When it comes to choosing the right content management system (CMS) for your website, Drupal and WordPress are two of the most popular options available. Both are open-source, feature-rich platforms with their own strengths. But which one is best suited for your specific needs? In this blog, we’ll compare Drupal and WordPress and look at the factors that play a major role in the long-term success of any website.

Join us as we break down a bit about each CMS, and review the core features and advantages of Drupal and WordPress, providing you with the information needed to choose the CMS that aligns best with your organisation and website’s goals.

What is Drupal?

Drupal is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) using a PHP framework. Known for its flexibility and scalability, it allows businesses and organisations to create and manage enterprise-level websites and applications. Drupal is a highly flexible CMS, built with a modular architecture, allowing users to extend functionality through thousands of available modules.

Originally released in January 2001, Drupal is a stable CMS that supersedes most current website frameworks. So is Drupal still relevant?

Is Drupal still relevant in 2024?

While Drupal is not the most popular CMS on the market, it remains relevant. We call Drupal the “quiet achiever”; Drupal excels when it comes to high performance and security. You can personalise user experience on your website thanks to content personalisation modules. Drupal modules offer lots of ready-to-use solutions and integrations.

With continuous updates focusing on faster performance and easier upgrades, it’s a great choice. It is particularly well-suited for large-scale websites and community platforms — anything requiring complex data structures, a high level of security, and content management would benefit from Drupal.

Most importantly, It is supported by a large and active global community of Drupal web agencies and experts who actively contribute to modules, themes, and security patches.

What is Drupal best used for?

1. Enterprise-Level Websites

Drupal is an ideal choice for large organisations, businesses, and government agencies that need a scalable solution capable of handling large amounts of traffic and content. Its flexibility allows for the creation of highly customised content structures, user permissions, and workflows — perfect for websites that require a high degree of control over user experience.

2. Government Websites

Websites for federal, state, or local government agencies prefer to use Drupal. Drupal’s strong security features, scalability, and ability to meet accessibility standards make it a popular choice. It can handle large volumes of content, complex workflows, and offers high levels of security, which are all essential for public-sector projects. It also complies with strict security and regulatory standards.

3. Complex Web Applications

Whether it’s an e-commerce platform, a social networking site, or a membership portal, Drupal’s extensive library of modules can be tailored to meet specific functionality needs in applications. This allows developers to build feature-rich applications from the ground up.

4. High-Security Websites

Drupal is widely known for its strong security features, making it the platform of choice for organisations that need to protect sensitive data. Government agencies, universities, and financial institutions often choose Drupal because of its robust security measures.

5. Nonprofit and Advocacy Sites

Charities, NGOs, activist groups, and volunteer organisations benefit from using Drupal. Nonprofits often need to engage users, accept donations, and provide detailed resources, which Drupal supports well. It allows organisations to create customised user experiences and workflows, for example for volunteers or donors. Additionally, Drupal is scalable, so it can grow with an organisation’s needs as it expands.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a powerful and flexible CMS that allows users to create, manage, and maintain websites with ease. Originally launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into one of the most widely used website-building tools in the world.

Why is WordPress so popular?

What makes WordPress so popular is its user-friendly interface, customisable themes, and a vast ecosystem of plugins that can add almost any feature you need—from e-commerce solutions to SEO tools and social media integration. Whether you’re building a personal blog, a business site, or even a full-fledged online store, WordPress offers the tools to make it happen, often with little to no coding experience required.

With an open-source structure, WordPress is free to use, and its flexibility makes it a go-to choice for beginners and experienced developers alike. Additionally, because it has such a large global community, finding support, tutorials, and resources is never a challenge.

In 2024, WordPress remains highly relevant, with millions of active users and ongoing updates that enhance its functionality and security. It’s widely used for business websites and e-commerce platforms.

WordPress dominates the CMS market, powering approximately 62% of all websites. In contrast, Drupal holds a 1.3% share among CMS users. This is due to the popularity of WordPress with SMEs and the availability of entry-level off-the-shelf themes. While WordPress can offer more sophisticated solutions, Drupal is marginalised to a more mature website and therefore has a smaller percentage of the market share.

