Learn what Concrete CMS is, how it works, its key features, pros and cons, and how it compares with WordPress, Webflow, Drupal and headless CMS platforms.
Choosing the right content management system is one of the most important decisions in a website project. Your CMS affects how your website is built, how easy it is to manage, how well it scales and how much control your team has over content.
Concrete CMS is an open-source content management system that is often overlooked compared with platforms such as WordPress, Webflow and Drupal. However, for the right type of organisation, it can be a powerful and flexible platform.
In this guide, we explain what Concrete CMS is, how it works, its advantages and limitations, how it compares with other CMS platforms and when it makes sense to use it.
What Is Concrete CMS?
Concrete CMS is an open-source content management system designed to make website editing simple, visual and flexible.
Unlike many CMS platforms that require users to manage content through a separate backend dashboard, Concrete CMS uses in-context editing. This means editors can update website content directly on the page while viewing the website itself.
This approach makes Concrete CMS particularly useful for organisations that want content teams, marketing teams or non-technical users to manage pages without relying on developers for every update.
Concrete CMS can be used for business websites, public sector websites, membership platforms, intranets, education websites, enterprise platforms and content-heavy websites that need structured permissions and editorial control.
How Concrete CMS Works
Concrete CMS works by combining page editing, content blocks, permissions, templates and workflows into one website management system.
A simple way to understand the platform is:
Content editors → Concrete CMS → Templates and permissions → Website content → Visitors
Editors can log in, navigate to the page they want to update and make changes directly within the page layout. Developers can create templates, blocks and custom functionality to control how content is displayed and managed.
This gives content teams a visual editing experience while still giving developers control over structure, design and functionality.
Key Features of Concrete CMS
Concrete CMS includes a range of features that make it suitable for structured websites and organisations with multiple users or content workflows.
In-Context Editing
One of the main strengths of Concrete CMS is its in-page editing experience.
Instead of editing content in a separate backend and previewing it afterwards, users can update text, images and page sections directly on the website.
This can make content management easier for teams that prefer a visual editing experience.
Content Blocks
Concrete CMS uses content blocks to manage different parts of a page.
Blocks can include text, images, forms, videos, galleries, files, navigation elements and custom components.
This modular approach gives editors flexibility while helping developers keep the website structured and consistent.
User Permissions
Concrete CMS has strong permission controls.
Administrators can control who can edit pages, approve content, access certain areas and manage different parts of the website.
This is useful for organisations with multiple departments, approval processes or governance requirements.
Workflows and Version Control
Concrete CMS supports content workflows and version history.
This means teams can review, approve and roll back changes when needed.
For larger organisations, this helps reduce risk and gives more control over publishing.
Custom Development
Concrete CMS can be customised by developers to support specific functionality, integrations and design requirements.
This makes it more flexible than simple website builders, but it also means custom projects usually require experienced development support.
Concrete CMS Pros and Cons
Like any CMS, Concrete CMS has strengths and weaknesses. Whether it is the right choice depends on your website goals, internal team and technical requirements.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy in-page editing experience | Smaller ecosystem than WordPress |
| Strong user permissions and workflows | Fewer themes and plugins |
| Good for structured websites | May require more custom development |
| Open-source and customisable | Smaller developer community |
| Useful for organisations with governance needs | Less widely known than major CMS platforms |
Concrete CMS is strongest when you need controlled editing, structured content and a visual CMS experience. It is weaker when you need a large plugin ecosystem, fast theme-based setup or a very broad marketplace of extensions.
Concrete CMS vs WordPress
Concrete CMS is often compared with WordPress because both are open-source CMS platforms used to build and manage websites.
WordPress is the more widely used platform and has a much larger ecosystem of themes, plugins, developers and integrations.
Concrete CMS is less widely adopted, but it offers a more visual in-context editing experience and strong permission controls out of the box.
| Feature | Concrete CMS | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Editing Experience | In-page visual editing | Backend and block editor based |
| Plugin Ecosystem | Smaller | Very large |
| Permissions | Strong built-in permissions | Often requires plugins for advanced permissions |
| Setup Speed | Usually requires more planning | Often faster to launch |
| Customisation | Strong with developer support | Strong through plugins and custom development |
| Best For | Structured, controlled websites | Flexible websites, blogs and marketing sites |
WordPress is usually better for fast deployment, content marketing websites, plugin-driven functionality and teams that want a large support ecosystem.
Concrete CMS is often better for organisations that need controlled editing, structured workflows and granular permissions.
If you are comparing CMS options for a website rebuild, our guide to whether your CMS is holding your business back from growth can help identify when a platform change may be needed.
Concrete CMS vs Webflow
Concrete CMS and Webflow serve different types of users.
Webflow is a hosted visual website platform that gives designers strong control over layout, animation and frontend presentation.
