15 Really Simple CMS Options

A CMS is almost a necessity for websites these days. Building a website without a CMS means constant updates for the designer and lack of control for the client.

One option is to use a large CMS such as Wordpress, Joomla or Drupal. However building with these systems is more often than not simple too time consuming or have specific design requirements (themes & templates).

The good news is that there are actually many surprisingly simple CMS solutions out there, some of which do not require a database or even server installation. They are perfect for mini-small-medium sites and come with minimum hassel,  I have found 15 of these and posted them all here:

1. Cushy CMS

Very simple in every way for both the designer and the client. Perfect for allowing clients to change minor parts of their websites. The best part of this CMS is that allows you to can have unlimited websites on a free account, Cushy CMS also does not require you to host the CMS on your server, instead it connects to your website files through an FTP connection.

2. Get Simple

Get Simple CMS is a free XML based content management system. It must be downloaded and installed onto your websites server, which is quick and easy thanks to the use of XML in place of a MySQL database. Get Simple also boasts the easiest to use CMS user interface.

3. Surreal CMS

Surreal is a highly professional grade CMS. It is very easy to set up on any website using an FTP connection, which means no installation on your own server. Surreal CMS also has many extra features not apparent in other CMS's of its type, such as Google Analytics integration and a file manager.

4. Perch

A "really little" PHP based CMS. Perch charges you just one initial fee for each website, which means no ongoing costs. It installs onto your own server, has all the features needed to manage a small website and features a stylish and easy to navigate control panel.

5. Konductor

Konductor works on a clever idea, it is free to set up an account as a designer. When you add a website to your account the $20 monthly fee is charged to the website owner not the designer. Konductor works through a plugin they have built for dreamweaver which makes it easy to build Konductor-friendly websites.

6. Simple CMS

Simple CMS is an FTP based CMS which has no back end control panel. Instead after the client logs in all they is their own website with editable regions marked accordingly, including image and text editing. Simple CMS is free and fully brandable for one website, beyond which is a monthly service fee.

7. Frog CMS

Frog CMS is a PHP based CMS built as a lighter version from Radient CMS, built with Ruby on Rails. Frog is completely free and extendable, in the simple CMS range it is a bit more complicated as it requires a MySQL database & server installation, however it does fill the gap between systems such as Wordpress and CushyCMS.

8. Pixie

Pixie takes an approach to CMS which includes not only the content management but building the website in the first place, which means this free open source CMS can be used to build a website from scratch, no other HTML coding tools needed. It requires server installation but boasts a small file size and simple easy to use interface.

9. Symphony

Symphony is a XSLT based CMS, which is also open source and completely free. It requires server installation and MySQL. Symphony has all the standard features of a CMS in its class but brings a bit of style and polish to the table that makes it just bit more professional in appearance.

10. Typeroom Lite

Fast and simple CMS which is FTP based and has no back end control panel. Instead all the editing is done directly on your website and the changes are uploaded via FTP. At $80 a year it comes quite affordable however it is not set up as a medium between the designer and client, instead the CMS package is advertised straight to the web owners.

11. Light CMS

Light CMS has one of the best complete packages on offer for designers. Signing up for a designer account is free, from there the designer can set up websites for clients and resell them to make a margin on the sale. All websites are hosted on Lights CMS's servers at no extra cost and the CMS also boasts a full set of features which give website owners maximum control on their website.

12. PageLime

PageLime is an FTP based CMS which requires no server installation. I also allows designers to resell the CMS to their clients. PageLime also has in-built image and content editing, including the ability to clone existing pages to make new ones.

13. Zimplit

Zimplit is a very simplistic CMS designed to make basic content management hassel free. It is suitable for small and miniature websites .The free version runs on your own server and the paid version is slightly different as it also hosts the website it is linked to.

14. CMSAdvantage

CMS Advantage, "built by designers for designers". Offer a complete CMS, hosting, reselling package. It includes all standard CMS features plus a few powerful options such as image editing, google analytics integration and a forum module.

15. CMS Made Simple

CMS Made Simple is a PHP/MySQL based CMS which installs onto your server. Is is open source and fully extendible, and has an easy to use interface for your clients. Simple CMS also claims to be flexible for designers and comes with many extra features such as guestbook and form creation.