Even though Drupal has a smaller market share than other CMS platforms, it is still a strong contender when it comes to choosing a secure and scalable platform for your organisation.

Screenshot 2024 12 02 at 11 22 32 WordPress vs. Drupal usage statistics December 2024

Reference: https://w3techs.com/technologies/comparison/cm-drupal,cm-wordpress

Who uses Drupal and WordPress?

WordPress is widely adopted across various industries, including e-commerce, B2B service providers, media, and more, due to its flexibility and ease of use. Drupal is often preferred by government agencies, universities, and large corporations that need advanced security features, intricate user workflows and content management capabilities.

A detailed review of Drupal vs WordPress

So which is better for your organisation? Drupal or WordPress? Well, it depends. We’ve summarised the most common comparisons below to help you understand where each CMS excels to make an educated decision.

Which is more secure – Drupal or WordPress?

Website security is essential to protect sensitive data and maintain user trust. It helps safeguard your organisation and your users against cyberattacks, data breaches, and unauthorised access.

A robust CMS enhances protection by securing sensitive data, preventing unauthorised changes, and reducing the risks posed by cyber threats, ensuring the website remains reliable and accessible.

Security Feature	Drupal	WordPress
Core Security	Strong security architecture; core code is highly secure and regularly audited.	Regular core updates, but relies on plugins for enhanced security.
User Permissions	Advanced, granular control over user roles and permissions.	Basic roles available; additional permissions often require plugins.
Built-in Security Modules	Drupal has strong security features, such as: 1. Restrict user access with granular permissions. 2. Database Encryption to safeguard sensitive data. 3. Regular Security Updates 4. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is supported through modules	Frequent core updates address vulnerabilities. Most security modules are available via plugins. 1. HTTPS/SSL support and plugins for encryption. 2. Protection against XSS, CSRF, and SQL injection via secure coding practices. 3. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is enabled through plugins
Community and Reporting	Dedicated security team actively monitors vulnerabilities and releases advisories.	A security team exists, but fewer official security advisories than Drupal.
Database Security	Database is well-protected and security-hardened in core; supports database encryption.	Basic database protection in core, but additional security relies on plugins.
Updates and Patching	Regularly patched and updated with a strict release cycle; dedicated to backwards compatibility.	Frequent updates, but some issues with backward compatibility; plugins need to be updated independently.
Code Standards and Reviews	Strict coding standards with peer-reviewed code by the community; custom module submissions are carefully vetted.	Code standards are set, but plugin review processes vary widely.

Overall, Drupal offers more robust security out of the box with less reliance on third-party plugins, whereas WordPress relies more on plugins to strengthen its security.

Drupal is known to be one of the most secure CMS available. Key features like customisable permissions, database encryption and secure login protocols make it secure for both organisations and users. Designed with enterprise-level security in mind, any security problems are prevented entirely by Drupal’s strong coding standards and strict community code review process.

Drupal also complies with strict accessibility and security standards, such as those required by the Australian, European and U.S. governments. It meets the standards of security and reliability needed in public-sector projects. Government, banking, and healthcare are the fastest-growing industries adopting Drupal for security.

Performance and Speed

Drupal generally excels in site speed for complex sites due to its built-in performance tools. A lot of WordPress’ CMS-functionality is already built into Drupal so you don’t need those plug-ins.

WordPress can achieve good speeds, especially for smaller sites, but often requires additional plugins and optimisations to reach top performance. The catch is to keep the plug-ins updated at all times to ensure that the site performance isn’t compromised.

