When you are considering using Drupal vs WordPress for your website CMS, you find an overwhelming amount of online content that plugs for one or the other. But, you don’t need to be “sold” on a platform – you need to know what the main difference is between the two in terms of usability, customization, content – etc. We stack-up WordPress and Drupal in an apples-to-apples comparison so you can make an informed, unbiased decision that best serves the goals of your website.
Learning about the pros and cons of each CMS is the best way to discern whether you prefer WordPress or Drupal. In general, both are great choices for an easy-to-use and open-source CMS. But, there are considerable differences that set the two apart.
Complete Side-by-Side Comparison of Drupal vs WordPress CMS – 2021
When it comes to Drupal vs WordPress, which is better for your businesses website? Neither – they are different, and each has pros and cons, depending on your needs. Both Content Management Systems (CMS) can produce websites of equal quality, and users won’t know the difference. So, it comes down to what you are looking to do with your website and your level of skill in web development.
In as few words as possible – if you are building a website, Drupal is great if you have coding experience and want advanced custom functionality. WordPress is a better choice if you don’t know how to work with a command line. But, for a professional developer, both are equally functional, so it comes down to what you want your website to do, and how you want to control it.
Drupal vs WordPress: Usability Features
Odds are that you have heard of WordPress, as it comprises around 30% of all websites on the internet. Drupal, however, only comprises around 2% of websites. The biggest reason for the divergence between the two is that WordPress serves a broad base of users, while Drupal best serves the higher-level needs of programmers and developers.
WordPress is great for getting a website up and running as quickly as possible, whereas Drupal might require more programming time before the website is ready to launch. And, Drupal provides advanced functionality to improve the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on your website. When it comes to eCommerce, both platforms accommodate sales functionality.
Drupal is designed to support add-on modules for Ubercart, Amazon Store, Drupal Commerce, and other tool bundles with which to build an eCommerce site. WordPress supports popular eCommerce plugins as well, but there is a divergence in usability between the two.
Non-Developers vs Programmers
WordPress does not require you to know how to program, whereas Drupal does. So, if you’re interested in a site that you can make large-scale changes to in the future, this is an important point. If you do not have programming skills, making large website changes on Drupal requires hiring a professional web developer. WordPress can be easier to make changes for non-developers, but you also give up some of the potential benefits of what Drupal has to offer.
Drupal vs WordPress: Modules vs Plugins
If you have any experience with WordPress you are familiar with plugins. Drupal has an equivalent, which is called a module. And, there are some significant differences between WordPress Plugins and Drupal modules.
The biggest difference between a plugin for WordPress and modules for Drupal is – again – the amount of programming needed to bring the functionality to fruition on your website. WordPress plugins are made with simplicity in mind, which means you don’t have to worry about coding to make changes. Most WordPress plugins feature an easy-to-use dashboard interface where website administrators can easily make changes.
On the other hand, WordPress plugins are not as customizable or functional as Drupal modules when it comes to what they enable on your website. Drupal is better at accommodating enterprise websites with more complex functional requirements. Websites built on Drupal can include robust eCommerce websites with advanced customization requirements, as well as educational institutions’ online learning platforms – just to name a few.
Along with the higher level of skill required by programmers to build a Drupal website, it can end up costing more than the equivalent WordPress alternative. But, since your website is built to your custom needs, it is also a stronger platform to base a website with robust functionality needs. To build a Drupal website, developers need a solid foundation of experience with coding in HTML, CSS, PHP, and Javascript.
Flexibility, Customization, and Security
Drupal and WordPress are both designed to enable flexibility throughout the development process. In general, a deployed WordPress website is less accommodating of large-scale customization than that of a Drupal website. But, that being said, it all depends on the level and degree of functionality to which your website must adhere.
WordPress plugins are off-the-shelf products, so the degree to which you can customize them is limited to what the publisher enables. Drupal, on the other hand, builds modules that are designed to be customized by a developer to meet your needs. Modules allow a developer to edit, add, and combine module elements to serve the specific needs of your website, whereas, WordPress offers a more “you get what you see” product.
When it comes to security for Drupal and WordPress, both platforms regularly release system updates and patches to account for ongoing security risks. The sheer volume of WordPress websites on the internet makes them a frequent source of cyberattacks, which are mostly targeting third-party extensions. Drupal modules are also vulnerable to attack, but easier for a knowledgeable programmer to safeguard through security enhancements and integrations with other security protocols on the website.
Which is Best for Your Website?
At the end of the day, WordPress is more popular than Drupal because more people can use it and most websites only need limited resources and functionality. But, if your website is meant for enterprise-scale business, Drupal is the higher-functioning choice. Talk to a DOJO associate for a free consultation to help you decide between Drupal vs WordPress, and to find out which is the best choice for your business.