Magnolia Buyer Guide
Ever wondered how Magnolia’s users think it performs? Our detailed guide, synthesized from honest user experiences and feedback, can help you figure out what works well and what doesn’t. Discover the strengths and weaknesses of Magnolia before making a purchase decision.
Highlight the Right Reviews
Throughout the guide below, there are links directly to reviews. Select the reviewers most relevant to you, and those links will be highlighted in blue.
Table of Contents
Web Development and Management
Content Management
Users generally believe that Magnolia’s content management capabilities receive mixed reviews. While some users appreciate its ease of use for content editors and the ability to personalize content based on user characteristics, others find limitations in handling large volumes of content efficiently. The platform’s intuitive interface and focus on simplifying content editing are highlighted positively, but concerns about slow loading times for nodes in content apps and the complexity of certain workflows have been raised. Additionally, there are suggestions for improvement in documentation clarity and performance enhancements for heavily loaded content apps. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia is very well suited for enterprise grade Content Management and digital experience portals. It is not suited for casual users, small company or private websites.” – Team Lead in Information Technology, Financial Services, 1001-5000 employees
“Magnolia is put to good use [Source] creating a basic website with limited content. It is very easy for both the developer and the customer to contribute content.” – Employee in Engineering, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“I think that Magnolia is especially well trained to generate and manage multisite web pages and all their content. Regarding the scenario in which magnolia is less appropriate, I think it is directly related to the management of large volumes of content in the same content apps.” – Employee in Other, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
Web Development and Design
Users generally praise Magnolia’s web development and design capabilities. Reviewers highlight the platform’s flexibility in implementing various development needs and the ease of performing front-end development using technologies like VueJS, Angular, and ReactJS. The active community support and constant version upgrades are seen as significant advantages. However, some users mention a steep learning curve for in-depth platform understanding and suggest improvements in tracking modifications at both page and Content Apps levels. Despite these minor concerns, Magnolia’s web development and design features are generally well-regarded by users for their adaptability and reliability in creating and managing web content efficiently. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia is well suited for almost every scenario you can imagine. It is less appropriate for very basic web pages where other tools like WordPress are more specialized. Intuitive and user-friendly interface. Pretty easy to create new page templates and components for your pages.” – Engineer in Engineering, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“We often have over 100 sites in 1 instance, and Magnolia does not handle this well—lots of issues w/ authoring performance in general, publishing, and multiple editors at once.” – Team Lead in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 51-200 employees
“Magnolia allows you to create your websites in a really easy and fast way. No coding and enough available tools to create fancy sites. Also, in case something additional is needed, customization is easily supported so you can create new content apps expanding its capabilities.” – Director in Information Technology, Security & Investigations, 10,001+ employees
Site Customization and Templates
User sentiment regarding Magnolia’s site customization and templates capabilities is diverse. While some users appreciate the extensive customization options and ease of creating new page templates and components, others express frustration with the complexity of modifying layouts and the lack of intuitive drag-and-drop functionality. The platform’s reliance on technical skills for customization through light modules poses a barrier for non-technical users, impacting accessibility and ease of use. Additionally, concerns are raised about the need for improved documentation, particularly for new users navigating the customization process. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“The use of JCR and Nodes makes object serialization/deserialization painful. Jackson compatibility or similar would be a welcome enhancement to the developer experience.” – Employee in Engineering, Computer Software, 51-200 employees
“Magnolia is well suited for cases where an editor needs to make changes or edit the content on certain pages. In cases where you have a small volume of content and want to customize the content based on user characteristics.” – Employee in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
“Magnolia is put to good use creating a basic website with limited content. It is very easy for both the developer and the customer to contribute content.” – Employee in Engineering, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
Content Strategy and Optimization
Publishing and Editing
