Content Management Systems power millions of websites and experiences. They are the foundation of the modern digital stack and an essential tool for countless users and businesses. Despite their value, they exist largely behind the scenes – and recognizing their contribution has been a persistent gap in the software market.
Since 2012, the CMS Critic Awards have celebrated excellence across the CMS community, honoring vendors for their innovation and service. Each year, we recognize a single winner in a variety of industry-specific categories such as Best Cloud CMS, Best DXP, Best Headless CMS, and more – and share the results across media.
To provide a fair opportunity to all CMS, DXP, and related technology vendors, we offer two unique award platforms:
Critic’s Choice Awards
Hand-selected by our CMS Critic editorial staff, vendors receive the coveted Critic's Choice Award for each category based on our internal research and criteria.
People’s Choice Awards
These community-based awards are designed to engage with readers through an open forum. Vendors with the most nominations will be featured on our website for voting, and the platform with the most votes in each category is declared the winner. The rules are simple, and focus on fairness and integrity: participants may nominate or vote only once, and companies that offer incentives of any kind will be disqualified.
2022 CMS Critic People’s Choice Awards Voting
Voting for the 2022 People's Choice Awards is now closed. We will announce the winners of the People's Choice Awards in March 2023. Stay tuned!
2021 Winners
Best Enterprise CMS
Contentstack
Best DXP
Adobe Experience Manager
Best Free CMS
Joomla
Best Flat File CMS
Grav
Best Open Source CMS
Joomla
Best ECM (Enterprise Content Management)
Alfresco
Best E-Commerce Solution
Hikashop
Best Headless Commerce
Shopify
Best Headless CMS
Contentstack
Best Website Builder
YOOtheme
Best Static Site Generator
Hugo
Best Composable System
Uniform
2020 Winners
Best Enterprise CMS
Acquia
Best DXP
Episerver (formerly Optimizely)
Best Free CMS
Joomla!
Best Flat File CMS
Grav
Best Open Source CMS
WordPress
Best ECM (Enterprise Content Management)
Hyland
Best E-Commerce Solution
Shopify
Best Headless CMS
Contentful
Best Website Builder
Webflow
Best Static Site Generator
Gatsby
2019 Winners
Best Free CMS
Joomla!
Best Flat File CMS
Grav
Best Open Source CMS
Django CMS
Best Enterprise CMS
Umbraco
Best E-Commerce Solution
Shopify
Best Headless CMS
Cosmic JS
Best Website Builder
Duda
Best Static Site Generator
Publii
2018 Winners
Best Free CMS
Joomla!
Best Flat File CMS
October CMS
Best Open Source Enterprise CMS
Umbraco
Best CMS for Publishers
Quintype
Best Headless CMS
Netlify
Best eCommerce Solutions
Shopify
Best Website Builder
Squarespace
2017 Winners
Best Cloud CMS
Agility CMS
Best CMS for SMB (Small to Midsize Business)
Craft CMS
Best CRM Solution
SugarCRM
Best E-commerce Solution
OpenCart
Best Email Marketing Solution
ConvertKit
Best Enterprise CMS
Pimcore
Best Flat File CMS
Grav CMS
Best Forum Solution
Discourse
Best Free CMS
Joomla!
Best Hosting Company
Bluehost
Best Marketing Automation Solution
Mautic
Best Open Source CMS
CMS Made Simple
Best Social Network Solution
SocialEngine
Best Theme Provider
YOOtheme
Best Website Builder
Squarespace
Best WordPress Alternative
Craft CMS
2016 Winners
Best Blogging Software
Bolt CMS
Best Open Source CMS
Grav
Best Website Builder
Weebly
Best Free CMS
Joomla!
