Do you really need a CMS?

These days, most websites are built using something called a Content Management System, or CMS for short. Tools like WordPress, Drupal, and CraftCMS make it easy to update your site without touching any code. They’re popular for good reason.

But here’s the thing: not every website needs one.

Let’s walk through some questions that can help you decide whether a CMS is the right fit for your site or if a simpler, faster option might be better.

How Often Will You Update Your Site?

Will you be making frequent updates like blog posts, new services, or photo galleries? A CMS can make that easier. But if your site is more of a digital business card that only changes once or twice a year, you might not need one. In those cases, a simple static website can be quicker to build and easier to maintain.

Is Speed A Top Priority?

Fast-loading websites are better for users and for search engines. Traditional CMSs can slow things down a bit because they build pages on the fly using databases and plugins. But there’s a workaround: some CMSs now offer tools that generate fast, static versions of your site, combining the flexibility of a CMS with the speed of a lightweight site.

That said, if your site doesn’t change often and you want the absolute fastest load times, a completely static site with no CMS at all might be the way to go.

How Important Is Security?

Because CMSs are widely used, they’re also popular targets for hackers, especially if they’re not kept up to date. Outdated plugins, unused features, or misconfigured settings can open the door to security issues. A simple site with no login, no admin panel, and no database is much harder to hack. If security is a big concern, skipping the CMS can reduce your risk.

Who Will Be Managing The Site?

Think about who will be in charge of making updates. If you or your team prefers not to deal with code or technical tools, a CMS makes editing much easier. But if you have someone comfortable with web development or are working with a web agency, you can avoid the extra bulk of a CMS and keep things lean and simple.

Where Does Your Content Come From?

Sometimes the content on your site isn’t entered manually but comes from another source, like a product database, company software, or a third-party feed. In those cases, a CMS might not help much and could even get in the way. Instead, your site can be built to pull that content directly, skipping the middle layer and keeping things efficient.

What Kind Of Site Are You Building?

Sites that don’t need frequent updates, like landing pages, microsites, or event pages, usually don’t benefit from a CMS. These types of pages can be built to load quickly and require little to no maintenance after launch. That means fewer things to break and a better experience for your visitors.

Not Sure? There Are Middle-Ground Options

If you’re somewhere in the middle—not ready to go fully CMS-free, but don’t want the full overhead either—there are modern tools that offer a nice balance:

• Static Site Generators – Build fast websites using templates and simple content formats (e.g., Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy)
• Headless CMSs – Store your content in a clean backend, and deliver it to your site through an API (e.g., Sanity, Contentful, Strapi)
• Flat-file CMSs – Lightweight tools that don’t need a database at all (e.g., Grav, Kirby)

These options can give you more control, better speed, and fewer security worries without giving up easy content editing.

Final Thoughts

Just because most websites use a CMS doesn’t mean yours should. The right choice depends on your goals, how often you’ll update the site, who’s managing it, and how important things like speed and security are to you. Still not sure what’s right for you? We’d be happy to chat and help you figure out the best path for your website.