Users generally praise Magnolia for its content authoring and publishing capabilities. Reviewers highlight the ease of editing content, quick deployment of new functionality, and efficient content publication process. However, some users have raised concerns about the slow publishing mechanism when dealing with a high volume of elements. Despite this, Magnolia is commended for its user-friendly interface, flexible page building options, and streamlined approval process. The platform’s ability to customize content and provide a simple way for marketing users to manage information for public pages is well-received. Additionally, the software’s scalability and customizable features contribute to its positive reputation in the realm of publishing and editing. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“The speed you can update and publish content is far superior to our old CMS.” – Analyst in Marketing, Consumer Services, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia is perfect for Building simple landing pages, Building complex websites, Providing a simple way to allow the marketing users to manage the information that will be displayed in the public pages.” – Employee in Information Technology, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“Cons: With virtual mapping, it would be useful for there to be a way to organize items in groups and to filter (e.g., alphabetically).; Still, with virtual mapping, it would be easier if a page didn’t become redirected until the virtual URI is published.” – Professional in Corporate, Public Relations & Communications, 501-1000 employees
Performance and Speed Optimization
Users across various reviews have expressed differing opinions on Magnolia’s performance and speed optimization capabilities. While some users have highlighted the platform’s fast page load times and efficient content management, others have pointed out areas for improvement such as initial loading times and the need for better documentation. It seems that Magnolia’s performance and speed optimization features are generally perceived as satisfactory, with some room for enhancement to further streamline the user experience. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“The speed you can update and publish content is far superior to our old cms. Speed of development; Speed of content entry; Single source of assets. Magnolia itself is very fast.” – Analyst in Marketing, Consumer Services, 10,001+ employees
“At the performance level, we have seen drastic reductions in loading times, being much better than the old application we were using.” – Project Manager in Information Technology, Airlines/Aviation, 5001-10,000 employees
“While I do get occasional ‘freezes’ where the page takes long pauses in loading apps of trivial size (only a handful of entries), I cannot definitively say whether this is caused by Magnolia or the AWS instance on which it’s deployed. Most of the time, pages load quickly.” – Employee in Engineering, Computer Software, 51-200 employees
Marketing and SEO
Users generally praise Magnolia’s marketing and SEO capabilities, highlighting its effectiveness in streamlining content delivery and optimizing for search engines. The platform’s ability to enhance website visibility and drive traffic through SEO techniques is well-received by reviewers. Additionally, users appreciate the ease of use and flexibility Magnolia offers in managing marketing campaigns and SEO strategies. While some users mention minor drawbacks such as slow performance with large files, overall feedback indicates that Magnolia’s marketing and SEO functionalities are valuable assets for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and reach a wider audience. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia provides both regular end-users and developers the tools to develop digital content easily. Once a developer builds tools and makes them available in Magnolia, the product specialists or the marketing team can use those tools by simply dragging and dropping them to preview website changes.” – Manager in Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia is effective in many ways including handling some basic SEO needs, as well as designing and customizing pages. In addition, the ability to handle and manage our web content makes it a must-have.” – Professional in Information Technology, Human Resources, 51-200 employees
“Without using the connectors it is not so easy to connect special functionalities like Marketing tools or optimization tools. The DAM is very slow if you have a huge amount of documents and pictures to store for your website – you have to add an external DAM.” – Team Lead in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 10,001+ employees
Content Production and Management
Content Creation and Authoring
Users consistently highlight Magnolia’s content creation and authoring features as user-friendly and intuitive. They appreciate the ease of creating new page templates and components, allowing for efficient page building. However, some reviewers express a desire for more detailed descriptions of functionalities to enhance their content creation experience. Despite this minor feedback, Magnolia’s content creation and authoring capabilities are generally well-regarded by users for their simplicity and effectiveness. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia allows you to create your web sites in a really easy and fast way. No coding and enough available tools to create fancy sites.” – Director in Information Technology, Security & Investigations, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia is extremely well suited to our situation, it provides us with everything we require and if there are features that we would like they are always more than happy to work with us to implement them.” – Manager in Product Management, Hospitality, 5001-10,000 employees
“Without using the connectors it is not so easy to connect special functionalities like Marketing tools or optimization tools. The DAM is very slow if you have a huge amount of documents and pictures to store for your website – you have to add an external DAM.” – Team Lead in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 10,001+ employees
Asset and Media Management
