimization
Whereas WordPress and Joomla may be categorised as fully-fledged CMS techniques, the opposite three platforms we examined (Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy) are higher categorised into the subcategory “web site constructing platforms”. Wix was nonetheless the clear winner on this subcategory, providing a lot higher management over Web optimization fundamentals than its friends.
Wix has truly improved fairly a bit since our final check, which wasn’t the case for the opposite website-building platforms. So, in addition to awarding it the title of “finest web site constructing platform for Web optimization” we additionally really feel it’s the quickest bettering CMS in terms of Web optimization fundamentals.
How we chosen the CMS techniques to check
There are a ton of CMS techniques on the market.
However we determined to focus our testing on the most well-liked content-focused CMS techniques by market share (with one exception).
Why do we are saying content-focused?
Nicely, technically Shopify is a CMS. Certainly, in keeping with w3techs it’s presently the second hottest CMS on the planet. However we’re positive most would agree that Shopify is best classed as an eCommerce platform.
So we skipped Shopify and chosen the opposite 4 hottest CMS techniques in w3techs high 5:
- WordPress (62.6% market share)
- Shopify (6.5%)
- Wix (4.2%)
- Squarespace (3.1%)
- Joomla (2.4%)
For our closing choice, we determined to deviate from utilizing reputation for choice.
The subsequent hottest content-focused CMS system by market share is presently Drupal (1.3%). However we consider that a lot of this share is more likely to be made up of legacy websites. Google Developments exhibits that its reputation has been on a critical decline ever since its peak round 2010.
So as an alternative we jumped the checklist a bit and selected to check GoDaddy’s Web site Builder.
Why we included GoDaddy’s Web site Builder in our testing
GoDaddy continues to be the world’s largest particular person area registrar.
And whereas their Web site Builder has a low general market share (0.5%), we really feel that it’s more likely to embody a disproportionately excessive variety of small companies.
Why?
As a result of anybody who registers a website on GoDaddy (presently round 15% of month-to-month area registrations) goes to get bombarded with upsells to create their website utilizing GoDaddy’s Web site Builder.
They’re going to be getting their CMS in entrance of lots of small enterprise homeowners, lots of whom shall be trying to launch an internet site rapidly, merely, and fuss-free. That’s the proper buyer for his or her platform, and the extra focused advertising is, the more practical it’s.
So with GoDaddy chosen for testing, right here’s what our closing checklist regarded like.
You’ll be able to click on the hyperlinks if you wish to learn the newly up to date particular person opinions.
Now let’s take a look at how we performed our checks.
How we examined the Web optimization capabilities of every CMS
We’ll begin this part by getting one thing out of the way in which.
The CMS system you select is barely an element — maybe even a small one — of whether or not or not your website shall be profitable in search.
As a result of in case your content material sucks, you disregard Web optimization fundamentals, and also you don’t pull in some high-quality hyperlinks, then…
…you ain’t going to rank.
In different phrases:
A website working on the “worst” CMS for Web optimization may nonetheless outrank a website working on the “finest” one.
However what we will say is that the CMS you select will both assist or hinder your Web optimization efforts.
Which is why we determined to concentrate on measurable, platform-specific metrics. Primarily:
- The out-the-box pace of a CMS (and Core Internet Vitals efficiency)
- Help for Web optimization fundamentals (i.e. are you able to do X, Y, Z on the platform)
Now we should always level out right here that pace can be going to be theme and (in some instances) hosting-dependent.
For that motive, we once more used reputation to choose themes to check.
And for self-hosted websites (WordPress and Joomla) we used similar server setups/internet hosting.
Every website was arrange with comparable content material.
And we stored exterior plugins/extensions to a minimal to get as near an “out-of-the-box” configuration as doable.
Though we did set up an industry-standard Web optimization plugin on each WordPress (YOAST) and Joomla (Route66), and really useful a few picture compression plugins.
