Picture this: you’ve finally kicked your business off the ground and want to make it official. You’re stoked to be in a position to make your website, but you freeze. How on Earth are you supposed to create a website? What’s the easiest way to get online and start selling your brand?
In our experience, a content management system (CMS) is the best way to not only get your site up and running, but to manage your site over the long term with minimal growing pains.
Two of the most popular CMSs in the market right now are WordPress and Drupal. Although both platforms will help you create a website, they have several key differences. As you wade through your options, it can be tough to know which CMS is right for you. Let’s dive into the main differences between WordPress and Drupal, and how you can determine which one is right for your site.
What is WordPress?
With over 18 million installations, WordPress is the most used open-source CMS in the world. Of all the websites that use a CMS, 59.8% of them are built on WordPress. It was originally created 15 years ago as a simple blogging platform, but it’s since grown into a fully customizable website builder.
WordPress’s popularity lies in how easy it is to use. Even if you’ve never used a CMS before, you can quickly get the hang of the WordPress-zero training or coding knowledge required. Best known as a do-it-yourself type of CMS, WordPress lets you quickly customize your site. You can use plugins to extend functionality to your site, or sift through their expansive directory of paid and free themes to design your site.
It’s not unheard-of for WordPress sites to get up and running in a matter of a few hours, thanks to the simple WordPress interface.
Picture this: you’ve finally kicked your business off the ground and want to make it official. You know your first step for marketing is to establish your digital presence and make your website, but then you freeze. How on Earth are you supposed to create a website? What’s the easiest way to get online and start selling your brand?
In our experience, a content management system (CMS) is the best way to not only get your site up and running, but to manage your site over the long term with minimal growing pains.
Two of the most popular CMSs in the market right now are WordPress and Drupal. Although both platforms will help you create a website, they have several key differences. As you wade through your options, it can be tough to know which CMS is right for you. Let’s dive into the main differences between WordPress and Drupal, and how you can determine which one is right for your site.
What is Drupal?
Many people haven’t heard of Drupal, but it’s another great offering in the CMS market. 2.3% of all the world’s websites are built on Drupal, and it does have some similarities with WordPress. It’s a CMS that lets you build a website. It lets you extend functionality with modules, which are similar to WordPress plugins. Drupal even includes readymade themes for your site layout and design, like WordPress.
But that’s where the similarities end.
Although both WordPress and Drupal are secure, Drupal is known for its lockdown-style security. In fact, Whitehouse.gov was built on Drupal. It’s much harder for hackers to access your information when your site is built on Drupal, making it a favorite for websites with sensitive information.
When put in the right hands, Drupal is more robust than WordPress. The downside? It has to be in the right hands. Drupal admits that its CMS isn’t designed for non-programmers. In fact, the platform is built by programmers, for programmers. The average person is likely going to be confused by the Drupal interface.However, Drupal’s complexity means that it gives you a lot more customization and freedom than other CMSs. Use Drupal’s taxonomies, content types, views, and more to build a website that’s truly tailored to your needs. Remember, to get the most out of Drupal, you’ll need to know your way around code or have a programmer on standby.
WordPress versus Drupal
We wish we could tell you which CMS is the clear winner, but it’s not so black and white. WordPress is best in many situations, while Drupal may be better with others. Like any business decision, it comes down to your needs. Choose the CMS that checks off the most boxes.
When WordPress is best
WordPress has many advantages over Drupal.
If you want a site that’s simple and that you can learn to manage, WordPress is right up your alley. Unlike Drupal, which is designed for programmers, WordPress prides itself on being user-friendly for all.
WordPress is also your best option for getting a website up and running quickly. Even if you need a little custom code for WordPress, it requires significantly less work and costs to get it up and running compared to a Drupal site.
Although Drupal is your best bet for complex customization, WordPress lets you add nearly any functionality to your site with plugins. You can add a newsletter signup box in just seconds thanks to WordPress plugins. Use a drag and drop page editor and the intuitive text editor to create quick content.
WordPress has a huge knowledge base online, too. Although WordPress doesn’t offer support, its support forums contain a wealth of knowledge. You’ll likely be able to find an answer to your WordPress glitch in just minutes thanks to the forums.
This CMS is also ideal for you if you’re concerned about cost. WordPress is more of a readymade solution that’s good to go out of the box. You don’t need a lot of custom coding with WordPress, giving you more affordable development costs.
If you want a professional-grade site with minimal fuss, WordPress is for you.
When Drupal is best
Although WordPress is often the best option for many websites, others benefit from building on Drupal’s CMS.
Drupal is the be-all end-all for website customization. If you want incredibly complex or specific options on your site, Drupal has the power and flexibility you need. Now, you do need more technical skills to take on Drupal. Make sure you’re comfortable around code or have a trusted developer before committing to this CMS.
Are you targeting an international audience that speaks multiple languages? If so, Drupal could be better for you. While you can add different language options to WordPress through third party plugins, this feature comes standard in Drupal. Enjoy eight built-in languages that will help you reach more people across the globe, no matter their language.
If you have sensitive information in your CMS, Drupal is the better option. WordPress is theoretically just as secure as Drupal, but it depends on site owners using a super secure third party to prevent hacks. Drupal has tight security built into the platform itself. It’s a good option if you handle healthcare, payment, or any other type of highly sensitive information that hackers crave.
The bottom line
Both WordPress and Drupal are powerful content management systems for your website. The right CMS depends on the type of site and content you want to push out into the world. WordPress is a great go-to option for most sites, but if you meet a few special criteria, Drupal may be best. However you slice it, these CMSs help you get your site online in a flash.
Need a partner to get your CMS up and running in a jiffy? Give Logical Media Group a ring.
