The Best Content Management System Options for Government Agencies

Across the United States, government agencies provide vital information and services to their communities. Whether an agency is part of a large state or federal department or a small local agency, it must be able to meet its constituents where they are. That means having a website that can scale with your agency.

Almost every company, nonprofit, and government agency uses software known as a content management system (CMS) to build, develop, and run their website. With many CMS options available, some platforms are better equipped to meet the needs of government agencies than others. A CMS should be secure, responsive, and accessible while aligning with the agency's budget.

At Inclind, we’re an award-winning website design and development team that builds intelligent, functional websites for government agencies.  We understand the unique needs of government agencies, particularly when it comes to having a secure website that all constituents can use. If you’d like to know more about our website design, development, and support services for government agencies, reach out today to talk to our team.

What Is a CMS?

A content management system - a CMS - is a software application used to build and maintain a website. The benefit of a CMS is that you can organize and manage content at scale without needing FTP or directly editing code.

Using a CMS, a government agency can customize a website to meet its needs, adding functionality such as the ability to translate the site into multiple languages. The CMS can also create and publish content (such as blog posts or news alerts) on a website. Most CMS platforms allow website administrators to assign roles to various employees so that more than one person can manage the website, post content, and more.

Generally, a CMS has two parts: the front end and the back end. The front end is how the website looks when someone navigates to the website. The back end has an administrative dashboard where the website is managed. The front-end and the back-end use different technologies, but they are generally pretty user-friendly and easy to learn.

Beyond the front end and back end, a CMS usually has features such as: 

• Website-building technology, which may include drag-and-drop options, templates, site themes, sample page layouts, and the ability to add functions through bits of software (which may be referred to as modules, plugins, or another name, depending on the CMS)
• User roles that allow the website administrator to assign roles and give employees access to the back end of the website based on those roles 
• Content collaboration 
• Management of digital assets such as photos, videos, and files

There are two main types of CMS: open-source and proprietary (or closed-source). An open-source CMS allows anyone to access, view, and modify its source code. This type of CMS is less expensive than a proprietary CMS, easier to use, and customizable. However, the trade-off is that an open-source CMS may have less customer support and a higher risk of security breaches. Examples of popular open-source CMS platforms include WordPress and Drupal.

A corporation owns the source code of a proprietary CMS and restricts access to it. This feature means that proprietary CMS platforms are usually more secure and easier to manage and update. They have more customer support but may be less customizable than an open-source CMS. Proprietary CMS - like Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) - tends to be more expensive.

When picking a CMS for a government agency, there are lots to consider - from your budget to the features you need. Inclind’s expert website designers and developers can work with you to choose the best CMS for your agency.

The Most Popular CMS Platforms for Government Agencies

There isn’t a single best CMS for government agencies. The best CMS for a particular government agency will be based on factors unique to the agency - such as its size and the type of functions needed. Given their diverse needs, a small local government agency will require a much different CMS compared to a large state or federal agency.

Most Popular CMS Platforms For Government Agencies Overall

According to a study conducted by PrometSource, the top 5 CMS for U.S. government agencies are:

1. CivicPlus (26.6% of websites)
2. WordPress (11.8% of websites)
3. Granicus (11.1% of websites)
4. Drupal (8.3% of websites)
5. Revize (5.0% of websites).

The study indicated a preference among federal government agencies for proprietary software, with 52.4% of known CMS for government agencies being closed-source software. This shows that many government agencies prefer a CMS that offers specialized features, security, and dedicated customer support.