Users have varying opinions on Magnolia’s asset and media management capabilities. Some reviewers praise the platform for its fast data search, quick asset provision, and ability to handle huge structural data efficiently. They appreciate the ease of managing content and images, highlighting the platform’s user-friendly interface and straightforward processes. However, others express concerns about challenges such as long loading times for large files like images and videos, as well as difficulties in managing resources and components effectively. Despite these mixed sentiments, Magnolia’s asset and media management features seem to offer a balance of strengths and areas for improvement according to user feedback. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“The pages generated with the content manager itself are rendered quickly, if these pages have many images to render, we make use of the imagin module which compresses these images with little loss of quality, loading quickly.” – Team Lead in Other, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“I give it a 9 star. The only time that the software has a long loading time is when uploading large files such as images and videos.” – Professional in Information Technology, Human Resources, 51-200 employees
“Batch image upload would be ideal; Publishing assets in batches; A feature where you can just click on components to edit rather than clicking the headlines to get the main component section.” – Employee in Marketing, Printing, 51-200 employees
Collaboration and Workflow Management
Users appreciate Magnolia’s workflow and collaboration features, noting the ease of use and effectiveness in streamlining content creation and publication processes. While some users mention occasional performance issues and workflow notifications not consistently working, overall, Magnolia’s workflow management capabilities are seen as a valuable asset for teams working on website development and maintenance. The platform’s ability to facilitate collaboration among different departments and roles within organizations is highlighted as a key strength, enabling efficient content management and ensuring governance throughout the content creation and publishing workflows. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
“At the user level, it is a rewarding and intuitive experience when it comes to creating websites, components, and content within content applications. Although, [Source] there is [Source] slowness when it comes to going through the workflow when publishing.” – Employee in Engineering, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“We use Magnolia to allow non-technical marketing and communications professionals to quickly and easily update websites on their own without technical support or development. The workflow also ensures governance so that all changes are reviewed/approved within the business as well as quality assurance review by our technical team before publishing.” – Professional in Marketing, Insurance, 5001-10,000 employees
“The workflow email notifications stop working every now and then.” – Employee in Marketing, Insurance, 10,001+ employees
Advanced Features and Integration
Integration and APIs
Reviewers consistently highlight Magnolia’s strong performance in terms of integration and API capabilities. Users appreciate the ease of integrating Magnolia with other systems and the flexibility it offers in managing APIs. While some mention minor performance issues with heavy data loads, overall, Magnolia’s integration and API functionalities are well-regarded for their reliability and efficiency. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia integrations with other systems did not have a negative impact. It keeps the pace with our top performant systems.” – Engineer in Information Technology, Banking, 1001-5000 employees
“The response time of the rest api is fast, even if the data to be returned is retrieved from an external system.” – Team Lead in Other, Computer Software, 1001-5000 employees
“The API access is really helpful and we’ve been able to use this with Python scripts to automate some otherwise laborious batch processing tasks and connect Magnolia with other systems.” – Director in Professional Services, Computer Software, 11-50 employees
Headless CMS and Digital Experience Platforms
Reviewers consistently highlight Magnolia’s headless CMS and digital experience platform as key strengths of the system. Users appreciate the flexibility and ease of use when it comes to managing content across various channels. The ability to personalize user experiences based on different platforms and leverage AI integrations for content production are also well-received features. While some users mention performance concerns and suggest a move towards a microservices architecture, overall, Magnolia’s headless capabilities and DXP functionalities are regarded positively by the majority of reviewers. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“PROS: Managing content; Personalization; Headless CMS; Light development – use of YAML to define apps Accelerated launch times; Scalability for growing websites; Reduced number of systems for our content management stack, headless integrations” – Engineer in Information Technology, Banking, 1001-5000 employees
“CONS: performance; headless offering; probably time to go for microservices architecture” – Manager in Information Technology, Electrical & Electronic Manufacturing, 5001-10,000 employees
“Magnolia is well suited for cases where Magnolia is going to be used to make web pages where an editor needs to make changes or edit the content on certain pages. In cases where you have a small volume of content and want to customize the content based on user characteristics. Also if you want to use it as headless.” – Employee in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
E-Commerce Solutions
Users consistently highlight Magnolia’s e-commerce solutions as a key strength, praising its robust capabilities in facilitating online transactions and managing digital content for various industries. The platform’s flexibility and scalability in supporting e-commerce websites, product catalogs, and multilingual content have garnered positive feedback from reviewers. Additionally, Magnolia’s integration with other services and its user-friendly interface have been commended for enhancing the overall e-commerce experience for both businesses and customers. Despite some minor concerns raised about specific features, the general consensus leans towards Magnolia being a reliable and effective solution for e-commerce needs. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
