Drupal vs. WordPress
WordPress and Drupal are both content management systems (CMS) with unique abilities to create websites based on individual needs. The original developers had different priorities in mind when designing these two platforms. While the focus may be different, both systems have the ultimate goal of helping users create a great website. A comprehensive accounting of the pros and cons should help individuals decide which CMS is best for them.
WordPress
Mission: To make website creation and publishing available for all.
Drupal
Mission: To create ambitious and powerful digital experiences.
WordPress is known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It offers an out-of-the-box ready experience. However, in the long run, it is difficult for it to go beyond "just another WordPress website”.
WordPress is known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It offers an out-of-the-box ready experience. However, in the long run, it is difficult for it to go beyond "just another WordPress website”.
User Interface
Drupal is known for its flexibility and complexity. While it may take a longer time to get a hold of, it pays off in the long run. It is increasingly becoming more beginner-friendly, with a 2020 push to improve usability.
Drupal is known for its flexibility and complexity. While it may take a longer time to get a hold of, it pays off in the long run. It is increasingly becoming more beginner-friendly, with a 2020 push to improve usability.
WordPress has had problems with hacking. With more plugins for you to keep up with, it makes it more difficult to stay on top of vulnerabilities.
WordPress has had problems with hacking. With more plugins for you to keep up with, it makes it more difficult to stay on top of vulnerabilities.
Security
Drupal has enterprise-level security. It is better protected, more secure, and can handle complex security situations better, like PCI compliance, which requires database encryption.
Drupal has enterprise-level security. It is better protected, more secure, and can handle complex security situations better, like PCI compliance, which requires database encryption.
WordPress is not as flexible in its taxonomy. There are plugins that can improve functionality, however these can come at the cost of site speed.
WordPress is not as flexible in its taxonomy. There are plugins that can improve functionality, however these can come at the cost of site speed.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the way that a CMS classifies and organizes content using organizational keywords also known as categories or tags
Drupal has a taxonomy system that is flexible, customizable, and extensive. This makes it ideal for handling a lot of content. Drupal also has "vocabularies" which are used to organize sets of taxonomy terms.
Drupal has a taxonomy system that is flexible, customizable, and extensive. This makes it ideal for handling a lot of content. Drupal also has "vocabularies" which are used to organize sets of taxonomy terms.
WordPress provides a lot out of the box, but it lacks in terms of flexibility for back-end development. To get the functionality, users have come to expect you will need multiple plug-ins, which can be expensive and come with security risks.
WordPress provides a lot out of the box, but it lacks in terms of flexibility for back-end development. To get the functionality, users have come to expect you will need multiple plug-ins, which can be expensive and come with security risks.
Flexibility
Drupal can be described as both a content management system and a content management framework. It is a unified system that has the strengths of both, without their weak spots. Drupal’s modular system is limited only to the imagination of the site builder, and can even be used to build custom web apps.
Drupal can be described as both a content management system and a content management framework. It is a unified system that has the strengths of both, without their weak spots. Drupal’s modular system is limited only to the imagination of the site builder, and can even be used to build custom web apps.
WordPress gives you the ability to select pre-made extensions and templates. They can be modified, assembled into new combinations and users can create their own to meet their specific functionality needs.
WordPress gives you the ability to select pre-made extensions and templates. They can be modified, assembled into new combinations and users can create their own to meet their specific functionality needs.
Customization
Drupal is a better platform for supporting extensive customization. Beyond the ability to alter the available modules, Drupal offers built-in tools to create custom content types, altering content taxonomy, and more. Drupal can also be coupled with another platform for front or back end.
Drupal is a better platform for supporting extensive customization. Beyond the ability to alter the available modules, Drupal offers built-in tools to create custom content types, altering content taxonomy, and more. Drupal can also be coupled with another platform for front or back end.
WordPress is limited to 5 basic user roles that are pre-built into the system. There are plugins that can be installed to further edit user roles and capabilities.
WordPress is limited to 5 basic user roles that are pre-built into the system. There are plugins that can be installed to further edit user roles and capabilities.