As soon as our demo websites had been arrange, the testing course of for every CMS included:
- guide assessment
- working the location by our personal Web optimization audit device, and
- utilizing third-party instruments resembling Google’s PageSpeed Insights and GTMetrix
So let’s dig into how our CMS platforms carried out. We’ll begin by reviewing pace.
How briskly (or sluggish) was every CMS?
Velocity issues for rankings.
It’s one of many few alerts that Google has confirmed influences rankings.
We measured the efficiency of every of our check websites utilizing Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
Right here’s a abstract of the outcomes…
It’s not even shut.
The self-hosted websites (Joomla and WordPress) considerably outperformed the websites constructed with platform-hosted CMS techniques.
Our WordPress check website was quickest general. However Joomla ran it shut. Each CMS techniques had been tremendous fast out-the-box and handed Google’s Core Internet Vitals (CWV) checks with flying colours.
Squarespace, Wix, and GoDaddy then again all suffered pace points and our check websites could be more likely to fail CWV (regardless that the efficiency of real-world web sites improved considerably for all three CMS in contrast to some years in the past).
So what was slowing our check websites down?
Nicely, whereas all of them had their very own little quirks (you possibly can learn the person opinions for extra element), there was a typical denominator:
Blanket loading of scripts and types.
Don’t want the script for that fancy homepage carousel? Robust. You’re getting it on each web page of your website regardless.
Though this appears to have gotten higher through the years, the core of the platform-hosted CMS techniques continues to be fairly heavy and bloated, and there’s no easy approach to flip issues on and off.
That is clearly lower than superb, and results in this…
A bunch of warnings and inefficiencies that might, for essentially the most half, be prevented..
That individual check is from our Squarespace website. However the identical problem affected Wix and GoDaddy Web site Builder.
For instance, on our GoDaddy Web site Builder website, script execution took virtually 11 seconds..
It is a LOT.
Might the pace points be resolved?
In brief: sure (in all probability).
Whether or not you’re on Wix, GoDaddy Web site Builder, or Squarespace, you ought to have the ability to pace up your website with some technical data, time, and (in all probability) some spare money for an extension or two.
We’ve actually seen some quick Wix websites on the market.
Plus, a great proportion of websites utilizing any of those CMSs carry out fairly nicely in keeping with the Core Internet Vitals Know-how Report.
However for the non-technical consumer who simply desires to make use of the platform to choose a theme, launch a website, and work on content material, pace points are doubtless going to hinder rankings.
And in our opinion, that sort of consumer is more likely to make up most of Wix, GoDaddy Web site Builder and Squarespace’s shopper base. In spite of everything, launching a website quicklyand not requiring technical data are the promoting factors of these platforms, proper?
So we hope that future builds proceed addressing the out-of-he-box points with pace.
We also needs to level out right here that this was the out-of-the-box pace of our WordPress and Joomla websites. With some web page pace optimization, we’d actually have the ability to get them to run even quicker and/or proceed working quick with extra content material/options on the location.
Help for On-Web page Web optimization fundamentals
Now let’s flip our consideration to manage of a few of the basic on-page Web optimization elements.
And since an image tells a thousand phrases, we’ll begin with a visible abstract, which incorporates an general rating (out of 21) for every CMS.
And to present you an concept of how every CMS carried out in our final check a couple of years in the past, listed here are the outdated check outcomes:
Not a giant distinction.
As you possibly can see there’s nonetheless a big disparity within the capabilities of the platforms, with the self-hosted CMS techniques (Joomla and WordPress) providing way more management. Some platforms improved, however enchancment appears to be fairly sluggish for the more severe performing CMSs like GoDaddy Web site Builder and Squarespace.
Let’s take a better take a look at how every platform helps (or doesn’t assist) a few of these on-page Web optimization fundamentals.
Be aware: Having management of an Web optimization rating issue is just not equal to its optimization. Web optimization audit instruments like Seobility provide recommendation on methods to correctly optimize every aspect, and discover errors in optimization which may be holding again your website. See our Web optimization audit information for extra info on methods to absolutely optimize your web site.