Concrete CMS is an open-source CMS that gives developers and organisations more control over hosting, permissions and custom functionality.
| Feature | Concrete CMS | Webflow |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Open-source CMS | Hosted website builder and CMS |
| Hosting | Self-hosted or managed hosting | Hosted by Webflow |
| Design Control | Developer-led templates | Strong visual design control |
| Permissions | Strong user roles and workflows | More limited for complex governance |
| Best For | Structured websites and controlled editing | Design-led marketing websites |
Webflow can be a strong choice for design-led marketing websites where visual control and speed are priorities.
Concrete CMS is usually more suitable when you need deeper permissions, custom workflows, open-source ownership and more control over the website environment.
Concrete CMS vs Drupal
Drupal is another open-source CMS often used for complex websites, enterprise platforms, public sector websites and large content systems.
Compared with Drupal, Concrete CMS is often easier for editors to use because of its in-page editing experience.
Drupal is usually more powerful for highly complex content modelling, multilingual structures and enterprise-level digital platforms, but it often requires more specialist development expertise.
| Feature | Concrete CMS | Drupal |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Editing | Strong visual editing | More backend focused |
| Complex Content Modelling | Good | Very strong |
| Enterprise Capability | Good for structured sites | Very strong for complex platforms |
| Developer Complexity | Moderate | Higher |
| Best For | Business websites with controlled editing | Large-scale complex digital platforms |
Drupal may be more suitable for very large and complex platforms, while Concrete CMS can be a better fit for organisations that want structured control without the same level of complexity.
Concrete CMS vs Headless CMS
Concrete CMS is traditionally a monolithic CMS. This means it manages both content and presentation within the same system.
A headless CMS separates the content backend from the frontend. Content is delivered through APIs to websites, apps or other digital channels.
| Area | Concrete CMS | Headless CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Traditional CMS | API-first content backend |
| Frontend Flexibility | Controlled by CMS templates | Very flexible |
| Editing Experience | Strong in-page editing | Depends on platform |
| Development Complexity | Moderate | Often higher |
| Best For | Business websites and structured content | Apps, multi-channel platforms and custom frontends |
Concrete CMS is usually a better fit when your main priority is managing a website with a strong editing experience.
A headless CMS may be better if you need to deliver content across websites, mobile apps, digital products and multiple frontend frameworks.
For a deeper comparison, read our guide to headless CMS vs traditional CMS.
Who Uses Concrete CMS?
Concrete CMS is commonly used by organisations that require structured content management, editorial workflows and strong permission controls.
- Professional services firms
- Higher education institutions
- Membership organisations
- Public sector organisations
- Enterprise businesses
- Content-heavy B2B websites
When Should You Use Concrete CMS?
Concrete CMS can be a strong choice when your organisation needs control, structure and ease of editing.
You should consider Concrete CMS if:
- Your team wants to edit content directly on the page
- You need structured permissions and approval workflows
- You are building a business or organisation website with controlled content
- You want an open-source CMS with custom development flexibility
- You need a more governed editing experience than a simple website builder
- You want content teams to manage pages without relying on developers for every small change
Concrete CMS is particularly useful for organisations that need a balance between editorial usability and technical control.
When Should You Avoid Concrete CMS?
Concrete CMS is not the right choice for every project.
You may want to avoid Concrete CMS if:
- You need the fastest possible low-cost website
- You rely heavily on plugins and third-party extensions
- You want a large marketplace of themes
- Your team already has strong WordPress skills
- You do not have access to development resources
- You need a fully hosted no-code website builder
In these situations, WordPress, Webflow or another CMS may be more suitable.
Is Concrete CMS Good for SEO?
Concrete CMS can be good for SEO when the website is properly built, structured and maintained.
The CMS itself does not guarantee rankings. SEO performance depends on technical implementation, content quality, site speed, internal linking, metadata and user experience.
Concrete CMS can support SEO through:
- Custom URL structures
- Editable page titles and meta descriptions
- Structured content management
- Clean templates when developed correctly
- Image and file management
- Content versioning and governance
However, a poorly built Concrete CMS website can still suffer from slow performance, weak content structure or poor technical SEO.
This is why CMS choice should be considered alongside website architecture, development quality and long-term SEO strategy.
Concrete CMS SEO Features
Concrete CMS includes several features that can support SEO when used properly.
| SEO Feature | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Custom URLs | Allows pages to use readable, search-friendly URL structures. |
| Metadata Controls | Supports page titles and meta descriptions for search results. |
| Structured Content Blocks | Helps organise content in a consistent way across pages. |
| Image Management | Supports image organisation and optimisation workflows. |
| Version Control | Allows teams to review and manage content changes. |
| User Permissions | Helps prevent unapproved or poorly optimised content changes. |
These features can help create a strong SEO foundation, but they need to be combined with good content, strong technical development and ongoing optimisation.
If organic visibility is a priority, it is worth understanding how content marketing helps SEO alongside the CMS decision.
Can Concrete CMS Rank on Google?
Yes, Concrete CMS websites can rank on Google.
