Kentico has evolved from a simple content management system (CMS) into a sophisticated digital experience platform (DXP) used by global brands to build, market, and optimise their websites. In this updated guide, we’ll explore Kentico’s history, modern products, pricing, reviews, and how it compares with WordPress.
This article is for informational purposes only. For professional marketing or web development advice, consult an experienced digital agency.
History of Kentico
The story of Kentico starts back in 2004 with Petr Palas, a Czech developer who believed there could be a more efficient way to manage and publish content. His goal wasn’t financial gain but productivity — building a CMS that would make life easier for web developers and marketing teams worldwide.
Within the first 12 months, Kentico built a strong team and a CMS product without ever taking outside funding (Kentico: Our Story). From its small beginnings, Kentico grew into a trusted global CMS provider.
By 2011, Kentico launched Kentico Plus, an early SaaS-based CMS — well ahead of its time. The product reflected broader trends in enterprise digital transformation, where businesses sought scalable, .NET-based solutions integrated with Microsoft tools (Microsoft Learn). Over the next decade, Kentico expanded rapidly, continually adapting its technology to meet modern digital marketing and e-commerce needs.
Kentico Today
Kentico has moved far beyond its original CMS offering. Today, it operates as two distinct yet complementary platforms under the Kentico Software umbrella:
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Xperience by Kentico – a unified digital experience platform (DXP)
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Kontent.ai by Kentico – a headless CMS for flexible content delivery
Xperience by Kentico
This modern DXP integrates marketing automation, analytics, e-commerce, and personalization tools into a single platform. According to Gartner, DXPs like Xperience enable organisations to deliver consistent, personalised experiences across all digital channels.
Built on Microsoft .NET, Xperience provides scalability, security, and native integration with Azure Cloud services. It helps mid-market and enterprise companies accelerate growth through advanced marketing campaigns, commerce capabilities, and performance analytics.
Kontent by Kentico
Kontent is a headless CMS that separates content creation from presentation. This allows developers and marketers to work simultaneously — marketers focus on writing and structuring content, while developers design omnichannel experiences using APIs.
For teams with minimal IT experience, Kentico offers full support and pre-built workflows. For advanced users, it provides complete freedom to develop custom digital experiences.
With Kontent and Xperience, Kentico offers flexible solutions for businesses of all sizes — from agile startups to large global enterprises.
Awards
Kentico has earned industry recognition for innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction:
- Kontent by Kentico ranked #12 on G2’s 2022 Best Software Awards.
- Kentico Xperience was named a Digital Experience Platform Leader by G2 in 2020.
- Kentico earned 5 stars in the Emerce100 list for CMS software.
- Kentico CMS won gold and silver medals in the 2011 DevPro Connections Community Choice Awards.
Kentico continues to receive positive feedback for innovation and customer support, reinforcing its credibility among mid-market and enterprise clients.
CMS Vulnerabilities
Like all major CMS platforms, Kentico has faced security challenges. The company, however, actively manages vulnerabilities through its Security Hotfix Program and detailed developer documentation on DevNet.
According to CVE Details, historical risks included:
- .NET object deserialization
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- SQL injection
- Code execution (XSS)
- Buffer overflow
To maintain a secure Kentico environment:
- Regularly update to the newest Kentico version
- Implement SSL certificates and strong password policies
- Audit admin permissions and database access
- Use secure Azure hosting configurations
For more on secure CMS practices, visit the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide.
Well-Known Websites that use Kentico as their CMS
Over two decades, Kentico has powered a diverse range of websites across industries — from technology and healthcare to e-commerce and media.
Kentico Xperience clients include: Allergan, Ingram Micro, Konica Minolta, Land O’Lakes, PPG, and the Red Cross.
Kontent by Kentico powers global brands such as Vogue, Hotels.com, and Cadbury.
These implementations demonstrate Kentico’s flexibility for multi-language, multi-site content delivery and enterprise scalability. Explore more examples on Kentico’s customer stories page.
Kentico vs WordPress Comparison
With dozens of CMS options available, the choice between Kentico and WordPress often depends on your team’s technical needs, budget, and scalability goals.