Web optimization Titles and Meta Descriptions
A web page’s title continues to be one of the necessary on-page rating elements. And a well-written meta description may also help you get extra click-throughs (though Google gained’t at all times use it).
What had been we searching for?
Naked minimal? The power to create customized Web optimization titles and meta descriptions for every web page.
However we additionally wished to see search snippet previews (cell and desktop) and a approach to template titles and meta descriptions.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
WordPress (with YOAST) was the one CMS that gave us the whole lot we wished.
YOAST makes it tremendous easy to manage your titles and meta descriptions, preview how your snippets will look in search, and create templated title/description codecs.
Joomla (with Route66) was shut however lacked a easy approach to create templates. Though it may be finished with some fundamental code.
And Wix and Squarespace additionally carried out moderately nicely, with solely cell snippet previews lacking from our guidelines.
How about GoDaddy?
Yikes…
It’s not even doable to create a customized title/description for every web page in your GoDaddy website, as the choice is lacking on weblog posts. This was additionally the case once we final examined GoDaddy Web site Builder, regardless that it looks like a reasonably simple characteristic so as to add.
They get a little bit credit score for desktop snippet previews (no cell), however apart from that, it was a giant fats fail with little to no enchancment previously 3 years.
Be taught extra about Web optimization Titles and Meta Descriptions
Web page slug / URL
We suggest creating brief, descriptive, 2-3-word slugs, together with the first key phrase (or phrase) for every web page. And use hyphens to separate phrases.
What had been we searching for?
The power to set a customized, Web optimization-friendly URL for every web page.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
All of the CMS techniques we examined allowed full management over URLs, aside from…
…you guessed it, GoDaddy.
These outcomes had been the identical because the final spherical of checks we did.
Once more, whereas it was doable (though extremely unintuitive) to set a customized URL for traditional pages, on weblog posts the choice was fully lacking and not using a unusual workaround.
Be taught extra about URL slugs/permalinks
Canonical URLs
On smaller websites, you in all probability gained’t want to fret about this.
However when you’ve got a collection of comparable pages in your website — i.e. focusing on the identical key phrases, or with very small variations in content material — there could also be occasions while you’ll wish to set a canonical (grasp) URL.
This helps to keep away from duplicate content material points.
What had been we searching for?
The power to set a customized canonical URL for every web page.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
On our WordPress, Joomla, and Wix websites, we had been capable of set a customized canonical URL for every web page.
On Squarespace there was a protracted, difficult workaround with customized code which implies it’s technically doable however under no circumstances intuitive.
On GoDaddy Web site Builder, it’s not doable so as to add canonical tags.
So, in brief: No adjustments for the reason that final time we examined this.
Be taught extra about canonical URLs
Index management (robots meta tag)
The robots meta tag instructs Google to both index (1), or to not index (2) a web page:
- – index this web page please Google
- – ignore this web page please Google (however observe the hyperlinks on it)
You don’t really want the primary one as (assuming your web page meets their high quality requirements) indexing is Google’s default motion. However it doesn’t do any hurt to have it in place.
What had been we searching for?
The power to manage indexing (by a robots meta tag) for every web page.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
Once more, WordPress, Joomla, and Wix had this coated.
Squarespace allowed us to noindex common pages, however for some motive didn’t give us the choice on weblog posts.
However not less than this was higher than GoDaddy’s Web site Builder, which didn’t give us a straightforward approach to noindex any of our website’s pages.
You might discover a theme right here…
Be taught extra about index management
Heading Tags (h1, h2, h3 and so on)
Heading tags (h1, h2, h3, and so on) assist Google perceive the construction, and subject(s) of your web page.
They need to be correctly nested.