Most Popular CMS Platforms For State Government Agencies

At the state level, the findings are slightly different. There is a preference for open-source software over proprietary - perhaps due to the lower costs typically associated with these options. The top CMS for state government websites are:

1. Drupal (25.5%)
2. Microsoft SharePoint (9.8%)
3. WordPress (7.8%)
4. Adobe Experience Manager (7.8%)
5. Google Sites (2.0%)

Most Popular CMS Platforms For City Government Agencies

At the local city government level, there is a clear preference for proprietary CMS. The top CMS for city government websites are:

1. CivicPlus (32.3%)
2. Granicus (16.3%)
3. WordPress (10%)
4. Drupal (7.3%)
5. Revize (4.4%)

Most Popular CMS Platforms For County Government Agencies

At the county level, proprietary software is also more popular. The most-used CMS for county and regional government agencies are:

1. CivicPlus (22.3%)
2. WordPress (13.8%)
3. Drupal (8.4%)
4. Granicus (6.4%)
5. Revize (5.8%)

While government agencies may differ in their choice of the best CMS, this study reveals clear patterns. Overall, CivicPlus seems to be the top contender for proprietary CMS, followed by Granicus and Revize. Open-source CMS, WordPress, and Drupal are the best options. 

Comparing The Best CMS Platforms For Government Agencies

Of course, the best CMS for your government agency won’t necessarily be the same as the #1 choice for an agency with a different mission and size in a different area of the country. Below, we review the most popular CMS options for your government agency.

Adobe Experience Manager

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a robust enterprise-level content management system (CMS) that combines digital asset management (DAM) with content management capabilities. It is designed for organizations that need a scalable, secure, and highly customizable solution to manage digital experiences across multiple channels. AEM is part of the Adobe Experience Cloud. It integrates well with other Adobe products, such as Adobe Analytics and Target, making it a strong choice for data-driven content personalization.

Adobe Experience Manager Pros

• Security & Compliance: AEM is built with enterprise-level security features, including role-based access controls, data encryption, and compliance with various government regulations (e.g., FedRAMP, GDPR).
• Scalability: AEM can handle large-scale digital experiences, making it ideal for federal, state, and local government websites that serve millions of users.
• Personalization & User Experience: AEM offers AI-driven personalization and multi-channel content delivery, ensuring government agencies can deliver tailored experiences to different audience segments.
• Integration with Adobe Suite: If a government agency already uses Adobe Analytics, Adobe Target, or Adobe Sign, AEM seamlessly integrates to enhance functionality.
• Multi-Site & Multi-Language Support: AEM simplifies managing multiple government agency websites from a single platform and supports multi-language content, needed for serving diverse populations.
• Accessibility Compliance: AEM supports accessibility best practices and WCAG compliance, ensuring government websites are usable by individuals with disabilities.

Adobe Experience Manager Cons

• High Cost: AEM is one of the most expensive CMS platforms, with licensing, implementation, and maintenance costs that can be prohibitive for smaller government agencies.
• Complex Implementation & Maintenance: AEM requires ahighly skilled development team for implementation and ongoing management, which may lead to higher IT costs.
• Steep Learning Curve: Content editors and administrators may find AEM’s backend complex compared to other CMS platforms, requiring extensive training.
• Performance & Hosting Requirements: AEM’s resource-intensive nature demands a robust hosting environment, increasing infrastructure costs.
• Overkill for Smaller Agencies:  AEM may be overly complex and unnecessary for local or municipal government websites with basic content management needs.

CivicPlus

CivicPlus is a content management system (CMS) specifically designed for government websites. It offers tools tailored for municipalities, counties, and other public sector organizations. CivicPlus focuses on accessibility, compliance, and citizen engagement, making it a popular choice for local governments. The platform includes built-in features such as online payment systems, agenda management, and emergency notifications, reducing the need for third-party integrations.

CivicPlus Pros

• Government-Specific Features: CivicPlus offers built-in tools for public meetings, citizen requests, and service portals, streamlining government operations.
• Ease of Use: Unlike more complex CMS platforms, CivicPlus is designed for non-technical government staff, making content updates simple and efficient.
• Compliance & Security: CivicPlus supports accessibility (WCAG compliance), data security, and government regulations such as ADA and HIPAA where applicable.
• Scalability: Suitable for local and state government websites, with modules that allow agencies to expand functionality as needed.
• Integrated Support & Hosting: CivicPlus provides dedicated hosting, updates, and customer support, reducing the IT burden for government agencies.
• Emergency Notification System: Built-in alert capabilities allow government agencies to communicate urgent updates directly to citizens.

