WordPress vs Drupal – Which CMS To Choose?

Drupal was launched long before WordPress (WP). Yet, WP powers 28% of websites, while Drupal’s share is 2.3%.

Now, this doesn’t simply make WordPress better than Drupal.

Or does it?

Here lies the dilemma. Drupal or WordPress? Which one should you go for?

Both WordPress and Drupal come with their own set of benefits and their loyal followers. But you’re not sure which platform will work better for your business.Why? Because:

• Both platforms are open source solutions i.e. you can use and develop these further for free.
• Both have strong community support. In case of any issue, you can easily access a community, where users and developers can help you with your questions.
• Both are user-friendly and easy-to-use.
• Both platforms are free to use and own a complete library of plugins and modules.

Apart from the similarities, WordPress and Drupal are quite different too. So which CMS you go for should entirely depend upon the kind of website you own.

Let’s take a look at the major differences between WordPress and Drupal:

Pricing

You can initially set up WordPress at zero cost. However, any premium themes or plugins may cost you more. On the other hand, Drupal’s initial set up is also free, but it may cost you extra, as you need to hire an expert. It entirely depends on what your needs are.

Technical Expertise

A technical expert or even an amateur can easily use WordPress to build a simple website. However, you may want to hire a developer if it is a complex website. But to build a website in Drupal, you must be a technical expert. Especially, if you have plans to introduce changes in it to help it evolve. Development with Drupal can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Extensibility & Customizability

WordPress allows for easy customization with its built-in options. Using these, you can make both design and functionality changes. Change anything from color schemes and widgets to header and background images. There are 55,000 plugins available along with thousands of themes if you want to extend your website.

Drupal is already about building custom websites, which is why it also has numerous built-in options for customization. Tailor any design or functionality as per your specific requirements with 40,000+ modules and 26,000+ themes. 

Size

WordPress initially emerged as a blogging platform. So handling large volumes of data is a bit challenging for WordPress. It might give you a slower experience. Contrary to that, Drupal has the potential to support small, static websites to large, dynamic websites—whether e-commerce websites or online communities.

Security

As compared to WordPress, Drupal is more secure. Why? WordPress plugins are susceptible to hacking, if not updated. Moreover, due to its popularity, hackers target WordPress first. You can ensure more security by installing third-party plugins.

On the other hand, Drupal comes with enterprise-level security. Also, you get detailed security reports.

Comparison Table (At a Glance)

Standard Features – Comparison

Third-Party System and App Integration

Best Used for

Final Words

If you need a simple and small website that doesn’t require much technical know-how, choose WordPress, which is easier to install. Customizing it would also not be an issue, with the availability of thousands of plugins and themes. Even if you want to hire a professional for building new WordPress features, you can easily find one.

However, if your site is large and complex, opt for Drupal. Make sure you have proper technical knowledge, if you are going to use Drupal.

Both technologies come with their own set of pros and cons. It solely depends on your business requirements which one you go for.

Still not sure which one will best fit your needs? Contact Us!