Best CMS Website Builders In 2025: My Top Picks

Quick Summary

• For e-commerce: Shopify is the clear winner for businesses that sell physical products

• For service businesses: Webflow offers robust features with more customization potential

• For simple, content-focused sites: Framer provides the fastest setup with designer-friendly tools

• Industry standards: WordPress remains dominant despite complexities

• Marketing agencies: Many use GHL/High Level for its built-in automation features

Introduction: My Journey Through Website Builders

After five to six years of building websites for clients, I've had my hands in just about every website builder out there. I've built sites from scratch with custom code, used various CMS platforms, worked with template-based builders, and everything in between.

One question I get asked constantly is: "What do you actually use to build client websites?" I understand why people ask. With so many options available in 2025, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to choose the right platform for your business.

In this article, I'll share my go-to CMS builders based on real-world experience creating websites for clients across different industries. These aren't theoretical recommendations – these are the platforms I trust with my client work daily.

This article expands on my recent YouTube video on this topic - if you prefer to watch rather than read, check out the full video here.

My Top 3 CMS Builders in 2025

After trying dozens of platforms (and yes, some were genuinely terrible), I've narrowed down my preferred options to these three platforms:

1. Webflow

2. Framer

3. Shopify

Let me break down why I use each one and what type of business they work best for.

Shopify: The Unmatched E-Commerce Solution

When it comes to e-commerce, my decision is simple: if a client has inventory and ships physical products, I go with Shopify 100% of the time.

What makes Shopify stand out in 2025 is its perfect balance between merchant-friendly features and developer flexibility. Store owners can easily manage their inventory, process orders, and update content without technical knowledge. At the same time, developers like me get extensive control over custom functionality.

The platform's theme editor gives you significant creative freedom while their robust API allows for nearly any customization imaginable. This dual approach is why Shopify continues to dominate the e-commerce space.

The Non-E-Commerce Decision: Webflow vs. Framer

For service businesses and content-focused websites, my decision comes down to two excellent platforms: Webflow and Framer. Both offer significant advantages over traditional builders, but they serve different needs.

[Image recommendation: Side-by-side comparison of a Webflow and Framer project you've worked on]

Webflow: When You Need Power and Flexibility

Webflow has come a long way in recent years. When I started in this industry, you rarely saw job postings for "Webflow developers" – most companies defaulted to WordPress. Today, that's changed dramatically.

Modern companies, especially tech-focused startups and design-conscious brands, increasingly choose Webflow for several compelling reasons:

1. Clean, responsive designs without bloat: Webflow generates clean code without the plugin overhead that often slows WordPress sites.

2. Animation capabilities: The platform makes it easy to create sophisticated animations and interactions that would require extensive custom coding elsewhere.

3. Developer-friendly while still being "no-code": Although Webflow markets itself as a no-code solution, it provides enough flexibility that developers can still implement complex functionality.

4. CMS features without complexity: The built-in CMS offers robust content management without WordPress's sometimes overwhelming options.

I've found Webflow particularly valuable for clients who need more than just a basic brochure site but don't want the maintenance headaches of more complex solutions.

Framer: Sleek Simplicity for Content-Focused Websites

The website that your currently on is built on Framer, which speaks to how much I trust this platform. While less known than some alternatives, Framer has carved out an impressive niche, especially for designer-focused teams.

What drew me to Framer was its streamlined approach. When building my agency site, I didn't need complex custom features – I needed a clean, professional platform that could be deployed quickly while still looking exceptional.

Framer excels at:

• Simple content websites

• Portfolio sites

• Basic business sites with contact forms

• Blog-focused websites

The platform's simplicity doesn't mean it lacks visual impact. In fact, Framer sites often look more polished than more complex alternatives because the platform encourages clean design principles.

If you need a professionally designed website without elaborate functionality, Framer lets you launch faster and with less technical overhead than almost any alternative.

Other Popular Alternatives

While my go-to platforms are Webflow, Framer, and Shopify, I should mention two popular alternatives that many marketing agencies still rely on. I want to give these tools an honorable mention because I believe they are still great places to build business websites.

WordPress: Still King of Market Share

Despite the rise of modern builders, WordPress still dominates the CMS market – and for good reason. Its flexibility and extensive plugin ecosystem mean you can build virtually anything.

However, this flexibility comes with complexity. WordPress requires more technical maintenance, security updates, and plugin management than more streamlined alternatives. Even as a developer, I sometimes find WordPress projects require more ongoing maintenance which can drive up maintenance costs for clients.

That said, countless marketing agencies still default to WordPress, especially for content-heavy sites that need extensive customization.

GHL (High Level): The Marketing Agency Favorite

An honorable mention goes to High Level (GHL), which I see many marketing agencies adopting for their clients. While I don't regularly build sites on this platform, I've managed several GHL sites for clients.

What makes GHL attractive is its comprehensive ecosystem. Beyond website building, it offers:

• Email marketing automation

• Social media campaign management

• Calendar booking tools

• CRM functionality

• Lead generation features

For marketing agencies managing multiple aspects of a client's digital presence, this all-in-one approach can be compelling. However, as someone focused on website excellence specifically, I find specialized platforms better serve my clients' needs.

How to Choose the Right CMS in 2025

Based on my experience, here's how I recommend choosing between these platforms:

1. For e-commerce businesses: Shopify is the clear choice if you're selling physical products online.

2. For service businesses needing advanced features: Webflow provides the best balance of design flexibility and functionality.

3. For content-focused sites needing quick deployment: Framer offers the fastest path to a professional site.

4. For complex, content-heavy organizations: WordPress may still be your best option, despite its complexity.

5. For marketing agencies managing multiple digital channels: Consider GHL for its integrated approach.

Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Fit

After years of building websites across countless platforms, I've learned there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Your ideal CMS depends on your specific business requirements, technical capabilities, and growth plans.

What I can say confidently is that Shopify, Webflow, and Framer represent the pinnacle of what's available in 2025 for their respective use cases. Each strikes a balance between ease of use and powerful functionality that most businesses need.