It is of paramount importance to determine a suitable Content Management System (CMS) for your site. Standing out among the pack are the two shining stars: Drupal vs WordPress. Each has its own loyal subset of customers, a long list of credible websites it powers, and each comes packed with robust features and functionalities. For those who are wavering between the two, you may find your answer after reading our in-depth comparison of WordPress vs Drupal.
Overview of Drupal vs WordPress
Drupal vs WordPress, both are self-hosted CMSs written in PHP. These two CMS solutions have been home to millions of websites, holding a valid place in the world of CMSs.
Drupal Pros & Cons
2021 marked the 20th anniversary of Drupal. Originally created to serve as a small site that stored information for a group of students at the University of Antwerp, Drupal has rapidly evolved as a popular open-source framework. Since its inception, this CMS solution has been widely embraced for its great degree of flexibility and customizability.
It is, at the time of this writing, powering about 600,000 websites on the Internet. While it’s true that Drupal is not as popular as its competitor WordPress, it is currently home to many high-profile websites. 7-Eleven, Puma, The Economist are some great examples.
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WordPress Pros & Cons
WordPress was initially released in 2003 as a blogging platform and quickly became a top-notch choice when it comes to creating a website. With the impressive figure of over 30 million live websites, WordPress is considered the crown jewel of the CMS world. Some well-known names that have their websites running on WordPress are Bloomberg, Spotify, SoundCloud, and far more.
There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.
- WordPress.com: The hosted version. It’s free and needs no external hosting or external domain name.
- WordPress.org: The self-hosted CMS. The platform itself doesn’t cost you anything, but you will need a hosting account and maybe some efficiency-enhancing features which often come with a price tag. You may need to pay for the WordPress website development cost if there’s any.
In this article, we will delve into the self-hosted, open-source version – WordPress.org, to be easier to compare with Drupal.
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Drupal vs WordPress Ease of Use
Drupal Ease of Use
Compared to WordPress, using Drupal involves more of a learning curve. Even for users who have prior experience with other CMS software, building a Drupal site can also be a stumbling block. This is due to the fact that Drupal is mostly designed to act as a blank slate to be customized on all levels.
However, its user interface is not as complex as you imagined once you understand the multiple drop-downs but this surely takes some time to get familiar with.
In general, Drupal still heavily relies on custom coding to make your website look and operate the way you wish. Thus, if you want to build a more custom-looking and custom-operating website, you may need to work with the command-line interface.
WordPress Ease of Use
On the contrary, ease of use can be touted as one of the primary reasons why WordPress stays top of mind with users. It only takes some minutes to install, and even newbies can easily figure out how things work in less time.
Its simple clean-cut interface provides a user-friendly dashboard, quick blog creation options, and drag-and-drop functionality through third-party page builder plugins. With this being said, WordPress is an ideal choice for non-tech savvy users whose businesses are small to medium-scale.
The verdict:
In terms of ease of use, WordPress is clearly more charming than Drupal to operate a website thanks to its non-coding demands. However, Drupal won’t be a big problem for those who wish to operate a high-personalized website.
Drupal vs WordPress Themes, Plugins & Customization
Drupal Themes, Plugins & Customization
Currently, Drupal users can easily access the robust library which offers more than 48,000 modules/plugins and over 3,000 eye-catching themes. For as much of a blank slate as Drupal is designed to be, there’s no need for you to overly rely on either themes or third-party plugins.
You can always add and customize any plugins to your webpage, all by yourself. The process, however, is way more complex than that of WordPress. Therefore, you either need to master coding knowledge or afford to hire a professional developer to complete the task for you. If coding is not a problem for you, Drupal shines when it comes to complex websites with many different, customized pages.
WordPress Themes, Plugins & Customization
The core popularity of WordPress lies within its humongous theme and plugin repository, which has nearly 60,000 free and paid plugins and over 9,000 themes. Basically, you are able to find any plugins that meet all your logistical, technical, and marketing needs.
Also, WordPress’s themes are considered its unique selling point because they are generally elegant and tidy yet feature-rich and mobile-responsive. Apart from those prefabricated themes and plugins, you can modify them or create your own to meet your specific needs regardless of your technical expertise.
Additionally, as WordPress themes apply to all pages on a site, WordPress is less effective when it comes to complex website designs that demand different layouts based on the page categories.
The verdict:
Mentioning themes and plugins, WordPress outweighs Drupal with more options. However, Drupal is a clear winner when it comes to advanced customization options. In other words, Drupal is a best-suited for large businesses.
Drupal vs WordPress Pricing
Drupal Pricing
When comparing the pricing of Drupal vs WordPress, it’s quite hard to predict the final cost regardless of which platform you are using. The cost will vary as it strongly depends on what type of website you want to build and what features you want to be entailed.
