The CMS market share in 2018 showed how the web was slowly changing. Big platforms still led the space, but new tools started getting noticed. Website owners wanted systems that felt stable, easy to manage, and ready for long-term use.
Open-source platforms continued to lead because they gave more control and flexibility. At the same time, hosted and design-focused tools attracted people who wanted faster setup and less technical work.
This year became a turning point. CMS choices started to depend more on real needs, not trends, shaping how websites would grow in the years that followed.
CMS Platforms Dominating the Market in 2018
Below is a 2018 snapshot based on W3Techs CMS usage data, showing the share of CMS-powered websites.
CMS Market Share Breakdown (2018)
| CMS Platform | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| WordPress | 60.0% |
| Joomla | 6.5% |
| Drupal | 4.6% |
| Shopify | 1.8% |
| Squarespace | 1.5% |
| Wix | 0.9% |
| Webflow | 0.2% |
WordPress: The Market Leader
Market Share: 60.0% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: WordPress dominated the CMS market in 2018 due to its open-source foundation and unmatched flexibility. It supported everything from simple blogs to large publishing platforms and business websites. Its massive plugin and theme ecosystem allowed site owners to customize without heavy development work.
Notable Users: TechCrunch, BBC America, Sony Music.
Joomla: The Established Alternative
Market Share: 6.5% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Joomla remained a strong choice for websites that needed structured content and more control than basic CMS platforms. While new adoption slowed, many organizations continued using Joomla for existing projects.
Notable Users: Government websites, educational institutions, open-source communities.
Drupal: Built for Complex Websites
Market Share: 4.6% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Drupal was trusted for its security and ability to handle complex content structures. It appealed to enterprises and organizations with advanced technical requirements, even though it required more development effort.
Notable Users: NASA, Tesla, government platforms.
Shopify: Early eCommerce Growth
Market Share: 1.8% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Shopify began gaining momentum in 2018 as an easy-to-use ecommerce platform. Its hosted setup, built-in payments, and store management tools made online selling simpler for small and mid-sized businesses.
Notable Users: Direct-to-consumer brands, small online retailers.
Squarespace: Design-Focused CMS
Market Share: 1.5% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Squarespace appealed to users who wanted polished design with minimal setup. Its template-driven approach worked well for creatives and service-based businesses that valued appearance over deep customization.
Notable Users: Designers, photographers, consultants.
Wix: Beginner-Friendly Website Builder
Market Share: 0.9% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Wix focused on simplicity. Its drag-and-drop editor and bundled hosting made it easy for beginners to launch websites without technical skills.
Notable Users: Small businesses, freelancers, startups.
Webflow: Emerging Design-Led Platform
Market Share: 0.2% of CMS-powered websites.
Why It Leads: Webflow was still niche in 2018, but designers started noticing its visual control and clean code output. Adoption was limited, but interest was growing.
Notable Users: Design agencies, early SaaS teams.
Key Trends in the CMS Market in 2018
The CMS market in 2018 started to change in clear and meaningful ways. Platforms moved beyond basic content publishing and began focusing on flexibility, security, and multi-channel delivery. These trends shaped how modern CMS platforms evolved in the years that followed.
Rise of Headless CMS Architecture
2018 became a breakout year for headless CMS adoption. This setup separated the front end from the backend, giving developers more freedom to use modern frameworks like React or Angular.
Headless CMS worked well for mobile apps, APIs, and connected devices. It allowed content to live in one place while being used across many platforms.
Early Use of AI and Machine Learning
CMS platforms began testing AI-driven features in 2018. These included automatic content tagging, image recognition, and basic personalization.
Instead of fixed rules, systems started learning from user behavior. This shift helped brands move toward more personal and data-driven content experiences.
Shift Toward Cloud and SaaS CMS Models
More CMS platforms moved to cloud-based and SaaS models during this period. Businesses wanted fewer infrastructure headaches and faster updates. Hosting platforms reduced the need for on-site servers and manual maintenance. This made CMS adoption easier for growing teams and smaller businesses.
Focus on Omnichannel Content Delivery
CMS platforms became more flexible in how content was delivered. Websites were no longer the only focus. Content needed to work across mobile apps, email, smart devices, and other digital touchpoints. This pushed CMS tools to support structured and reusable content.
Demand for User-Friendly Interfaces
As more non-technical users managed content, CMS platforms focused on usability. Clean dashboards, visual editors, and simple workflows became more important. The goal was clear. Let teams publish and update content without relying on developers.
Stronger Focus on Security and GDPR Compliance
The introduction of GDPR made data privacy a top concern in 2018. CMS platforms responded by improving security, access control, and audit features. User data protection became a key factor, especially for enterprise and global websites.
Market Consolidation Around All-in-One Platforms
Large digital experience platforms continued to grow. Companies like Adobe and Sitecore offered combined CMS, marketing, and automation tools.
This trend appealed to enterprises looking for everything in one system, even if it came with higher cost and complexity.
2018 marked a shift from simple CMS tools to smarter, more flexible platforms. These trends laid the groundwork for how modern content systems function today.
Conclusion
The CMS market in 2018 showed steady but meaningful change. Traditional platforms continued to lead, while new technologies began shaping future CMS decisions.
Open-source systems remained dominant, but cloud-based, headless, and design-focused platforms started gaining attention. Ease of use, flexibility, and security became stronger decision factors.
Overall, 2018 laid the groundwork for modern CMS growth, setting clear direction for how content platforms would evolve in the years ahead.