When choosing a content management system (CMS), it’s important to understand how each platform works, especially when it comes to staging and production environments. Two of the most popular CMS options, HubSpot CMS and WordPress, have distinct differences in their technical setups, particularly in how they handle staging and production. Whether you’re an experienced developer or a business owner exploring CMS options, understanding these differences will help you make a more informed decision.

This article dives into the core differences between HubSpot CMS and WordPress, particularly around their technical setup, staging versus production environments, and key usability aspects.

The Basics: Open Source vs. Closed System

One of the most significant differences between WordPress and HubSpot CMS is in their technical structure:

  • WordPress: WordPress is an open-source CMS, which means that anyone can download, install, and modify it. With open-source software, you have full control over the platform, allowing you to customize it as much as you want, whether through plugins, themes, or coding. However, this flexibility comes with added responsibility. With WordPress, you’ll need a hosting provider, security setup, regular updates, and backups. While many hosting providers simplify this with built-in WordPress tools, it still requires more technical management than a fully hosted CMS.
  • HubSpot CMS: Unlike WordPress, HubSpot CMS is a fully hosted platform, meaning HubSpot manages all aspects of the infrastructure. There’s no need to set up hosting, install security plugins, or worry about server maintenance. With HubSpot, you’re using a closed system with a more guided experience, where the platform’s functionality is built-in and automatically maintained by HubSpot’s team. This makes it easier for non-technical users and reduces the need for a separate hosting provider or back-end management.
  • In summary: WordPress offers flexibility and control at the cost of additional management, while HubSpot CMS provides a straightforward, secure solution that simplifies the entire process. This difference directly impacts how staging and production environments work on each platform.

Staging vs. Production Environments Explained

Both WordPress and HubSpot CMS offer staging environments, though they operate differently. To understand the distinction, let’s look at how each CMS approaches this important feature.

WordPress Staging

In a WordPress environment, a staging site is typically a complete replica of your live site, hosted on a separate server or subdomain (for example, “staging.yourwebsite.com”). Many hosting providers offer WordPress-specific staging environments, making it easier to set up and manage a duplicate version of your site.

Here’s how a WordPress staging environment typically works:

  • Push-to-Production: Once you’re satisfied with the changes on your staging site, most hosts allow you to “push” the changes to your production (live) site with a single click. This is ideal for making sure that updates don’t interfere with your site’s functionality or create downtime during deployment.
  • Full Control Over Customization: A staging environment on WordPress allows you to test changes, including new plugins, themes, or custom code, in a separate environment that mirrors your live site. This control is essential if you’re making significant updates, like changing themes or testing complex plugins that could affect functionality or layout.

WordPress staging provides flexibility, allowing you to fully replicate your site’s environment and conduct detailed tests before pushing updates live. It’s highly customizable, but setting it up may require additional technical expertise.

HubSpot CMS Staging

HubSpot CMS also offers a staging tool, but it functions differently from WordPress’s setup. HubSpot’s Content Staging tool is a built-in feature that allows users to preview and test website changes in a draft environment before pushing them live.

Here’s how HubSpot CMS staging works:

  • Content Staging in a Closed System: HubSpot’s staging environment isn’t a full replica of your website. Instead, it’s a content-focused staging area where you can draft, edit, and preview individual pages or sets of pages without affecting your live site. The staging environment operates within HubSpot, so you don’t need to set up separate servers or subdomains.
  • Publishing to Production: When your content or page updates are ready, you can publish them directly from the staging environment to your live site. This is a straightforward process that HubSpot manages internally, ensuring a seamless transition from staging to production without requiring additional server configurations.

HubSpot CMS staging is an integrated, content-driven tool that simplifies the preview and publishing process. While it’s less customizable than WordPress’s full-site staging, it’s ideal for non-technical users who want a safe place to draft and test content changes.

Key Differences in Staging Flexibility and Customization

The staging environments in WordPress and HubSpot CMS differ significantly in terms of flexibility and customization.

  • Customization in WordPress Staging: With WordPress, you have full control to replicate your production environment for in-depth testing. This makes WordPress ideal for businesses needing to test complex functionality, custom plugins, or backend modifications. However, this control comes with a need for technical management, as you may need to troubleshoot conflicts, manually set up the staging site, and ensure security on both staging and production.
  • HubSpot’s Simplicity in Content Staging: HubSpot CMS staging is designed to simplify the process, focusing on content and design updates rather than server-level customization. This makes it a great option for teams looking for a streamlined environment where they can draft, preview, and publish changes without a deep understanding of technical infrastructure. It’s limited in customization but highly accessible, providing a “worry-free” staging experience for content-based updates.Which to Choose? If you need extensive customization and testing capabilities, WordPress is the better choice. If you prefer simplicity and are primarily making content updates, HubSpot CMS’s integrated staging tool is likely a better fit.

Ease of Use and Maintenance

Each platform’s approach to staging and production has a direct impact on how easy they are to manage on a daily basis:

  • HubSpot CMS: HubSpot CMS offers a more straightforward, fully managed environment. Because HubSpot handles hosting, updates, and security, users don’t have to worry about maintaining infrastructure. The Content Staging tool is directly within the HubSpot interface, making it easy for marketing teams to draft and publish content without technical help.
  • WordPress: WordPress offers tremendous flexibility, but it requires more hands-on management. Regular updates, backups, security checks, and potential conflicts between plugins all add to the maintenance workload. A technical team or experienced user is often necessary to maintain a WordPress site effectively, especially when using custom code or plugins.

Deciding Which CMS is Right for You

Choosing between HubSpot CMS and WordPress largely depends on your organization’s needs, technical skills, and priorities.

  • Choose HubSpot CMS if: You want a fully managed, all-in-one CMS that handles hosting, security, and updates for you. HubSpot CMS is ideal for businesses that prioritize simplicity and prefer focusing on content rather than technical setup. The Content Staging tool makes it easy to preview and publish updates, especially for non-technical users.
  • Choose WordPress if: You need maximum control over your website and are willing to invest in managing technical aspects. WordPress’s staging environments are ideal for replicating the production environment and testing complex updates before pushing them live, making it a better fit for custom projects and businesses with technical resources.

Final Thoughts

HubSpot CMS and WordPress are both powerful CMS options, but they serve different types of users and organizations. WordPress provides flexibility and in-depth customization at the cost of more management and technical oversight, while HubSpot CMS offers a streamlined, fully hosted experience that’s easier to manage.

Ultimately, your decision should reflect your team’s technical abilities, content management needs, and the level of control you want over your website. With the right CMS choice, you’ll be well-equipped to manage your site’s content, design, and performance efficiently.