For instance, an h1 tag would usually be the principle subject (degree 1), an h2 might be a subtopic (degree 2), and an h3 might be a sub-sub subject (degree 3), and so on:
(subject of the web page)
Goldfish
(subtopic)
Caring in your goldfish
(subtopic of goldfish)
Clear your fish’s tank recurrently
(subtopic of caring in your goldfish)
Cats
(subtopic)
Caring in your cat
(subtopic of cats)
What had been we searching for?
The power to set a full vary of headings from H1-H6.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
No points with WordPress, Wix, and Joomla, we received the complete vary from H1-H6.
It is a constructive change from final time, as Wix has added extra heading tags. Previously, it might restrict you to h1, h2 and h3 on weblog posts, which is now not the case.
Squarespace restricted us to H1-H4 sitewide.
How about GoDaddy?
One other scorching mess.
On common pages, there’s no approach to set the heading tags you need, GoDaddy will simply select one for you. They usually selected fallacious.
And on weblog posts, hit the “T” button and also you’re getting an H4 whether or not you prefer it or not.
(It’s H4s all the way in which down)
Be taught extra about heading tags
Structured knowledge (aka schema)
Structured knowledge (also called schema) may also help Google perceive:
- the kind of content material on a web page (i.e. recipe, assessment, product, article),
- the entity behind the web site (i.e. group),
- and may also be used to indicate extra search options (wealthy snippets)
When you’re not acquainted with structured knowledge and its impression on Web optimization, we suggest studying our wealthy snippets information.
What had been we searching for?
The power so as to add customized schema to pages and weblog posts.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
Each YOAST for WordPress and Route66 for Joomla have glorious assist for schema.
So as to add customized schema to a web page on Wix or Squarespace, you’ll must generate your markup externally, then copy and paste it into the platform.
Wix makes it apparent the place so as to add your code and has improved its UI when in comparison with the final time we ran this check…
…however for including schema to a web page on Squarespace you’ll nonetheless want to make use of the “Web page Header Code Injection” setting underneath superior web page settings.
We suggest this free device for producing schema in JSON-LD format.
There is no such thing as a easy approach so as to add schema markup to a web page on a GoDaddy website. Stunned? By this stage, in all probability not.
Be taught extra about structured knowledge and wealthy snippets
Picture Web optimization
The three most necessary components of picture Web optimization are:
- Alt textual content (description of the picture for display readers and engines like google)
- File dimension (smaller = quicker = higher)
- File title (we suggest utilizing descriptive file names)
What had been we searching for?
Usually, we had been searching for the platform to assist alt textual content, and never mess with picture filenames. However some type of picture compression was a pleasant bonus.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
Out-of-the-box, all platforms assist alt textual content.
Sure, even GoDaddy.
In truth, we’ll go additional and provides a hats off to GoDaddy on compression as they’ll mechanically create and serve optimized WebP variations of uploaded pictures (as will Wix).
However earlier than we get forward of ourselves…
…we should always level out that they’ll additionally fiddle with filenames. Once more, ditto Wix.
WordPress and Joomla gained’t mechanically compress your pictures. However Imagify for WordPress, and Picture Recycle for Joomla are extensively used and can do the trick properly.
Be taught extra about picture Web optimization
HTTPS
HTTPS has been a confirmed Google rating sign since 2014.
And nowadays there’s actually no excuse for any website to nonetheless be working over HTTP. However any Web optimization advantages, it’s unsecure.
In case your website is hosted by Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy, you’ll get HTTPS by default.
When you’re on WordPress or Joomla, then setting it up shall be your accountability.
Be taught extra about HTTPS
Robots.txt file
A robots.txt file lets you cease search engine bots from accessing sure areas of your website.
For instance, you might need a piece with user-generated content material that you just don’t need crawled or listed by Google.
What had been we searching for?
The power to edit a website’s robots.txt file, both through FTP or by the admin space.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
As WordPress and Joomla are self-hosted you possibly can entry your website’s robots.txt file by FTP.
