Drupal vs Wordpress - Which Platform is Right For You in 2021? (Advantages & Dis-advantages)

Martin Hemlock

Updated on 07th July 2022

Drupal vs Wordpress - Which Platform is Right For You in 2021? (Advantages & Dis-advantages)

A lot of people who aren't in IT are unaware of the differences between WordPress and Drupal. WordPress and Drupal are good places to start when building a website, and more people have heard of WordPress than those who know what Drupal is and its advantages. Both are content management systems used to power websites, and both have a range of advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Intro

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is the system that started out as a blogging platform almost 20 years ago. Nearly 40% of all websites are led by WordPress, including sites like Whitehouse.gov, Mercedes Benz, and The New Yorker! WordPress is used for a lot of blogging platforms and websites, and it's become one of the most popular platforms out there for new businesses wanting to build a website and older businesses wanting a boost for their online presence.

What Is Drupal?

Believe it or not, Drupal has been around much longer than WordPress, and yet it only shares 4.6% of the content management system market out there. The Economist, the University of Colorado, and even NASA use Drupal as their content management system. Blogs and websites are supported by it, but it's just not as popular as WordPress.

Advantages and disadvantages

WordPress versus Drupal: How They Stack Up!

There are plenty of people out there who will tell you the advantages and disadvantages of each based on personal experience. Anecdotal evidence is nice and all, but it's always good to hear from the best (us) about the advantages and disadvantages. Let's dive in:

WordPress/Drupal Advantages

WordPress

It's easy. Most people choose WordPress because it's a very easy platform to use. Those who are not as well versed as they think in all things IT will still find it easy. Even non-developers will find WordPress an easy platform to use for their website, and they do use it. WordPress is clear and easy to understand, which is why it's such a popular choice for those who are looking to start out from scratch.
Themes & Plugins. One of the most popular features of WordPress is that its extensibility is vast. The third party themes and the communities for plugins mean that it's easy to extend, and it doesn't have to come with customised development. WordPress comes with a lot of extensions, and these make it easy and fun to use. Plugins are not hard to understand, either, which makes WordPress a simple solution for a beginner.
Communicative. The community for WordPress, along with customer care, are both excellent. It's so easy to find the support issues that you need when you are building a website. It's a reassuring perk of using WordPress, and you can get the support you need when you run into any issues. WordPress's community is a global one, and you can access the help that you need with a few clicks, and a question forum online can give you the instant access that will help you get to the bottom of your issue.
Cost-effective. WordPress has a range of solutions that are outside the box. As WordPress is so popular, there are usually more developers out there than compared to Drupal. WordPress developers are more cost-effective for this reason, and while there are Drupal developers out there, they are more expensive because they are not as common.
Drupal

Customised Content. You know that WordPress offers custom post types, and these are great, but the Drupal custom post types are far more flexible than the WordPress types. This customised content will appeal to those looking just for that for their website, and it gives your site a unique edge that you won't get with WordPress.
User Permissions. Drupal offers users a built-in access control system, and this allows you to create new roles with permissions individual to the user. WordPress has single-site ships with five basic user roles, and so Drupal wins with this one as it's not as limited.
Multilingual Core Support. Drupal 8 offers a multilingual function that is very attractive to global website users. WordPress still has this, but the site needs to go to third-party plugins, which means that Drupal has the edge.
Data Handling. One of the biggest benefits for Drupal is that it has a more flexible taxonomy system than WordPress. If your website is packed with content, it is a great option for those who need to put a lot of content on their website.

Which one is best for you?

WordPress vs. Drupal: Which Is The Better Option?

Both of these platforms have their merits, but Drupal is not the platform designed for beginners. Drupal core is quite a difficult platform to learn, and the updates can be challenging to handle if you haven't handled it before. Even those with a lot of technical education and expertise will find it difficult, and the speed of the website with Drupal as a platform can be slower. However, it's hard to say whether Drupal is the "better" option. It's a flawed question to ask whether one is necessarily better because it's all dependent on the type of website you are building.

Whether you choose WordPress or Drupal, you need to assess your website needs to know what you will truly benefit from for your business. You have to think about the project you are running and the tools you want to use, and sometimes that may help you lean one way or another. WordPress's most popular option, as it allows non-developers to add good functionality to their site, and it's user-friendly. You can create a website that is attractive and functions well, and you can find help for free in the community.

That being said, you may not see it the better option for you - especially if Drupal offers something specific to your website needs. WordPress may make your website journey a much simpler one, so start here and then move forward. If you need to switch, you can, and your website will benefit either way. Get in touch today and let us talk you through how your website can work.

Martin Hemlock
Martin Hemlock

A devoted husband & father to 2 furry kids, coder, table tennis player & salsa dancer. Loves peeking at code & fixing sites; WordPress & DIVI fanatic.

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