Performance Feature	Drupal	WordPress
Site Speed	Known for strong performance and speed optimisation features; generally faster for complex, high-traffic sites due to built-in caching and optimisation tools.	Good speed for simpler sites, but performance can vary based on the number of plugins and theme quality; often requires additional optimisation plugins.
Scalability	Highly scalable; designed to handle large amounts of traffic and complex data structures efficiently.	Scalable with optimisation, but may require multiple plugins and adjustments for very high traffic.
Database Optimisation	Advanced options for database management and optimisation; can handle complex queries efficiently.	Relies on plugins (e.g., WP-Optimize) for database optimisation; core database handling is simpler.
Media Handling	Advanced options to manage media optimisation and deliver responsive images via modules.	Basic media management; relies on plugins like Smush or Imagify for advanced image optimisation.
Front-end optimisation	Flexible theming allows for lightweight, performance-focused front-end design.	Many themes are optimised for performance, but customisation may require additional plugins.
Asset Management	Modules allow control over CSS/JS aggregation and minimisation, helping reduce load time.	Asset management is plugin-dependent (e.g., Autoptimize) for CSS/JS minification and optimisation.
Mobile Performance	Built with mobile performance in mind; responsive themes and modules help improve load speed.	Heavily dependent on the code base and code bloat.

Longevity and Core Architecture

When it comes to core architecture, Drupal and WordPress offer different options and benefits for developers, marketers, agencies, and users. Here are the key features for comparison:

Feature	Drupal	WordPress
Community Support	Strong but small, dedicated open-source community with active contributions and support from the Drupal Association.	Extensive global community with a strong support network led by the WordPress Foundation.
Release Cycle	Predictable, long-term release cycle with major updates every 2-3 years, ensuring stability and gradual improvements.	Frequent updates with new versions about every six months, emphasising ease of use and continuous improvements.
Core Structure	Built on a modular, object-oriented framework with Symfony components, optimised for flexibility and scalability.	Simpler, procedural code structure focusing on usability and ease of customisation, accessible for developers of all skill levels.
Database Architecture	Entity-based architecture supporting multiple databases and handling complex data relationships effectively.	Primarily MySQL with a simpler structure, suitable for less complex data needs; plugins often required for advanced database handling.
Theme Layer	Uses a Twig-based templating system for a clear separation of logic and presentation, contributing to cleaner code and security.	PHP-based templating within themes; flexible but can result in inconsistent code practices if not carefully managed.
Scalability	Highly scalable, capable of handling large traffic and complex, data-driven sites with ease.	Scalable but typically requires additional plugins and optimisation for very high-traffic sites or complex architectures.
API and Extensibility	Robust, highly extensible API and built-in modules, ideal for custom applications and complex integrations.	Good API support with REST and GraphQL; extensibility is largely plugin-dependent but allows for customisations for headless applications.
Enterprise Adoption	Strong presence in enterprise, government, and complex sites due to its stability, security, and flexibility.	Widely adopted across industries, especially for small and medium businesses, but also adaptable for enterprises with custom development.

In summary, Drupal offers long-term stability, making it highly suitable for enterprise-level and complex sites. Drupal is also the preferred option for high-security websites.

WordPress is viable due to its strong community support, flexible core structure, and ease of customisation, appealing to a broader range of site types. Both are viable for long-term use, though they cater to different levels of complexity and scalability needs.

The Basics: How Drupal and WordPress stack up overall

Apart from security, longevity, performance, and speed, there are other factors for comparison between Drupal and WordPress. Take a look at some of these factors below:

Feature	Drupal	WordPress
Admin User Interface	User-friendly, but requires some familiarity with the technical aspects to create enterprise-level websites Allows for the creation of custom post types and content without coding knowledge; Drupal can output it all on a website using a default theme. It offers powerful organisation	Intuitive and user-friendly, great for beginners The theme and plugin system is highly accessible, letting users get started without needing to know coding
Customisability and Flexibility	Extremely flexible with custom content types, fields, and views; suitable for complex, unique projects with buildable themes	Highly customisable with a vast array of themes and plugins; some limitations in advanced customisation
SEO Capabilities	Provides more control over technical SEO and built-in markup options; offers superior capabilities for advanced SEO	Offers popular plugins for straightforward SEO management with ample documentation and resources
Cost of Development and Maintenance	Higher initial costs for setup due to limited resources in the developer community; ongoing costs may be higher due to complexity Extensive security and content management features often justify the cost	Lower initial setup costs; ongoing plugin costs can accumulate Developer fees vary due to options within a large community
Scalability and Growth Potential	Highly scalable, designed for large and complex sites; capable of handling extensive traffic	Scales well for small to medium sites; may struggle with high traffic without proper optimisation and plug-ins
Modules vs Plug-ins	Uses modules, which can be more complex but offer better functionality and integration capabilities	Uses plug-ins to add functionality – easy to install and update, but need to be monitored to maintain site speed and performance
Community and Support	Strong but smaller developer community; excellent documentation, though less beginner-friendly.	Very active forums and large community, extensive tutorials, and documentation; larger user base.
E-commerce Functionality	Strong e-commerce capabilities, but often requires more configuration and technical knowledge. Capable with modules like Drupal Commerce	Robust e-commerce plugins (e.g., WooCommerce) available, easy to set up.

