Whilst WordPress dominates the web by supporting over 43% of all online platforms, it does not stand alone as the sole open-source content management system (CMS) available. Alternatives of comparable popularity, such as Joomla and Drupal, exist within the market.
The triad shares several similarities, yet distinct differences also set them apart. Each of these platforms serves as an individualistic website construction tool, replete with its own merits and demerits.
In the present discourse, we shall undertake a comparative analysis of WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, with the intent of elucidating the optimal selection based on individual needs.
Shared Traits Amongst WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal
The trio of foremost content management systems (CMS) on the web share several commonalities encompassing technological attributes, philosophical foundations, and collaborative communities.
WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are all rooted in the principles of open source, furnished under the GPL licensing framework. Further insights into the rationale behind WordPress’s cost-free provision can be gleaned from our article on the subject of its open-source nature. Each of these platforms is predominantly coded in PHP. MySQL serves as the designated database management system for all three. Notably, WordPress exclusively interfaces with MySQL, whereas Joomla and Drupal accommodate alternative database systems. Themes and templates constitute the visual components of all platforms, while plugins, modules, or extensions enhance their functional scope. As manifestations of open source ideology, they collectively thrive as endeavors propelled by community contributions. Nonetheless, amidst these shared attributes lie distinctive differentiations that yield considerable ramifications for users, influencing the manner in which websites are crafted.
For instance, divergent policies govern the integration of core software elements, handling of modules and templates, and approaches to security management.
Such disparities significantly shape the user experience and the methodologies employed in website development.
Against this backdrop, an exploration of the comparative traits of WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal is warranted, enabling a judicious selection of the optimal website construction platform tailored to individual business exigencies.
Themes and Supplementary Components
Themes and extensions stand as integral attributes across the three prominent CMS platforms, facilitating both software enhancement and visual augmentation.
Themes govern the aesthetic presentation of websites and their perceptual impact on users. Meanwhile, plugins or modules serve as analogs to applications within the CMS ecosystem.
Let us delve into the performance of these primary CMS platforms in this particular dimension.
WordPress
In the context of WordPress, users are empowered to alter their website’s visual identity through themes. A selection of default themes is pre-installed as part of the WordPress package.
At any juncture, users can navigate to the Appearance page and employ the “add new” function to integrate free themes from the official WordPress.org theme repository.
Beyond the realm of cost-free themes, a plethora of premium WordPress themes is crafted by third-party theme vendors such as StudioPress, Astra Theme, and Elegant Themes, among others. These themes require payment and are accompanied by premium support provisions.
However, the true potency of WordPress resides in its repository of plugins. Exceeding a count of 59,000, these plugins are accessible without charge through the official WordPress plugin directory. Alternatively, premium plugins with paid support offered by their developers can also be procured. A compilation of indispensable WordPress plugins is presented in our list, illuminating how these plugins augment the capabilities of the WordPress framework.
Joomla
Analogous to WordPress, Joomla also endows users with templates and extensions. An assortment of extensions cater to diverse functionalities, spanning from the establishment of e-commerce platforms to email management.
It is pertinent to acknowledge that the sheer abundance of templates and extensions within Joomla is not on par with that of WordPress. This variance in quantity could potentially introduce a degree of complexity in locating the ideal template and extensions.
Notably, Joomla does not natively feature an option for users to explore and install extensions or templates directly from the administrative interface. To address this, an extension facilitating the inclusion of an “install from web” functionality for extensions is available. Nevertheless, in the case of templates, users must still resort to manual searching before installing templates via the submission of their URLs.