Nevertheless, the estimated cost breakdown below will give you a good idea of how much you have to pay.
Just because the software itself is free to download, however, doesn’t mean that it’ll be completely free to run your website with this platform. In fact, you still need to purchase the followings:
- Domain name ($10/year)
- Drupal hosting fee (from $4/month),
and some extras like:
- Paid theme (from $20/month)
- Plugins ($0 – $1000)
- Developer fees ($40/hr).
WordPress Pricing
Similarly, WordPress is free to download and use. Nevertheless, to get your site up and running, you will need to incur some basic costs like:
- Domain name ($12/year)
- WordPress hosting fee (from $3.95/month)
- Security (from $50, on-going or on-off charge)
- Developer fees (from $50/hr).
Due to the open-source nature, WordPress also greatly depends on customization themes and plugins. And most of the efficiency-enhancing features come with a price tag:
- Paid theme (from $30)
- Plugins ($0 – $1000).
The verdict:
It’s a tie! Drupal vs WordPress pricing depends on what features, type of website you want to build for your business. WordPress vs Drupal users can choose low-priced or costly web hosting based on their ambition and preferences.
Drupal vs WordPress SEO
In terms of search engine optimization (SEO), there is no clear advantage offered to the content management system (CMS) over SEO. However, there are some minor differences in how the two systems handle optimizations.
Drupal SEO
Coming with built-in SEO features, Drupal allows customizable meta tags, title-based URL nodes, and native caching. Additionally, Drupal supports the semantic web’s foundation, the resource description framework (RDF).
Many modules are available for the Drupal platform to improve its SEO skills. The XML Sitemap Module, Redirect Module, Alternate Hreflang Module, Schema Module, and Yoast SEO Module are just a few examples.
Optimizing SEO in Drupal, you can reach your marketing goals faster than ever. To performce this activity, you will need to be aware of some caching tools that helps your Drupal site to load faster. Don’t fret, Drupal comes packed with robust built-in caching tools such as the Internal Page Cache core module, the Internal Dynamic Page Cache, and so on.
WordPress SEO
WordPress has a number of plugins that can help with various aspects of SEO. Yoast SEO Plugin is one of the most popular in particular. You can simply adjust titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps, open-graph data, and other components of on-page SEO by using the Yoast plugin.
In SEO, speed is also a significant ranking element. You might use a plugin like W3 Total Cache to help with page loading speed. One of the most well-known WordPress caching plugins is Yoast SEO. However, with each new plugin, there is a chance that it will cause a conflict with another plugin, resulting in a malfunction. Be careful when applying a new plugin!
The verdict:
Drupal vs WordPress are famous CMSs platforms, but WordPress SEO is more powerful than Drupal’s. Drupal SEO provides pretty basic fields while Drupal’s is superior.
Drupal vs WordPress for eCommerce
Drupal eCommerce
In terms of eCommerce support, Drupal provides its users with Drupal Commerce. Unlike other full-fledged eCommerce platforms, Drupal Commerce is mostly developed as a blank canvas.
This means, essentially, that Drupal Commerce provides basic eCommerce attributes and options for integration and expansion. But overall, Drupal is meant for further coding and customization.
With Drupal Commerce, you can create and personalize your online store, sell and ship your items as well as manage the whole process of your online business.
WordPress eCommerce
Similarly, you have to install a WordPress eCommerce-specific plugin such as WooCommerce to kick off your online business. WooCommerce boasts a simple clean-cut interface and possesses a myriad set of powerful built-in features. Up to now, WooCommerce is the most widely used eCommerce solution with 5,106,506 live websites, taking up approximately 23,5% market share.
The verdict:
As for a Drupal vs WordPress comparison, WordPress eCommerce plugin – WooCommerce – is much simpler to implement, host, and maintain than Drupal Commerce. Thanks to WooCommerce simplicity, it’s far more popular than Drupal Commerce with no coding required knowledge. But if you are a fan of flexibility and customization, Drupal Commerce is a powerful tool for you!
Drupal vs WordPress Community
Drupal Community
While Drupal is the older platform, it has a smaller community due to its focus on more technically savvy users. Despite its limited size, the Drupal community is quite knowledgeable about the platform itself and capable of giving insightful responses to almost every question. Hence, there might be no need for you to seek answers in FAQ threads.
Apart from that, Drupal users can always turn to professional services and Drupal training for assistance. There are individuals and organizations providing Drupal-related services including installation, design, hosting, module development, site building, and support, often led by skilled Drupal developers.
WordPress Community
With the largest user base, WordPress users are able to find a wealth of advice and tutorials from a vibrant community of peers, developers in a heartbeat in case unwanted contingency happens. Also, you can come across a huge truckload of multiple texts, video tutorials, guidelines compiled by other system users.