Which solution is better for your organisation?

Here are some essential questions to guide your decision on whether to choose Drupal or WordPress for your organisation’s website:

Content Management Needs

Is ease of use for non-technical users a priority for your team?
Will your site primarily focus on blogging, news, or publishing content?
Do you need built-in multilingual capabilities, or will plugins work for your needs?
Is the website’s content structure and translation workflow a critical consideration?

Budget and Development Resources

What is your initial budget for development and maintenance?
Do you have in-house developers, or will you be relying on external developers? Can your team support ongoing updates, patches, and maintenance?

Security Requirements

Does your website need to handle sensitive data or meet strict security standards?
How important are regular security updates and patches for your website?
Do you require advanced user roles and access control?

Scalability and Future Growth

How big is your website likely to grow in terms of pages and users? Will you need a highly scalable solution that can handle multiple content types and large volumes of data?

Customisation and Flexibility

Do you need specific features or functionalities that require custom development?
How important is it to have full control over your website’s design and layout?
Will your website need custom content types, taxonomies, or relationships between content?

Community and Support

Will your team benefit from community forums, tutorials, or support documentation?
Are you looking for ongoing support from developers or agencies familiar with your platform?

Overall Performance

What are your expectations for website performance and load times?
Do you require extensive caching or other optimisations for high traffic?

Get In Touch For Website Development Services

WordPress vs Drupal Reviews: What does the market say?

Developer’s opinion: Which is better?

Here’s what Daniel Florido, Chief Web Development & Designer at Pixelstorm, had to say about the build and customisation of Drupal and WordPress:

“When choosing a CMS for your website, it’s important to focus on how it’s built. WordPress can have good customisation. WordPress has a way simpler templating system and doesn’t have a steep learning curve. That’s why the community is massive.

The trap is that you end up using too many plug-ins that can come in for free. This can affect site speed or the site becomes buggy. Plus you have to update them all the time to keep them safe. Responsibility grows with a bigger site.

Drupal doesn’t have that. A lot of WordPress’ CMS-functionality is already built into Drupal so you don’t need those plug-ins. Drupal’s nodes (a set of related information), along with the metadata, give it easy functionality. The advantage is that Drupal can have a sleek user interface, so the investment is worth it.”

Daniel Florido

Pixelstorm

Client Reviews: Which is better?

When choosing a CMS, you should know what the market says. Other business owners can offer detailed, thoughtful feedback. In this section, we’ll take a look at what some business owners and marketers across Australia have to say.

Here’s what Spencer from Growth Spurt had to say about migrating from WordPress to Drupal:

“Migrating from WordPress to Drupal was a major shift, but the payoff in customisation and performance has been worth it. From a performance standpoint, Drupal offers more control over caching and backend configurations, which helps with faster load times, especially for complex sites. However, WordPress shines for smaller sites with straightforward needs, as its plugins are optimised for immediate use with minimal setup. So for performance, I’d say Drupal is better suited to high-traffic, complex sites, while WordPress fits simpler setups where speed is key but demands are lower.”