CivicPlus Cons

• Limited Customization: While CivicPlus provides government-specific tools, it lacks the flexibility and deep customization options of open-source or enterprise CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal.
• Higher Long-Term Costs: While more affordable than enterprise CMSs, CivicPlus operates on a subscription-based model that can become costly over time, especially as more modules and features are added.
• Potential Performance Issues: Some agencies report slower site performance due to CivicPlus’ shared hosting environment, which could be a concern for high-traffic government sites.
• Vendor Lock-in: Since CivicPlus is a proprietary platform, transitioning to another CMS in the future may be difficult and require a website rebuild.
• Limited Third-Party Integrations: CivicPlus may have limited integration with non-government software compared to open-source platforms.

Drupal

Drupal is an open-source content management system (CMS) known for its flexibility, scalability, and strong security features. It is widely used by governments worldwide, including the White House (historically) and many federal, state, and local agencies. Drupal's modular architecture allows for extensive customization, making it a powerful choice for complex government websites that require high performance, accessibility, and security compliance.

Drupal Pros

• Strong Security & Compliance: Drupal is known for its robust security, with a dedicated security team and regular updates. It supports compliance with government regulations like FedRAMP, FISMA, and WCAG.
• Highly Customizable: Drupal’s modular structure allows governments to create tailored websites with specific functionalities, from citizen portals to open data platforms.
• Scalability & Performance: Drupal is designed for high-traffic websites, making it suitable for national, state, and municipal government agencies with extensive content and user interactions.
• Multisite & Multilingual Capabilities: Governments can manage multiple agency websites from a single Drupal installation and support many languages for diverse populations.
• Strong Community Support: As an open-source platform, Drupal benefits from a large community of developers, offering government agencies access to ongoing improvements and security patches.
• No Licensing Costs: Since Drupal is open-source, there are no direct licensing fees, reducing long-term costs compared to proprietary CMS platforms like AEM.

Drupal Cons

• Complex Setup & Maintenance: Drupal requires experienced developers for setup, customization, and ongoing maintenance, making it more challenging for smaller government agencies without a dedicated IT team or support partner.
• Steep Learning Curve: The backend is not as user-friendly as other CMS platforms like WordPress or CivicPlus, requiring training for content managers and government staff.
• Higher Initial Development Costs: Although there are no licensing fees, hiring Drupal developers and maintaining a customized website can be costly.
• Frequent Updates & Maintenance: Drupal requires regular updates to maintain security and performance, and major version upgrades can require substantial redevelopment work.
• Limited Out-of-the-Box Features: Unlike CivicPlus, which includes built-in government-specific modules, Drupal requires additional development to implement features like citizen engagement tools or service request portals.

Granicus

Granicus is a government-focused digital communications platform that offers tools designed specifically for public sector organizations. Unlike general-purpose CMS platforms, Granicus provides specialized solutions for civic engagement, legislative management, and digital service delivery. Its government website CMS, govAccess, is built to enhance transparency, accessibility, and citizen interaction. Granicus also integrates with its broader ecosystem, including govDelivery (email and text notifications), govMeetings (agenda and meeting management), and govService (digital service tools).

Granicus Pros

• Government-Specific Features: Granicus is designed for the public sector, offering features like online permitting, legislative tracking, citizen engagement, and automated communications.
• Compliance & Security: Meets government security and compliance standards, including WCAG for accessibility, FedRAMP for cloud security, and HIPAA for sensitive data handling.
• Ease of Use: Designed for non-technical government staff, making it simple to update and manage content without requiring extensive training.
• Integrated Citizen Communication Tools: Seamless integration with govDelivery enables government agencies to send alerts, newsletters, and service updates to residents via email, SMS, and social media.
• Cloud-Based & Fully Managed: Government agencies don’t need to worry about hosting, updates, or security patches since Granicus handles everything.
• Workflow & Approval Processes: Built-in governance features allow agencies to implement approval workflows, ensuring content is reviewed before publication.
• Multi-Agency & Multi-Site Management: Ideal for state and local governments that manage multiple department websites under one system.

