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Joomla vs Story Chief vs TakeShape Comparison

Last updated:

Joomla

4.1(632 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Joomla is a content management system that powers millions of websites and enables people to build online communities and powerful online applications. It is used by all types of organizations and individuals, from blogg…

Story Chief

4.5(20 reviews)

Starting at $12 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

StoryChief is a cloud-based content management system that allows editors and designers to manage and automate the process of creating brand-specific content for editorial and marketing teams within an organization. Stor…

TakeShape

Starting at $100 /Month

  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

TakeShape is a content management system with a completely new design that allows users with no technical expertise to build websites, blogs, create forms and respond to others' input. The new responsive design features…

Story Chief leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 20 reviews.

Joomla vs Story Chief vs TakeShape — at a glance

FeatureJoomlaStory ChiefTakeShape
Rating4.1 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews63220
Starting priceContact for pricing$12 /Month$100 /Month
Free trial No Yes No
Free version No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategoryContent Management SoftwareContent Management SoftwareContent Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobalUS

Key differences between Joomla and Story Chief

  • Pricing: Story Chief starts at $12 /Month. Joomla pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Story Chief offers a free trial; Joomla does not.
  • Target audience: Joomla is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Story Chief targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Story Chief scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: Joomla supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Story Chief supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Joomla vs Story Chief vs TakeShape — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Content Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Joomla - Content Management Software
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TakeShape - Content Management Software
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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Joomla

Best for customizable, multilingual websites for businesses and large organizations.

Choose if
  • You need a flexible, open-source CMS with extensive customization options.
  • You require strong multilingual support for global or diverse audiences.
  • Your team includes web developers or content managers comfortable with medium complexity.
Consider alternatives if
  • You want a simple, out-of-the-box website solution with minimal setup.
  • You need access to a large, diverse marketplace of plugins and templates.

Story Chief

Best for streamlined multi-channel content creation and SEO guidance.

Choose if
  • You need simple, intuitive content editing with built-in SEO tips.
  • Your team requires easy distribution across multiple social and publishing channels.
  • You are a small to medium business focused on content or digital marketing.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization demands extensive template design customization.
  • You require real-time simultaneous collaboration on content creation.

TakeShape

Best for

Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Joomla: Best for customizable, multilingual websites for businesses and large organizations. Story Chief: Best for streamlined multi-channel content creation and SEO guidance.

Description

Joomla is a content management system that powers millions of websites and enables people to build online communities and powerful online applications. It is used by all types of ... Read More about Joomla

StoryChief is a cloud-based content management system that allows editors and designers to manage and automate the process of creating brand-specific content for editorial and marketing ... Read More about Story Chief

TakeShape is a content management system with a completely new design that allows users with no technical expertise to build websites, blogs, create forms and respond to others' input. The ... Read More about TakeShape

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $12 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $100

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.7/10

9.1/10

8.5/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.5

(20)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
Small BusinessMedium Business
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Software Demo

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do Joomla, Story Chief and TakeShape Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

10 Features

9 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Joomla, Story Chief and TakeShape on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • Not Available
        • $12 , Billed Yearly
        • $100

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Free

          • World-class online editor

          • Invite team members & guest writers

          • Get approval from stakeholders

          Show more +

        • Essential

          • Unlimited Stories & Social Updates

          • Measure Article Performance

          • Removed StoryChief Branding

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Includes featurtes of Essential plan, plus

          • Smart Content Calendar

          • Editorial Briefing

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • Not Available

        Pricing Page

        Pricing information not available

        Story Chief pricing
        TakeShape pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global
        🇺🇸 US

        Joomla vs Story Chief User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        No reviews available for the product

        Rating Distribution

        184

        122

        36

        17

        7

        20

        1

        1

        0

        0

        No reviews available for this product

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlights Joomla's flexibility, customization options, and suitability for both novice and advanced users, tempered by concerns about complexity and plugin availability.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of customization
        • User-friendly interface
        • Open-source flexibility

        Common complaints

        • Learning curve for new users
        • Limited plugin and template selection

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally express high satisfaction with StoryChief’s ease of use, SEO features, and multi-channel distribution, though some desire more customization and collaboration capabilities.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • SEO guidance
        • Multi-channel publishing

        Common complaints

        • Limited template customization
        • Lack of simultaneous collaboration

        What buyers like

        • User-friendly interface
        • Responsive design
        • No technical skills required

        Common complaints

        • Limited advanced features
        • Basic analytics tools
        • Customization may be restricted

        Pros and Cons

        • Extensive library of components and plugins enabling high customization

        • User-friendly interface suitable for both novice and experienced users

        • Open-source platform allowing customization without licensing fees

        • Steep learning curve due to complex customization features

        • Smaller selection of plugins and templates compared to competitors

        • Intuitive editor with collaboration tools

        • SEO guidance and readability analysis

        • Seamless multi-channel content distribution

        • Limited customization options in design and templates

        • Restricted native posting channels (e.g., no Vkontakte or Telegram)

        • Intuitive design allows quick setup and management.

        • Responsive layout ensures optimal viewing on all devices.

        • Empowers users without technical skills to create content.

        • May lack advanced customization options.

        • Not suitable for large-scale enterprise needs.

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Media and Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        1 Videos

        video-0

        1 Videos

        Alternatives

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

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        Related Blogs and Articles for Content Management Software

        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Joomla or Story Chief?
        Story Chief edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Joomla and Story Chief offer a free trial?
        Story Chief offers a free trial. Joomla does not.
        What is the starting price of Joomla vs Story Chief?
        Joomla starts at Contact for pricing. Story Chief starts at $12 /Month.
        What are the top alternatives to Joomla?
        Top alternatives to Joomla include Story Chief, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow.
        What are the top alternatives to Story Chief?
        Top alternatives to Story Chief include TalentLMS, Posted, Drupal, Kentico CMS, Contentful.

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