“Magnolia provides a decent CMS system for an e-commerce platform. Magnolia is SEO friendly. Magnolia has an easy to use interface. Magnolia provides an easy solution to an e-commerce business that wants to trade safely and securely online.” – Professional in Marketing, Printing, 501-1000 employees
“We are official partners of Magnolia, so we implemented Magnolia DXP in multiple customers with multiple use cases: e-commerce webs, industry services, tourism operators, airline companies, government, etc. Each of these use cases is different, with different needs, but, in the end, Magnolia facilitates the state of the art on customer business, and plays as a central platform for digital strategy.” – Engineer in Engineering, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
“The creation, editing, and even the automated publication process of web content is a scenario I have seen Magnolia tackle so effectively. Also, the inclusion of the payment cart option, to the website, through e-commerce support is another huge upgrade from the tool. Close monitoring of any access through traffic evaluation and security procedures is another significant step from Magnolia.” – Administrator in Information Technology, Construction, 51-200 employees
User Experience and Accessibility
User Experience and Interface
Reviewers generally praise Magnolia for its user-friendly interface and improved user experience. Users appreciate the ease of content management and the intuitive design of the platform. However, some reviewers have pointed out areas for improvement, such as the need for enhancements in the user interface and administration site performance. Despite some minor drawbacks, Magnolia’s user experience and interface capabilities are seen as strong assets by the majority of users. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“In terms of usability, the new version 6 has been a major change, reducing the learning curve for new users in the application.” – Project Manager in Information Technology, Airlines/Aviation, 5001-10,000 employees
“Their user interface is very nice and user-friendly. Since the release of Magnolia 6.0, their UI is on another level. Everything is easy to find by using their find bar.” – Engineer in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 11-50 employees
“The interface is very intuitive, except in some cases where you have to click too many times to perform certain actions.” – Analyst in Engineering, Consumer Services, 10,001+ employees
Mobile and Responsive Design
Reviewers consistently praise Magnolia for its robust mobile and responsive design capabilities. Users find that the platform excels in ensuring that websites are optimized for various devices, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience across different screen sizes. The consensus among users is that Magnolia’s mobile and responsive design features contribute significantly to the overall positive user experience. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
“Magnolia, as a DXP platform, has multiple capabilities that make it easy for users to manage the platform, for example, WYSIWYG Editors are very easy to use because you can test it in development time how end-users will see the web pages. Mobile capabilities Agnostic front-end development, makes visualization work perfectly across different channels.” – Engineer in Engineering, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
“The software is also amazing when it comes to publishing – (small files – large files takes forever). The publishing workflow capabilities are also top notch.” – Professional in Information Technology, Consumer Electronics, 11-50 employees
“CONS: The upgrades.; Automation.; Mobile responsiveness.” – Professional in Marketing, Printing, 501-1000 employees
Multilingual and Globalization Support
Users consistently praise Magnolia’s multilingual and globalization support features for their ability to enhance website functionality and reach a global audience effectively. The inclusion of multilingual support allows for the hosting of websites in various regions, catering to diverse language preferences. Additionally, the globalization support ensures smooth transactions and content sharing across different countries, making Magnolia a versatile and globally viable platform. Users appreciate the ease with which they can manage multiple sites and share data between them, thanks to the robust multilingual and globalization capabilities of Magnolia. (Source Reviews: 1, 2)
“Magnolia has a multilingual support, hence, giving us freedom of hosting the web sites in different space/areas.” – Manager in Information Technology, Civic & Social Organization, 51-200 employees
“Includes support for multilingual websites.” – Consultant in Marketing, Aviation & Aerospace, 1001-5000 employees
Analysis and Improvement
Analytics and Reporting
User consensus on Magnolia’s analytics and reporting capabilities varies across reviews. Some users appreciate the platform’s ability to provide quick and easy data analytics, allowing for effective monitoring of web traffic and campaign performance. They find the reporting features to be straightforward and configurable, enabling them to make data-driven decisions efficiently. However, other users express concerns about the lack of robust reporting capabilities, noting limitations in generating specific ad-hoc reports and tracking changes within the platform. Despite these mixed opinions, Magnolia’s analytics and reporting functionalities seem to play a significant role in enhancing users’ overall experience with the platform. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
“The main improvement area from my point of view are the reporting features. There is no easy way of obtaining information about how your users are using the platform. Especific ad-hoc reports can be built, but the platform does not support it out of the box.” – Director in Information Technology, Security & Investigations, 10,001+ employees