And there are a bunch of free and paid plugins obtainable to make this simpler, like this one for WordPress and these for Joomla.
Wix admin additionally offers you full management of your robots.txt file.
Nevertheless, sadly, there’s no approach to edit the robots.txt file on a Squarespace or GoDaddy website.
This looks like a reasonably simple characteristic so as to add, but no adjustments have been made since our final check.
Be taught extra about Robots.txt
XML Sitemaps
An XML sitemap helps Google discover (and index) all of the pages in your website.
What had been we searching for?
Firstly for an XML sitemap (or sitemaps) to be auto-generated and maintained by the platform, and secondly for the power to cover/take away noindex pages from the sitemap.
How did the CMS techniques carry out?
Whereas all of the CMS techniques we examined created a sitemap, solely Joomla and WordPress allowed us to manually management which pages had been included. Wix and Squarespace mechanically take away noindex pages from the sitemap, and GoDaddy offers you no management in any respect.
Be taught extra about XML Sitemaps
Cell pleasant
When designing your website, there’s a great likelihood you’ll be specializing in the way it seems to be on desktop.
However cell visitors overtook desktop visitors approach again in 2017. And Google now prioritizes the cell model of your website for crawling and indexing.
Whether or not or not your website is cell pleasant is extra more likely to come right down to theme selection, fairly than CMS.
So for those who spot any cell usability errors
the very first thing to verify needs to be your theme.
As a result of all CMS techniques are (nonetheless) completely able to internet hosting a mobile-friendly website.
Be aware: HTTPS and mobile-friendliness are each confirmed Google rating elements, which is why we included them in our checks. Nevertheless, we didn’t issue them into the general scores as they don’t actually present extra Web optimization management for customers — they’re both coated by the platform or not. In any case, each elements are coated by all of the CMS techniques we examined and wouldn’t affect the ultimate positions.
301 Redirects
301 Redirects can be utilized to inform search engine crawlers and browsers {that a} useful resource (e.g. HTML file) has been completely moved to a special URL. From an Web optimization perspective, they’re necessary as they’ll go on the relevance and hyperlink juice of a web page to its new URL.
4 out of the 5 CMS techniques we examined permit you to arrange 301 redirects on the platform itself or through the use of an apparent extension…
…however as soon as once more, GoDaddy (nonetheless) dares to be totally different.
Be taught extra about 301 redirects
Additional options and enhancements
Though it’s not a part of our fundamental checks, this time round, we additionally checked out a few of the additional options and new additions the CMSs provided.
In fact, self-hosted CMSs like WordPress and Joomla have third events growing and bettering on plugins continually. There’s no actual approach to cowl all of them right here, nevertheless it’s protected to say that there’s regular improvment and new options being added recurrently.
Nevertheless, in terms of the web site constructing platforms, including new options is as much as the businesses behind them. So, seeing new/additional options and enhancements being made recurrently is essential.
Web optimization guidelines
Each Wix and Squarespace have an Web optimization guidelines to stroll rookies by fundamental optimizations. Now, granted, following these checklists will solely get you to this point, nevertheless it’s good to see them making an effort.
Wix’s guidelines is extra in depth than Squarespace’s and it has an easy integration with Google Search Console which is a helpful addition. That being mentioned, each give rookies a guidelines to observe to get essentially the most fundamental Web optimization duties finished.
So, though Wix will get additional credit score right here, we really feel that each Wix and Squarespace deserve an additional level.
Multilingual assist
Though not important for many websites, working with a platform that helps the creation of multilingual websites may be necessary for some. Not solely does it permit you to enter into new markets, however it could actually additionally assist you to drastically enhance your search visitors.
Wix is the one web site constructing platform that has full multilingual assist. This works through a brand new app known as Wix Multilingual.
Wix Multilingual lets you both manually translate your content material or use AI to do it for you. It additionally lets you modify the Web optimization settings for every language, which is a crucial additional characteristic.
