How to Evaluate CMS Vendors
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
To evaluate CMS vendors, score them across six dimensions: content modeling flexibility, editorial experience, developer experience, pricing and TCO, vendor stability, and ecosystem/integrations. Run a structured proof-of-concept (POC) with your actual content model before committing. Avoid selecting a CMS based on demos alone — test it with your real requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Evaluate across six dimensions: content modeling, editorial UX, developer experience, pricing/TCO, vendor stability, and ecosystem
- Always run a POC with your actual content model — demos are optimized to look good, not to reveal limitations
- Pricing transparency matters: understand what triggers tier upgrades and what overages cost
- Vendor lock-in risk is a real evaluation criterion — assess data portability and API openness
- Involve both editors and developers in the evaluation — they have different (and equally valid) requirements