Configuration
Drupal has a built-in access control system. This can be custom configured to have roles with multiple permission levels instead of the pre-built ones from WordPress.
Drupal has a built-in access control system. This can be custom configured to have roles with multiple permission levels instead of the pre-built ones from WordPress.
WordPress sites tend to lag if not optimized the right way. Things like too many plugins and poorly coded themes can cause issues if not implemented correctly.
WordPress sites tend to lag if not optimized the right way. Things like too many plugins and poorly coded themes can cause issues if not implemented correctly.
Speed
Drupal has a module called Big Pipe that remembers and caches content from page to page. This allows for faster load times. Aside from this, without all the plug-ins that WordPress needs to have for more functionality, Drupal is faster.
Drupal has a module called Big Pipe that remembers and caches content from page to page. This allows for faster load times. Aside from this, without all the plug-ins that WordPress needs to have for more functionality, Drupal is faster.
The Pros of WordPress
Over 1/3 of websites use WordPress for their Content Management needs. A novice could navigate WordPress and build a website without coding experience. WordPress has over 45,000 plugins developers can use to create a website with numerous functions. These functions include analytics for your website’s performance, optimizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and more.
WordPress also gives suggestions for improving the SEO to assist with getting websites to the top of the organic searches on search engines. Most websites developed from WordPress are responsive, which means they can be displayed across multiple devices such as smartphones and tablets. WordPress is an open-source community that allows developers to create and share their code to increase and improve plugins for other users to apply to their websites.
The Cons of WordPress
Some tasks on WordPress are challenging to customize for a novice. Complex functions require specific knowledge to navigate WordPress fully. Being an open-source community means WordPress has security vulnerabilities. Using WordPress may mean the website will be more likely to experience cyber-attacks. If installing plugins without checking compatibility, other plugins may stop working, or you can completely break your site. Website owners must also regularly update the themes and plugins to keep the site secure and functioning correctly. It is imperative to backup all data before updating.
The Pros of Drupal
Drupal is a very effective CMS for creating highly customized and complex websites. Developers can easily integrate most types of content in any configuration to meet business goals. Drupal has built-in multilingual functionality that can increase the business’s visibility over many more potential customers and locales. Developers and programmers can also collate data and publish it across multiple channels. With Drupal, content integration is infinitely more manageable.
Drupal is also an open-source community with a large online community that allows less experienced users to learn from the many skilled developers. Users also have the freedom to create plugins and modules and share them with other users. Drupal has earned its reputation as the most secure CMS due to its strong emphasis on security. The security features are advanced and Drupal support works tirelessly to identify and mend bugs or vulnerabilities. Support then reviews and posts reports that allow the Drupal community to view the vulnerabilities found and fixed. Another outstanding feature of Drupal is the built-in access control system allowing users to create specific permissions for different users. Customized permissions mean that some company members may access particular items on the website but not others.
The Cons of Drupal
Drupal is more complex than other content management systems. Even seasoned developers will need to read documentation to lessen the learning curve. This CMS is not for beginners to DYI their website as it requires more than a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and PHP.
Drupal’s interface isn’t highly user-friendly or intuitive, so it involves knowledge and time to install themes and modules correctly. Some modules may need to be purchased or custom-built, which means the higher functionality desired, the higher the potential initial cost. Drupal is constructed with professional developers in mind, so Drupal’s interface isn’t very intuitive or user-friendly to the novice.
If a website builder isn’t well-versed in code, it would be best to hire an experienced developer because Drupal is likely to have core crashes if incorrectly built. If the developer doesn’t follow specific best practices for the platform during website creation, it creates a lot of issues for the website. Professional developers with experience will be able to optimize Drupal correctly so the websites display correctly.
Consider Your Goals and Realize Your Potential
Whether the goal is to build a display-only website with minimal functionality or the goal is to create a monumental website with multiple pages and moving parts, Prodigitude is here to help. Our preferred CMS is Drupal, and our certified developers are capable of building customized modules and integrating API functionality. They are also experts in building websites that do precisely what you want, making Drupal the optimal choice. To discuss your business goals and desired website content with a professional, please contact us for a free consultation.
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