“For the most part, we don’t have any issues with Magnolia’s performance. The pages load quickly and requests are processed through the workflow in a very timely manner. I think that reporting capability is really lacking though in our version of Magnolia and that is something that I hope will be addressed in the near future.” – Professional in Marketing, Insurance, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia ensures sites developed don’t take too long to load, hence, they are responsive and consistent. Magnolia is a multi-operational program, which ensures different activities like SEO, Analytics, and others are done under one roof.” – Professional in Information Technology, Logistics & Supply Chain, 51-200 employees
Platform and Configuration Management
User sentiment about Magnolia’s platform and configuration management capabilities varies across reviews. While some users praise the platform for its flexibility, ease of use, and ability to connect to various services, others express concerns about the learning curve, lack of documentation, and limitations in customization options. The platform’s open architecture allows for extensive customization and integration, but some users find it challenging to navigate and require technical expertise to fully leverage its capabilities. Additionally, there are mixed opinions regarding the platform’s performance and scalability, with some users highlighting its efficiency and others pointing out potential issues with memory usage and content handling. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia is a very capable DXP, that provides client with lots of flexibility in composing its own stack. While the core of the platform is a content management system, the open architecture of Magnolia DXP allows it to connect to any platform, allowing client to extend the capabilities.” – Manager in Marketing, Financial Services, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia allows you to create your web sites in a really easy and fast way. No coding and enough available tools to create fancy sites. Also in case something additional is needed, customization is easily supported so you can create new content apps expanding its capabilities.” – Director in Information Technology, Security & Investigations, 10,001+ employees
“The latest version has made it more complicated to customize content apps than in previous versions. It has a steep learning curve for new developers.” – Employee in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
Support and Compliance
Security and Compliance
Users consistently highlight Magnolia’s security and compliance features as key strengths of the platform. They appreciate the robust security options that are already in place, ensuring compliance readiness for audits. Hosting on the cloud further enhances operational resilience, enabling 24/7 availability. Additionally, reviewers note a reduction in system security concerns, indicating a proactive approach to maintaining a secure environment. Magnolia’s emphasis on security and compliance is a recurring theme in user feedback, underscoring its commitment to providing a secure and compliant web content management solution. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
“Magnolia has the best security options already set. This helps us be compliant and ready for any audit.” – Manager in Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals, 10,001+ employees
“Magnolia also wins when it comes to security. It is very secure and this is an important feature.” – Employee in Marketing, Real Estate, 11-50 employees
“Reduction in system security concerns.” – Manager in Marketing, Printing, 51-200 employees
Training and Documentation
Users have expressed mixed feelings about Magnolia’s training and documentation. While some find the platform intuitive and require minimal training, others mention a steep learning curve, especially for new developers. The documentation is seen as helpful by some, but there are also calls for improvement to cater to different user levels. It appears that the effectiveness of training and documentation in Magnolia is subjective and dependent on individual user experiences. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
“Magnolia makes it easy to use for content editors, everything is focused on making it easy to use for this type of user. However, the learning curve can be steep and the concept of publishing can be complicated at first for certain types of users.” – Employee in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 1001-5000 employees
“For tech savvy people, using Magnolia is easy. However, [Source] for new users with no experience in coding, it can be a long learning curve to finally take advantage of this software.” – Professional in Information Technology, Consumer Electronics, 11-50 employees
“CONS: Steep learning curve for the admins / developers.; Some user interface features don’t always work, sometimes even crash the system (deleting messages in bulk for example).” – Consultant in Information Technology, Consumer Electronics, 201-500 employees
Technical Support and Community
Users consistently praise Magnolia for its exceptional technical support, citing the prompt assistance and knowledgeable responses provided by the support team. The active community surrounding Magnolia is also highly regarded, with users expressing gratitude for the valuable insights, tips, and best practices shared within the community forums. While there may be occasional challenges or areas for improvement, the overall consensus is that Magnolia’s technical support and community resources greatly enhance the user experience and contribute to the platform’s success. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4)
“The active community behind it to provide support and help.” – Project Manager in Information Technology, Airlines/Aviation, 5001-10,000 employees
“It seems to have fairly decent community support and documentation.” – Engineer in Information Technology, Information Technology & Services, 10,001+ employees
“It has a strong and very active community.” – Consultant in Marketing, Aviation & Aerospace, 1001-5000 employees