Granicus Cons

• Limited Customization: Granicus follows a standardized approach, which may not be as flexible as open-source CMS platforms like Drupal or WordPress for highly customized government websites.
• Subscription-Based Costs: Granicus operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, meaning ongoing costs for licensing and services, which can add up over time.
• Vendor Lock-in: Because it’s a proprietary system, migrating away from Granicus in the future can be challenging and may require a website rebuild.
• Less Developer Control: Unlike open-source CMS options, Granicus does not offer as much control over the backend or the ability to build custom features.
• Performance Issues with Large Traffic Surges: Some agencies report slowdowns during high-traffic events (e.g., emergencies, elections), though Granicus does provide cloud scalability.

Revize

Revize is a government-focused content management system (CMS) designed to help municipalities, counties, and other public agencies create and manage websites easily. Known for its user-friendly interface and built-in government-specific features, Revize enables local governments to enhance transparency, improve citizen engagement, and streamline service delivery. The platform provides hosting, security, and ongoing support, making it a popular choice for agencies with limited technical resources.

Revize Pros

• Government-Specific Features: Revize includes built-in modules for government needs, such as online payments, document management, event calendars, and service requests.
• User-Friendly Interface: Designed for non-technical users, making it easy for government staff to update content without needing advanced training.
• Affordable Pricing: More cost-effective than enterprise CMS platforms like Adobe Experience Manager, making it a good option for smaller municipalities.
• Security & Compliance: Supports government data security requirements, including WCAG accessibility standards, SSL encryption, and cloud-based backups.
• Cloud-Based Hosting & Support: Revize provides hosting, regular updates, and 24/7 customer support, reducing IT maintenance burdens for government agencies.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Websites built with Revize are mobile-friendly, ensuring accessibility for citizens across different devices.

Revize Cons

• Limited Customization: While Revize offers government-specific templates and tools, customization options aren’t as extensive as open-source CMS platforms like Drupal.
• Vendor Lock-in: Since Revize is a proprietary CMS, migrating to another platform in the future may require rebuilding the website from scratch.
• Scalability Challenges: While suitable for small to mid-sized government websites, Revize may not be the best choice for large-scale, multi-agency government portals requiring extensive integrations.
• Fewer Third-Party Integrations: Compared to platforms like WordPress or Drupal, Revize has fewer integrations with external software and services.
• Subscription-Based Costs: While more affordable than enterprise solutions, Revize operates on a SaaS model, meaning ongoing costs for licensing and hosting.

WordPress

WordPress is the world’s most popular open-source content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites. While designed as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a flexible and highly customizable CMS suitable for various industries, including government agencies. With thousands of plugins, themes, and integrations, WordPress allows government websites to be built efficiently while maintaining accessibility, security, and user-friendliness.

WordPress Pros

• Cost-Effective: WordPress is free and open-source, significantly reducing licensing costs compared to proprietary CMS platforms like Adobe Experience Manager or Granicus.
• Highly Customizable: With thousands of themes and plugins, WordPress can be tailored to meet specific government needs, from service request portals to multilingual support.
• Large Developer Community: A vast global community ensures continuous improvements, security updates, and support for government agencies.
• Ease of Use: The WordPress admin panel is user-friendly, making it easy for non-technical government staff to update content and manage pages.
• Security & Compliance: With proper configuration, security plugins, and managed hosting, WordPress can be compliant with government security and accessibility standards (WCAG, FedRAMP, etc.).
• SEO & Performance: WordPress offers robust SEO tools, caching plugins, and mobile-responsive themes to ensure fast performance and high search visibility.
• Multi-Site & Multilingual Capabilities: The WordPress Multisite feature allows government agencies to manage multiple department websites from a single installation.

