CMS Comparison: WordPress vs. Joomla vs. Drupal | Which is The Best

The global sales target through various applications and websites is estimated to reach $5.4 trillion in 2022. Every newly introduced or old website needs a content management system to update its content. Although CMS is crucial for every kind of website, its significance increases when you are managing an eCommerce business. As per the change in product and its stock availability, you need to update new information timely. The convenience of editing with required controls depends on an ideal CMS only.

Modern CMS platforms are so simple to use and they provide accessibility that enables anyone to create a professional-looking website with the help of web development tools. You also don’t need the professional skills of a web developer, or designer, or have any prior website-building expertise. On the basis of the user’s experience, we have concluded the best content management systems list. Have a look.

Comparing the Best CMS Features

In this article, we are conducting a comprehensive study covering the differences between below top CMS platforms:-

• WordPress
• Joomla
• Drupal

Below is a list of comparison factors that will help you in figuring out the best option as per your need.

Overall Expenses and Cost

The cost of CMS depends on different integrated features. Each of these three finest CMS is completely free; you can download them directly from their official websites in just a few clicks. However, there are some other fees that you must bear. These additional costs primarily include web hosting and domain name. Some users may also need additional modules and designs that further increase the cost. The domain name and web hosting services range between $13-$15. The price for plugins and themes may differ as mentioned below:-

User-Friendly

The second most important thing to figure out is its ease of use on a regular basis. You will be able to use any of these finest CMS from the list without any prior expertise. However, the outcomes may differ depending on your expectations and the complexity of the site you intend to create. WordPress can be considered the most user-friendly category. It’s a lot easier to enhance the usability of your website and select and customize the designs.

If you need more customized designs, Joomla and Drupal are more developer-oriented and expect you to be relatively familiar with working with HTML and PHP. For giving a website a custom look, you may have to pay an expert to teach you how to use Joomla or Drupal. Thus, WordPress is the winner when it comes to comparing the level of expertise required.

Ease of Customization

For deep customization in designs and functionality, all three CMS offer some add-ons that are known as plugins, extensions, or modules. The number of customizable features differs in all these content management system platforms. Have a look at the comparison:-

WordPress has the most plugins, and the most user-friendly plugins available. They’re designed for the site’s end user, with a streamlined user interface and simple control panels.

Joomla also has a good extension library, albeit it is somewhat less than WordPress. Extensions for all of your site’s most important features are still available.

Drupal modules are geared toward programmers. You’ll find a number of options for expanding APIs, setting up extra tokens for developers, and managing advanced users, among other things.

Design Options

When it comes to choosing a CMS, the quality of the design is crucial because we expect our sites to be attractive and not distracting. WordPress has the highest number of themes as compared to others. You are free to choose between free and paid options. In order to begin, browse through the official theme directory available at the official website of this CMS. Alone in the free section, you will find more than 8000 free themes to download. Moreover, thousands of WordPress themes are also available on third-party platforms on the web to use.

On the other hand, Joomla and Drupal have a significantly limited selection. It has very few eye-catching themes. Thus, WordPress is again the winner when comparing the free and premium installable designs.

Cybersecurity Strength

Every 50-60 days, you may expect a new update in the WordPress version. Most of these updates target minor bugs and other issues. The big WordPress updates are usually rolled out a maximum of 1-2 times a year. Joomla updates covering minor changes are released more frequently, generally every 10-40 days. However, larger upgrades sometimes require more than a year to become fully functional. Drupal has a strict release schedule, with one security upgrade and bug fix delivered every month. Major updates are likely to be released twice a year.

More than 90% of all attacked websites belong to WordPress alone as it is the most popular CMS with the highest number of global users. It will, of course, get a considerably larger portion of hacking opportunities. Furthermore, because so many of these sites use WordPress, attackers will see a bigger return on their investment if they break into WordPress.

When it comes to the security aspects, Drupal comes in first place. Due to its security robustness, renowned institutions and even government agencies prefer Drupal.

Community & Official Support

Each CMS has its different support system and community channels. We are enlisting their support features in the following table:-

When To Use Which CMS

For DIY website designing projects while also ensuring that the interface is engaging without compromising any feature, WordPress is the all-around content management system. Drupal can be a suitable option if you need a website equipped with bespoke features without compromising top-notch security. Joomla is a platform that sits between Drupal and WordPress platforms.

It provides a lot of user-facing functionality on the one hand, but it also requires you to custom-code the quasi-pieces. All three are the best CMS platforms, their significance depends on your expectations.