Spencer Romenco

Matt Little, owner of an e-commerce business named Festoon House had this to say after using both Drupal and WordPress for e-commerce websites:

“In terms of e-commerce functionality, WordPress—with WooCommerce—offers a quicker and more straightforward setup, which can be a big plus for smaller shops or those just starting out. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a plug-and-play solution that allows rapid deployment.

On the other hand, Drupal Commerce is much more flexible and geared toward businesses that require custom features and integrations. In my experience, Drupal is better suited for e-commerce sites that need highly specific workflows, such as complex product configurations or custom checkout processes. However, it takes more development time, and having experienced developers on hand is practically a must to set it up effectively.”

Matt Little

Claire Steineke, a business owner who has been using WordPress for her business Soul Mothers for about 5 years, had this to say about her experience:

“I like that I have full control of my site. I can make changes as I want to, I don’t need a developer for most things (though my skill level is higher than most) and I don’t have to be concerned about someone else shutting my site down. Although web hosting services have increased significantly in the last couple of years, I still find WP a cost effective option compared to some other platforms.

I haven’t had any major issues with security. I do have a plugin for that that seems to be working well, however I am looking at a plugin to change the login page for extra security. Web performance is a little more challenging because you have to keep on your toes and regularly check your metrics to ensure that your site is still performing well.”

Claire Steineke

Thinking of migrating from Drupal to WordPress? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve been using Drupal but are considering WordPress for its user-friendly interface, you’re not alone. Many smaller organisations find that WordPress offers a simpler management experience without compromising functionality. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the migration process.

Why Consider Migrating from Drupal to WordPress

Ease of Use: WordPress is widely recognised for its intuitive dashboard, making it easy for non-technical users to manage content and make updates. Business owners, marketing managers and in-house teams can make updates on the website without needing developer support.
Plugins: WordPress offers a huge range of plugins and themes that can extend functionality and customise the design without extensive coding.
Community and Support: The WordPress community is vast, with countless resources, tutorials, and forums to help users at any level.

Need Help with the Migration?

If you’re ready to make the switch but want expert assistance to ensure a smooth migration, Pixelstorm is here to help. Our team has extensive experience in Drupal to WordPress migrations and can handle everything from content transfers and customisations to SEO preservation and web design replication.

Contact Pixelstorm today!

Migrating from WordPress to Drupal: A Guide to Moving Up

If you’re considering migrating from WordPress to Drupal for greater flexibility, enhanced security, or more robust content management, Drupal’s advanced capabilities make it a strong choice. Here’s a streamlined approach to a WordPress-to-Drupal migration.

Why Consider Migrating from WordPress to Drupal

Enhanced Flexibility: Drupal offers powerful tools for building complex, customised websites with extensive content types and user permissions. If your audience has a specific and complicated user journey, Drupal can help you create exactly what you need.
Strong Security: Drupal is known for its high level of security, making it ideal for organisations handling sensitive data.
Scalability: Drupal’s architecture supports large, complex websites with ease, from content-rich portals to enterprise-level platforms.

If these benefits align with your organisation’s needs, moving to Drupal may be a good fit.

Need Help? Contact Pixelstorm

If you’d like professional assistance for your WordPress to Drupal migration, Pixelstorm can guide you through each step, ensuring all content, SEO, and functionality are seamlessly transferred.

Contact Pixelstorm For Your Website Migration

Choosing between Drupal and WordPress ultimately depends on your organisation’s unique needs and goals.

WordPress is a fantastic option for businesses seeking an easy-to-learn platform with a wide range of plugins and themes. It is ideal for small to medium-sized websites or those requiring a quick, cost-effective solution.

On the other hand, Drupal offers flexibility, robust security, and scalability, making it the go-to choice for complex, large-scale projects like government portals, educational organisations, or high-traffic websites.

Not sure which CMS is right for you? Start by getting an audit of your current site to identify how you can scale your website. If you’re ready to work on it, Pixelstorm can help you with a seamless transition or setup.

To get a personalised assessment of your website or if you need help with migration, call us at 03 9069 2631 or fill out the form below and our team will contact you.

Drupal VS WordPress: Which Option is Right For You?

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