Or else, if you need more dedicated support, you can pay to hire WordPress experts, who can solve complex technical issues for you.
The verdict:
Comparing WordPress vs Drupal, both sites have large, active, multilingual communities of users. Although Drupal has a smaller community, it wouldn’t be that hard to search for technical information.
Drupal vs WordPress Security
Although Drupal vs. WordPress is both relatively secure CMS software, security-related problems may still arise depending on how websites are extended and customized. Let’s see how Drupal vs WordPress stacks up in matters of security.
Drupal Security
Drupal is home to some of the most high-profile websites on the planet, meaning it has to store extremely sensitive information. In fact, Drupal’s edge is high security, majorly because it depends less on third-party plugins. As a result, there’s less worry about hacking.
WordPress Security
WordPress’s worldwide popularity is actually a double-edged sword. Its popularity has led to the growth of a robust ecosystem of resources, including both technologies and an active community.
The problem is, this same popularity also means that WordPress is the equivalent of a jackpot for hackers. As already happened in the past, such exploits could affect millions of WordPress sites.
Another security issue with WordPress stems from the susceptibility created when non-verified 3rd plugins are uploaded. As WordPress offers a myriad of extensions, it’s impossible to ensure that every plugin employs proper safety standards and remains compatible with newer versions of the platform.
The verdict:
On the whole, Drupal sites are less vulnerable to malicious codes as well as less of hackers’ target. Thus, Drupal surpasses WordPress in this security department.
Drupal vs WordPress Personalization
Website customization enables you to create customized user experiences for your website’s visitors. When appropriately used in conjunction with fully created user personas, web personalization may be a great tool for generating more leads, sales, and memberships.
Web Personalization for Drupal
In Drupal, there is Acquia Personalization platform which offers the capability for customer segmentation by using au courant data via customers’ activities analysis. Once your customers are segmented, pre-determined content and A/B testing may be sent to these visitors depending on their previous and campaign-based interactions. This provides merchants with customized experiences at the right time to increase engagement. Acquia uses machine learning to increase conversions, customer loyalty, and data insights.
When choosing a CMS for your website, it’s important to consider the expertise of a Drupal development company, which can provide specialized services and tailored solutions to ensure a seamless and efficient Drupal development experience.
Web Personalization for WordPress
There are a few options in WordPress that may be utilized to increase engagement and provide tailored experiences. In specific, Google Optimize is one of the most popular. Thanks to being part of the Google suite of products, it’s easy to integrate with Google Analytics and Google Ads, and the free edition includes A/B testing and a variety of basic personalization possibilities. Although Google Optimize has a lot to offer, you won’t be able to use it to its full potential until you pay for the Google 360 corporate package.
The verdict:
The crown belongs to Drupal in this Drupal vs WordPress battlefield. In Drupal, you will have a built-in application instead of using a third-party app like WordPress. Moreover, you will not need to pay more costs for web personalization.
Drupal vs WordPress Accessibility
Website accessibility offers people with impairments to observe, comprehend, navigate, and contribute to websites to websites. Many businesses, institutions, and government websites need accessibility.
Drupal Accessibility
Wherever possible, Drupal has worked to ensure that all Drupal core functionalities comply with the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) criteria, including WCAG 2.0 and ATAG 2.0. This endeavor began with Drupal 7’s accessibility requirements. Those requirements have subsequently been retrospectively applied to Drupal 6.
WordPress Accessibility
Wherever possible, WordPress attempts to make the WordPress Admin and packaged themes completely WCAG 2.0 AA compliant. The accessibility team has established an accessibility manual and works with developers designing new themes and plugins during the development phase to give best practices and help.
Ultimately when it comes to WordPress accessibility, the website owner has to remediate an accessible theme or create one from scratch by manually implementing the meticulous but necessary WCAG. Alternatively, you can integrate with tools such as accessiBe. accessiBe’s AI-driven, automated solution makes existing WordPress sites ADA compliant by remediating the website’s code according to the WCAG 2.1 AA.
The verdict:
It’s a nil-nil draw for Drupal vs WordPress Accessibility! Both platforms have been aware of Accessibility and tried their best to provide customers with the finest experience.
When You Should Choose Drupal
Drupal is a content management system (CMS) that is particularly suitable for complex projects in higher education, government, and enterprise environments.
It excels in scenarios where there is a large authenticated user base, complex content needs, customization requirements, integrations with other services, configuration management, strict security requirements, web application development, and personalization with a Digital Experience Platform (DXP).
If you’re searching for software with an enormous degree of flexibility and customization capabilities, Drupal is a suitable choice. Nonetheless, by the same token, you have to put in a great deal of effort to set up and operate your Drupal site on a day-to-day basis.