Squarespace does have the Weglot Multilingual extension, nevertheless it solely lets you translate 2000 phrases in a single language pair on the free tier. That is the equal of about half of this weblog publish…
The plans get fairly costly after that, with websites of over 50.000 phrases already costing $87 per 30 days!
That is round 10-30 lengthy type weblog posts, plus maybe a couple of common pages like your homepage, about web page and comparable. Small websites might fall underneath their $17 or $32 per 30 days plans, however even then, we really feel it’s fairly costly in comparison with paid WordPress or Joomla plugins.
You may make your Squarespace website multilingual manually, however that is removed from superb given the quantity of labor and the actual fact you possibly can solely translate sure elements of the location.
GoDaddy doesn’t have a straightforward approach of making multilingual websites, however you possibly can technically create a number of websites on a number of (sub-)domains in several languages.
Different notable mentions
- Wix Web site Inspection: A brand new Wix characteristic that gives customers with a straightforward approach to make use of Search Console knowledge immediately in Wix. It gives an summary of the location’s indexing standing in addition to page-by-page studies.
- Wix’s Web site Velocity Dashboard: This new dashboard lets you get Google PageSpeed metrics immediately in Wix, permitting you to watch your website pace.
In abstract: Self-hosted platforms nonetheless lead the Web optimization approach
Let’s end by summarizing our findings.
There’s a clear divide between the Web optimization capabilities of the self-hosted CMS techniques (WordPress and Joomla) and the platform-hosted techniques (Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy).
Not solely are you getting a working begin out-of-the-box by way of pace and performance, however you’re additionally free to tinker to your coronary heart’s content material.
The code is open-source, and you are able to do what you want with it. Whereas with Wix et al, you’re not going to have the ability to fiddle an excessive amount of ‘underneath the hood’.
Which is why we felt it’s higher to subdivide our outcomes into 2 teams:
- Self-hosted CMS techniques: WordPress and Joomla
- Web site constructing platforms: Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy
Whereas WordPress is the general finest CMS for Web optimization, Wix is the clear winner within the “web site constructing platforms” class
As we mentioned in the beginning in our fast reply, WordPress is the general finest CMS for Web optimization, not less than out of the field. However for those who’re technically minded you’re going to have the ability to optimize a Joomla website each bit in addition to a WordPress one.
Are you able to optimize a Wix website to the identical degree? Maybe, maybe not. However both approach, for those who’re tech-savvy sufficient to do this, we’d query why you’d wish to. You’re in the end locked into Wix’s underlying code and their server config.
However that’s to not put Wix down. Whereas nonetheless affected by various points, we had been impressed by how a lot Wix has matured previously couple of years. It’s actually now not the Web optimization horror story it as soon as was.
In truth, it’s the clear Web optimization winner within the “web site constructing platforms” subcategory and likewise the CMS that has improved most since our final spherical of testing. So for those who don’t need the trouble of managing your individual code/server, and simply need a platform the place you possibly can rapidly launch a website, concentrate on content material, and management most Web optimization fundamentals, then it might be a stable selection.
In addition to, if Wix retains bettering as rapidly as they’ve been up to now, we’re positive that you just’ll be having fun with new nifty options quickly.
Squarespace lags Wix by way of Web optimization performance. However it’s what it’s, and also you’ll actually have the ability to optimize various necessary on-page elements.
When you’re on GoDaddy’s Web site Builder…
…good luck!
Right here’s our general scores once more.
And right here’s an summary of the ultimate scores solely if you wish to share our outcomes:
You’ll be able to learn our full opinions of every CMS system by clicking the hyperlinks under.
Be aware: This CMS assessment has initially been written in 2021 by David McSweeney and has been up to date for 2024 by Bram Vergouwen. Bram is a Web optimization specialist with greater than 6 years of expertise working with corporations throughout totally different international locations and industries, offering custom-made Web optimization options and methods that enhance on-line visibility.
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