While both are popular, they cater to distinct audiences.
Kentico Pros
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Easy-to-use interface and streamlined dashboard
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All-in-one system for CMS, e-commerce, and marketing automation
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Scalable for small businesses to enterprises
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Responsive, expert technical support
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Secure Microsoft .NET architecture
Kentico Cons
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Complex back-end data management
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“Jack-of-all-trades” approach can dilute specialisation
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Expensive licensing plans for small businesses
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Overwhelming number of features for new users
WordPress Pros
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Free installation and low hosting costs
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Huge plugin ecosystem for customisation
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SEO-friendly framework and mobile responsiveness
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Strong community support and documentation
WordPress Cons
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Frequent plugin updates and compatibility issues
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Vulnerable to security risks without regular maintenance
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Performance can slow due to unoptimised code
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Advanced customisation may require developer skills
According to W3Techs (2025), WordPress powers over 43% of the web, while Kentico remains a trusted option for enterprises requiring more controlled, integrated systems.
Want to know more pros and cons of Kentico vs WordPress? Check out the YouTube video below!
Pricing
Kentico’s pricing depends on which product you choose and the scale of your implementation.
Kontent by Kentico offers three packages:
- Developer – Free
- Scale – $2,499 per month
- Enterprise – Custom quote
Kentico Xperience offers three annual subscription licenses:
- Business – $10,500 per year
- Enterprise – $18,900 per year
- Corporate – Custom quote
These tiers reflect Kentico’s enterprise positioning, bundling security, support, and updates into one subscription. According to SoftwareSuggest, Kentico’s pricing is justified by its built-in marketing tools and robust infrastructure.
Reviews
Here at Websults, we are all about transparency. We don’t want to mislead or misguide anyone since we understand how much work it takes to run and maintain a business. Below we have selected a variety of both positive and negative reviews of Kentico Xperience and Kontent by Kentico to give you an honest idea of what real customers think of their services.
Like any CMS product, there are always going to be pros and cons. Customer reviews are a great way to help you decide what may or may not work for your business specifically. Let us help you find out if Kentico products are best suited for your business!
Product: Kentico Xperience
Reviewed By: Hirani K
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- “I love most the fact that Kentico Xperience is a full-featured CMS that is it provides analytics, social media, marketing, e-commerce, etc. The user interface is impressive and well designed so easy to find things. Delivers exactly what one needs because it is so easy to customize based on needs.”
Product: Kentico Xperience
Reviewed On: Gartner Peer Insights
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- “It’s so flexible, it gives us too much choice. It’s hard for us to determine what the best solution for us is when thinking about scaling. eg: what frameworks do we develop in etc.”
Product: Kontent by Kentico
Reviewed By: Karman W
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- “I enjoy how seamless and overall User Experience design of this CMS. It is easy to follow and has consistent functionality. In comparison to other competitors, it has better technical support and overall layout.”
Product: Kontent by Kentico
Reviewed on: G2 Product Review
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- “WordPress has a better navigation and menu system. I spend weeks on implementing a menu with only three layers, it’s harder to create a menu or a sidebar in Kontent.”
Kentico Training Resources
To support developers and marketers, Kentico offers a range of official learning tools and certifications:
- https://xperience.training.kentico.com/
- https://www.kentico.com/resources
- https://xperience.io/services/training
- https://kontent.ai/e-learning/
- https://kontent.ai/resources/
For additional technical skills, Microsoft’s ASP.NET training is recommended to enhance integration capabilities within Kentico’s framework.
Websults | SEO Agency Located in Clearwater, FL
At Websults, we primarily build websites using WordPress, but we also assist clients transitioning from older platforms like Kentico to modern CMS solutions. Our team helps plan and execute secure migrations that maintain SEO value and data integrity.
We specialise in web design services, SEO services, and digital marketing to help businesses grow online. Whether you need CMS migration, hosting support, or custom eCommerce development, our team provides a complete digital solution.
Contact Websults for a free consultation and discover how our experienced developers can modernise your website for 2025 and beyond.