Google does not rank a website purely because of the CMS it uses. It evaluates the quality, relevance, usability and technical performance of pages.
A Concrete CMS website can perform well in search when it has:
- Fast loading speeds
- Clean technical structure
- Useful and well-optimised content
- Strong internal linking
- Mobile-friendly design
- Clear metadata
- Good user experience
For complex websites, working with an experienced web development agency can help ensure the CMS is implemented in a way that supports SEO, performance and long-term growth.
How Much Does Concrete CMS Cost?
Concrete CMS is open-source and free to use, but the total project cost depends on development, hosting, design, integrations and support.
The CMS licence itself may not be the biggest cost. Most investment usually goes into planning, design, development, content migration, custom functionality and ongoing maintenance.
| Cost Area | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| CMS Licence | Concrete CMS is open-source and free to use. |
| Design | Custom design may be required for a professional business website. |
| Development | Custom templates, blocks and integrations can increase project cost. |
| Hosting | Hosting requirements depend on traffic, performance and security needs. |
| Maintenance | Updates, backups, support and security should be planned long term. |
For a business website, Concrete CMS is usually best approached as a custom website project rather than a quick template build.
Is Concrete CMS Good for Business Websites?
Concrete CMS can be a good choice for business websites that need structure, permissions and a simple editing experience.
It is particularly useful for organisations where multiple people manage content or where changes need approval before publication.
For example, Concrete CMS may work well for:
- Professional services websites
- Education websites
- Membership organisations
- Public sector websites
- Multi-department business websites
- Content-heavy B2B websites
It may be less suitable for very small businesses that simply need a low-cost brochure website with minimal custom functionality.
Concrete CMS for Enterprise Websites
Concrete CMS can support enterprise-style websites when the project requires controlled editing, user permissions and structured content management.
Enterprise organisations often care about governance, security, roles, approvals and long-term maintainability.
Concrete CMS can support these requirements, but larger projects usually need experienced developers, careful planning and ongoing support.
If your website has become difficult to manage, our article on whether your CMS is holding you back from growth explains common signs that a platform review may be needed.
Common Concrete CMS Mistakes
Concrete CMS projects can underperform when the platform is chosen for the wrong reasons or implemented without a clear plan.
| Mistake | Why It Causes Problems |
|---|---|
| Choosing Concrete CMS without considering editor needs | The CMS should match how your team actually manages content. |
| Expecting a large plugin ecosystem | Concrete CMS has fewer extensions than WordPress. |
| Ignoring SEO during development | Poor templates, metadata and performance can limit rankings. |
| No maintenance plan | Open-source websites need updates, backups and support. |
| Over-customising unnecessarily | Too much custom functionality can make future maintenance harder. |
The best Concrete CMS projects start with clear requirements, realistic expectations and a long-term support plan.
The Real Question: Is Concrete CMS Right for Your Business?
The decision is not about whether Concrete CMS is better or worse than every other CMS. The better question is whether it matches your business goals, internal workflows and long-term website strategy.
Before choosing Concrete CMS, consider:
- How often your team updates content
- Who needs editing access
- Whether you need approval workflows
- How much custom functionality is required
- Whether SEO and performance are priorities
- What development resources are available
- How the website may need to scale in future
If your organisation values structured content, permissions and visual editing, Concrete CMS can be a strong choice.
If you need a large plugin ecosystem, rapid low-cost deployment or a highly familiar CMS, another platform may be better.
Concrete CMS is best suited to organisations that prioritise structured content, strong permissions and in-page editing. While WordPress offers a larger ecosystem, Concrete CMS can be a powerful choice for businesses requiring greater control and governance.
Concrete CMS Alternatives
If Concrete CMS is not the right fit, other popular CMS platforms include WordPress, Webflow, Drupal, Strapi and Contentful.
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| WordPress | Marketing websites and content publishing |
| Webflow | Design-led websites |
| Drupal | Complex enterprise platforms |
| Strapi | Headless CMS projects |
| Contentful | Enterprise headless content management |
Final Thoughts
Concrete CMS is a capable open-source platform that offers strong usability, structured content management and flexible permissions.
It is not the best CMS for every website, but it can be highly effective when used in the right context.
For organisations that need controlled editing, governance and a visual CMS experience, Concrete CMS is worth considering.
For organisations that need fast setup, a huge plugin ecosystem or a very familiar editing platform, WordPress or another CMS may be a better fit.
The right CMS decision should be based on your content needs, technical requirements, internal workflows and long-term growth plans.
Working with an experienced digital team can help ensure your CMS decision supports your wider website, SEO and business objectives.
Not Sure Which CMS Is Right for You?
Choosing the wrong CMS can limit your website’s performance, scalability and ability to generate leads.
If you are planning a new website, considering a rebuild or unsure whether Concrete CMS is the right platform, it is worth getting expert advice early.
Speak to our team to discuss the right CMS for your business.
