Multisite CMS
A multisite CMS is a content management system that runs several websites on a single installation (brands, countries, subsidiaries, campaign sites). Each site keeps its own domain, site tree and editors, while the platform, components and part of the content can be shared.
Definition and how it works
The trade-off is dependency. An upgrade, an outage or a change to a shared component affects every site at once. The central question in a multisite project is therefore governance. The article Multisite CMS: features, challenges, how to choose details the features.
Related terms: Multilingual CMS · Enterprise CMS · Content management system · DXP vs CMS · Template Set
Resources that cover this term
Multisite CMS vs multi-instance: the differences
A multisite CMS shares one installation across several sites.
| Approach | What separates it from a multisite CMS |
|---|---|
| Multi-instance | One installation per site. More independence, but as many upgrades, hosting setups and patches, with version gaps creeping in. |
| Multilingual CMS | One site delivered in several languages. It combines with multisite without replacing it. |
| Enterprise CMS | A platform built for governance, security, integration and contribution by many teams. |
Multisite CMS in practice
One possible split of roles leaves the central team in charge of components, branding, content models, security and shared regulatory content. Local teams manage their pages, news and translations.
Frequently asked questions
Which content should a group’s websites share?
Content that has a single owner and the same meaning everywhere: legal notices, product sheets, privacy policy. News, local offers or country-specific pages stay attached to their own site. Sharing too much creates content nobody dares to edit, because nobody knows where it is published or what depends on it.
How do you launch a new site on a multisite platform?
Ideally from a site template, with site tree, approved components, roles and workflows already configured. The local team adds content and connects its domain, with no development. If every new site requires a development project, the platform is multisite on paper only.