Open source cms: pros and cons of ‘free’ flexibility
An Open source CMS is a CMS (Content Management System) whose source code is made publicly and freely available. Anyone can view, modify, and distribute the code (subject to the specific open-source license terms). Hugely popular examples include WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. These platforms power a vast portion of the Web content CMS-driven web due to their flexibility, large communities, and lack of upfront licensing fees.
Advantage 1: cost (no license fees)
The most obvious benefit is the absence of software license fees. You can download and install the core CMS software for free, making it highly attractive for individuals, small businesses, non-profits, and also larger enterprises looking to avoid proprietary license costs.
Advantage 2: flexibility and customization
Access to the source code means almost limitless flexibility. Developers can modify the CMS core, create entirely custom themes, and build bespoke plugins or modules to meet highly specific needs. You are not constrained by a proprietary vendor’s feature set or roadmap. This is a key point in the Open source DAM vs. SaaS DAM debate applied to CMSs.
Advantage 3: large communities and ecosystems
Popular open-source CMSs benefit from large, active communities of developers and users. These communities contribute to core development, create a wealth of themes and plugins (both free and paid), provide support through forums and documentation, and ensure the platform’s longevity. This ecosystem is a valuable resource.
Challenge 1: hidden costs (hosting, development, maintenance)
While the software is free, running an open-source CMS site is not. You are responsible for web hosting, installation, configuration, customization (which may require hiring developers), and critically, ongoing maintenance. This includes regularly applying security updates for the CMS core, themes, and plugins, plus backups. These operational costs can quickly exceed the subscription fees of a proprietary or SaaS solution.
Challenge 2: security and vulnerabilities
The popularity of open-source CMSs also makes them prime targets for hackers. While communities are generally quick to patch vulnerabilities, the onus is on the site owner to apply these patches promptly. Using outdated or poorly coded themes or plugins can also introduce significant security holes. Constant vigilance is required.
Challenge 3: technical support
There is typically no centralized, guaranteed technical support for free open-source CMSs. Help comes from community documentation, forums, or independent developers/agencies you must hire. Getting assistance with complex issues may require more effort than contacting a proprietary vendor’s customer support.
Brandeploy: content consistency, regardless of cms
Whether your website runs on a powerful open-source CMS like WordPress or Drupal, or a proprietary platform, Brandeploy ensures the marketing content created *before* it gets uploaded to the CMS is consistent and on-brand. Use Brandeploy (content automation) to generate approved copy, select compliant imagery (centralization and control of brand assets), and create structured components. This simplifies the publishing process for editors using any CMS, ensuring brand guidelines (brand governance platform) are met even with the flexibility (and potential risks) of an open-source CMS.
Weigh the flexibility and zero upfront cost of open source against the maintenance and security responsibilities. Whichever CMS you choose, ensure your content consistency with Brandeploy. Discover how we integrate with various CMS workflows. Schedule a demo.