When You Should Choose WordPress
WordPress is a great choice for small-to-medium businesses, publications, eCommerce stores, startups, and nonprofits. It’s known for being easy to use and has a positive reputation among marketers and non-technical developers.
WordPress excels in areas such as eCommerce integration with WooCommerce, usability and flexibility for site owners, lower cost through starter themes, and a vast selection of plugins.
If you prefer to set up and manage your webpage with less technical headaches, we would recommend you choose WordPress. Even if you’re a newbie just dipping your toe into building a website, working with WordPress feels like a breeze. Then, if you wish to taste the flavor of eCommerce, you can install WooCommerce and try selling some items.
Bonus Reading:
How to Migrate from Drupal to WordPress with LitExtension
If you are aiming to migrate your Drupal store to WordPress and don’t want to waste your time in manual migration, you can choose LitExtension to rapidly, flawlessly perform this process. LitExtension is an official source recommended by WordPress, it will help you transfer your data from Drupal Commerce to WordPress securely, precisely. All you need to do is within 5 simple steps as below.
Step 1: Register/Sign in to your account
Register a new account or Sign In to the LitExtension website. You can also either Login to LitExtension with your existing Facebook or Google Account.
Step 2: Fill in your Source and Target Cart information
Choose Drupal Commerce as your Source Cart Type.
Next, install WooCommerce as WordPress requires you to install an eCommerce-specific plugin to start your online selling. Thus, in this step, choose WooCommerce as your Target Cart Type. Fill in your Source Cart URL and finally, click Next to dive into the next steps.
Step 3: Configure your migration
In this step, choose entities that you want to migrate from Drupal Commerce to WooCommerce. LitExtension allows merchants to transfer all your crucial data such as customers, products, orders, and such.
Moreover, there are 8 additional options. Carefully personalizing for your WordPress migration will save you tons of time and effort after fully migrating to a new store.
For instance, you can pick Create the 301 redirects after migration to avoid 404 errors when customers access the old URLs. This would please customer experience as well as maintain your SEO rankings.
Make sure you select what you wish for your store. Click Next and you are ready for the Full Migration.
Step 4: Migration with LitExtension
You can utilize our free demo to have a brief look at how our migration works. Or else, you can skip the demo and jump straight to full migration.
This process might take time to perform. Once the process starts, it will constantly run on the server. In other words, you don’t need to turn on your computer while the migration is running. After all, you will receive an automated email from LitExtension after having completed migration process.
Step 5: Check Post-migration
You should our checklist of post-migration and check results on WordPress after full migration to ensure your new site contain all the data you want.
In case there are some technical problems, don’t hesitate to contact LitExtension support team. We are always willing to help!
Drupal Commerce to WordPress Migration?
You intend to migrate Drupal to WordPress? LitExtension offers a great migration service that helps you transfer your data from the current eCommerce platform to a new one accurately, painlessly with utmost security.
FAQs: Drupal vs WordPress
#1: Which is more secure, Drupal or WordPress?
While neither platform is completely free of security flaws, Drupal is typically more secure and safer, but WordPress can get by with the right precautions. Drupal is better at dealing with difficult security issues, such as PCI compliance, which necessitates database encryption.
#2: Is WordPress easier to use?
WordPress is not only easier to use, but also a lot more effective when it comes to creating core content, landing pages, blogs, and other traditional material. It is perfect for beginners. Drupal is a monster, not in a nice way. Specifically, Drupal is generally better-suited and easier for developers.
#3: Is Drupal a headless CMS?
Drupal is mature and is a fully ready headless CMS. It has a clear roadmap of development. Furthermore, it will be still relevant and supported in years to come. Drupal started the API first initiative years ago and the community was working very hard to get it done.
#4: Drupal vs WordPress, which is better?
It’s kinda a mission impossible to choose whether Drupal or WordPress is better. If you are building a site with a complex data organization that demands customization and flexibility, Drupal should be your top-notch choice. Moreover, be noted that you should be a developer or are willing to hire a developer to use Drupal successfully.
#5: Why do Drupal websites in some cases cost more than those of WordPress?
Drupal offers you more expensive experiences, complicated content, and so on. This sometimes leads to higher prices but Drupal will help you achieve your goals and hit your business KPIs wisely.
Conclusion
Hopefully, in this Drupal vs WordPress comparison, you have already determined which CMS is the best fit for your unique blend of resources, objectives, and personnel.
If you’re currently using Drupal and you would like to migrate to WordPress or vice versa, LitExtension is always at your service. Our automated migration tool ensures 100% uptime and data security, and all SEO rankings are preserved.
Finally, if you have any questions regarding our service, please don’t hesitate to contact the LitExtension team.
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