When building a modern website in 2025, choosing the right CMS (Content Management System) can make or break your workflow, performance, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re launching a product, growing a brand, or managing a small business site, selecting the right platform is critical.
In this post, we’ll compare and contrast Webflow, Framer, WordPress, Drupal, and Hugo — and explain why Hugo might be the best choice for SMBs focused on brochures and landing pages, and why Drupal excels for complex, integrated sites.
Webflow #
- Strengths:
- Excellent visual editor for designers
- Built-in CMS for structured content
- Great for marketing teams and no-code workflows
- Weaknesses:
- Hosting is tied to Webflow
- Limited backend flexibility
- Can become costly per project
Best For: Marketing teams and designers building CMS-driven sites without dev support.
Framer #
- Strengths:
- Lightning-fast site generation
- Beautiful animations and design tools
- SEO optimized and mobile-first by default
- Weaknesses:
- Limited extensibility
- Requires Framer’s hosting
- Still maturing as a CMS
Best For: Creative portfolios, fast landing pages, visually-rich campaigns.
WordPress #
- Strengths:
- Massive plugin and theme ecosystem
- Strong community support
- Works for blogs, e-commerce, and membership sites
- Weaknesses:
- Can be slow or bloated without tuning
- Frequent maintenance and security patches needed
Best For: Content-heavy sites, blogs, and businesses with diverse needs.
Drupal #
- Strengths:
- Enterprise-grade CMS with powerful APIs
- Customizable to meet any business need
- Excellent for structured content and workflows
- Scalable, secure, and multilingual-ready
- Easy integration with third-party tools
- Built-in user authentication and role systems
- Well-suited for e-commerce and online communities
- Weaknesses:**
- Steeper learning curve
- Requires developer involvement
- Overkill for simple sites
Best For: Government, enterprise, higher education, content-rich platforms, e-commerce, community-driven websites, and SMBs that need extensive customization and flexibility.
Hugo (with Netlify) #
- Strengths:
- Ultra-fast static site generation
- No database = less risk and blazing performance
- Markdown-based content = simple version control
- Excellent SEO and security out of the box
- Seamless deployment and CMS management with Netlify
- Easy editing through Netlify CMS or Git-based workflows
- Weaknesses:
- Does not support user authentication or dynamic content out of the box
- Limited built-in search functionality
- Not suited for community platforms or e-commerce without heavy customization
Best For:** SMBs, agencies, and developers needing high-performance brochure and landing pages.
Best Pick for 2025 #
Brochures and Landing Pages: #
Hugo + Netlify is the best combo for small businesses that want:
- Speed
- Simplicity
- Easy deployment
- Top-tier SEO
If you value a streamlined workflow, static security, and fast-loading pages without heavy CMS overhead, Hugo is the way to go in 2025.
Complex and Integrated Websites: #
Drupal remains the best choice for scalable, complex websites with authentication, integrations, and dynamic workflows. It is ideal for building robust e-commerce platforms, member portals, and connected digital experiences.
Final Thoughts #
There is no one-size-fits-all CMS. Your best choice depends on your team, goals, and scale:
- Use Webflow or Framer if you’re design-driven and need fast launches.
- Use WordPress if you want a flexible, content-heavy platform with tons of plugins.
- Use Drupal if you’re building something complex, connected, or community-driven.
- Use Hugo if you’re focused on speed, simplicity, and security for brochures or landing pages.
Need help deciding? Drop a comment or reach out, and we can help match the right CMS to your needs.