Best New CMS
Pagekit
Best Enterprise CMS
eZ Platform
Best Small Business CMS
ProcessWire
Best Cloud CMS
Solodev
Best Document Management System
LogicalDOC
Best CMS for Education
Cascade Server
Best Intranet Software
Igloo Software
Best Enterprise Portal
Magentrix Portals
Best Social Network Software
Social Engine
Best eCommerce Software
PrestaShop
Best Marketing Automation Software
Hootsuite
Best Forum Software
Discourse
Best Client Relationship Management Software
HubSpot
Best Analytics Platform
Clicky
Best WordPress Managed Hosting
WP Engine
Best Hosting Provider
Bluehost
2015 Winners
Best Enterprise CMS
Cascade Server
Best CMS for Marketers
Sitefinity
Best CMS for Photographers
Format
Best Free CMS
Joomla
Best Open Source CMS
Django CMS
Best CMS for Communities
Black Monk
Best Social Network Software
SocialEngine
Best Marketing Automation Software
HubSpot
Best CMS for Designers
Concrete5
Best Cloud CMS
Agility CMS
Best eCommerce for SMB
NopCommerce
Best Blogging Platform
Medium
Best Wiki Software
MediaWiki
Best CMS for Education
Moodle
Best CMS for Personal Websites
WordPress
Best CMS for Small to Midsize Business
Ingeniux
Best Enterprise Portal
Liferay
Best CMS for Publishers
eZ Platform
Best eCommerce for Enterprise
Prestashop
Best Forum Software
NodeBB
Best Intranet Software
Confluence
Best CMS for Developers
Craft CMS
2014 Winners
Critic's Choice
Best Free PHP CMS
Processwire
Best Free JAVA CMS
Hippo
Best Free .NET CMS
Composite C1
Best Open Source PHP CMS
WordPress
Best Open Source JAVA CMS
Nuxeo
Best Open Source .NET CMS
Umbraco
Best SMB PHP CMS
Craft CMS
Best SMB JAVA CMS
Jahia
Best SMB .NET CMS
DNN Evoq Content
Best Enterprise PHP CMS
Drupal
Best Enterprise JAVA CMS
Jahia
Best Enterprise .NET CMS
Sitefinity
Best CMS for Corporate Intranets
Bitrix 24
Best eCommerce for SMB
BigCommerce
Best Enterprise eCommerce
BigCommerce
Best Free Forum
myBB
Best Commercial Forum
Get Satisfaction
Best Cloud CMS for SMB
dotCMS
Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise
CrownPeak
Best Website Builder
Weebly
Most Promising CMS
Ghost
Most Innovative CMS
Sitecore
People’s Choice
Best Enterprise CMS (Other Langs)
Mura CMS
Best Enterprise .NET CMS
Sitecore
Best Enterprise Java CMS
Hippo
Best Enterprise PHP CMS
Drupal
Best Commercial Forum and Best Free Forum
Vanilla Forums
Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS
CMS Made Simple
Best Small to Midsize Business JAVA CMS
Percussion
Best Small to Midsize Business NET CMS
Orchard
Best eCommerce for SMB
Prestashop
Best eCommerce for Enterprise
Prestashop
Best CMS for Corporate Intranets
Liferay
Best Cloud CMS For Enterprise
Acquia
Best Website Builder
Wix
Best Cloud CMS for SMB
LightCMS
Best Open Source PHP CMS
Joomla!
Best Open Source JAVA CMS
Magnolia
Best Open Source NET CMS
Sageframe
Best Free .NET CMS
DNN Platform
Best Free JAVA CMS
Magnolia
Best Free PHP CMS
Concrete5
2013 Winners
Critic's Choice
Best Open Source CMS
Hippo
Best Free CMS
Drupal
Best Small to Midsize Business CMS
eZ Publish
Best Enterprise CMS
Sitecore
Best ECommerce Solution
Magento
Best Website Builder
Squarespace
Best Forum Solution
Vanilla Forums
Best Social Networking Solution
DNN Evoq Social
Best Hosted / Cloud CMS
Acquia Cloud
People's Choice
Best Open Source CMS
MODX
Best Free CMS
WordPress
Best Small to Midsize Business CMS
DNN Evoq Content
Best Enterprise CMS
Sitecore
Best ECommerce Solution
Shopify
Best Website Builder
Adobe Business Catalyst
Best Forum Solution
Vanilla Forums
Best Social Networking Solution
Social Engine
Best Hosted / Cloud CMS
Acquia Cloud
2012 Winners
Critic's Choice
Best Open Source CMS
MODx
Best Free CMS
ProcessWire
Best Small to Midsize Business CMS
DotNetNuke
Best Enterprise CMS
Adobe CQ
Best Budget CMS
CMS Made Simple
Best Website Builder
Squarespace
Best Social Networking Solution
phpFox
People's Choice
Best Open Source CMS
Concrete5
Best Free CMS
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
Best Small to Midsize Business CMS
DotNetNuke
Best Enterprise CMS
Liferay
Best Budget CMS
Concrete5
Best Website Builder
Squarespace
Best Social Networking Solution
Oxwall