WordPress Cons

• Security Risks: Because WordPress is widely used, it is a common target for cyberattacks. However, proper security measures (SSL, firewalls, frequent updates) can mitigate these risks.
• Plugin & Theme Management: While plugins add functionality, they also require regular updates and security monitoring to prevent vulnerabilities.
• Hosting & Maintenance Responsibilities: Unlike SaaS solutions like Granicus or CivicPlus, WordPress requires agencies to manage their hosting, security, and updates unless they use a managed hosting provider.
• Scalability Concerns for Large Agencies: While WordPress is scalable, large government portals with heavy traffic may require enterprise-level hosting solutions like WordPress VIP.
• Customization Requires Development Expertise: While WordPress is user-friendly, highly customized government websites may need experienced developers for advanced functionality.

Things to Consider When Picking a CMS for Your Government Website

While every government agency is different, each needs a website that is secure and accessible. Having a website that can be accessed by all constituents - regardless of disability and language spoken - is valuable. Learn about what to consider when picking a CMS for your government agency.

Security

Government agencies are frequent targets of cyberattacks, making it incredibly important that they be secure. For this reason, many government agencies choose proprietary CMS, which is often viewed as more secure than open-source CMS. However, popular open-source CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal offer strong security, with thousands of users actively addressing vulnerabilities. If you aren’t sure about what CMS would be best for your specific security needs, Inclind can talk you through the options.

Functionality

When building a website, it is necessary to take the time to think about what you need it to do. Consider the website size, the traffic it will likely get, and whether you need special features like a portal. This will help you determine the best CMS for your needs.

WordPress and Drupal are infinitely customizable, with tens of thousands of plugins and modules to add features. Proprietary CMS platforms like CivicPlus may offer essential features such as meeting management, notification systems, and recreation management. You can better evaluate your options and make a more informed decision by listing the needed features.

Cost

Government agencies tend to have more limited budgets - particularly local government entities. This can play a role in the CMS that you choose. Open-source platforms like WordPress and Drupal are much less expensive than proprietary software. Many proprietary CMS like CivicPlus and Granicus do not list their prices online - but you might pay tens of thousands of dollars to access this software. The cost of proprietary CMS software is based on population size and licensing requirements.

Accessibility

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, websites must be accessible to users with disabilities. This includes government websites. Having an accessible website is particularly important for governments, because without accessibility, a chunk of your constituents may not receive information or request services. Any CMS that you choose should have accessibility options.

Support

Many smaller government agencies do not have dedicated IT staff. This makes it necessary to choose a CMS that offers robust support. This could come from a company that sells a proprietary CMS - or a community of developers working on open-source CMS. Alternatively, you may hire an agency like Inclind to handle your ongoing website support and maintenance needs. Our experts can take on all the work needed to run a website, including security updates and patches.

Integrations

A government website offers the opportunity to collect and manage data that can be used to provide services more efficiently and effectively. You must integrate your website with other software - such as a constituent relationship management (CRM) platform. Some CMS platforms handle third-party integrations better than others. Open-source options like WordPress and Drupal typically integrate with nearly any software. Proprietary CMS might not integrate as well with other software. If you choose a proprietary CMS, Inclind can assist with custom integrations.

At Inclind, we don’t earn money by recommending a particular CMS. Our only goal is to help our clients pick a CMS that fits their needs. With years of experience assisting government agencies with their websites, we have the knowledge to advise you on the best CMS for your organization.

Work with Inclind to Build Your Government Website

Government agency websites are key for people to find information and access services. A well-designed, secure website is needed to ensure your agency can fulfill its role. We can help you achieve that goal by picking the right CMS.

Inclind offers enterprise-level web development and design services to government agencies across the U.S. We understand the unique needs of government agency websites - including security, accessibility, and functionality. Our website designers and developers have both the technical knowledge and the creativity to offer  Our network of website designers and developers uses their creativity and technical experience to help you not only choose the best CMS but to build a fantastic website.  We offer services, including website support and maintenance, site redesigns, custom integrations, and accessibility audits. 

We're available if you’d like to learn more about our website development services for government agencies. You can fill out our online contact form, call us at 1-302-856-2802, or hit the live chat button to talk to one of our experts about your website.