A Content Management System (CMS) is a software tool that helps to manage & process content present on a website. It enables a non-technical person to add content to the website in a hassle-free manner. No knowledge regarding HTML or CSS is needed. Two popular CMS’s are WordPress and Drupal. Which one is better? The one that works best for you depends on your business needs. It also depends on who you work with and how much experience they have in completing a project.
WordPress can be transformed into a usable website with a few twists and turns. But you’re somewhat limited to what it can do. On the other hand, Drupal is a framework instead of a complete prebuilt solution. With the presence of building blocks, you can build a website possessing any sort of functionality. The possibilities are vast.
Which is an easier CMS to use?
If you are planning to set up and maintain your website yourself without any HTML or CSS knowledge, implement WordPress CMS. It’s simple to install and there are hundreds of themes to use. You can also install plugins by yourself. These tasks don’t require knowledge of HTML or CSS technology.
Drupal is a bit complicated to learn and requires assistance to set up. You also need a developer to install any modules. Once the website is set up, it is easy to add content.
Which has better security?
Drupal has enterprise-level security features. Most government websites are based on Drupal 8.
WordPress plugins and extensions can have security holes that make it easier to hack. It’s also possible because of its huge reach. But, you can install third-party plugins to increase security.
Which is better SEO optimized?
Both CMS platforms have plugins/modules present to help with basic SEO functionality. To rank, website metadata can be added, XML sitemaps can be created, and structured data implemented.
For Drupal CMS, there are a few essential modules, including Metatag and the XML sitemap.
Yoast is user-friendly and the most popular SEO WordPress plugin.
However, optimizing web pages with proper keywords and creating XML sitemaps won’t put you ahead of competitors. You need proper SEO and content planning apart from clean, crawlable code.
Which is a faster CMS?
Page speed is a crucial factor behind conversion rate & higher revenue. If a website takes more than 3 seconds to load, it is usually avoided by users.
Drupal websites have high loading speed because of built-in caching. This helps to deliver the content at a faster rate. It is less resource consuming unless you are using several modules.
WordPress is not slow in comparison to Drupal. If you keep your plugins in check, you can have a fast site.
Both CMSs are fast with appropriate optimization. You can optimize images, use plugins/modules, make code simple, use a CDN and host on a fast server.
Which is more scalable?
Both CMSs are scalable. They can easily handle thousands of users and millions of visitors on a monthly basis.
Drupal has an advantage because only selected modules are needed per page. With WordPress, each plugin operates on a separate page. Then you require installation of more stuff to make it more scalable. And the more stuff you add, the more resource-oriented it becomes.
How to Choose the Right CMS?
You can do complex things with WordPress, using it to do more than simple blog posts and articles. Both CMSs offer solutions for different cases, business needs and requirements. These are simply general guidelines about when you might use one over the other. At the end of the day, both CMSs are tools that provide solutions as per need.
When to use Drupal
- Enterprise level security
- Site with 5000+ pages
- App-like features
- Site is complex
- Control over user permissions required
- To access data from multiple databases
When to use WordPress
- Site is blog post & article related
- Plan to set up a site yourself
- Budget is limited
- No knowledge of CSS & HTML
- No plug-in required
The Bottom Line
In the end, both platforms are perfect to build your web presence. They will manage your content and can make your website more efficient. Every scenario is unique, and every solution offered is unique. And sometimes people simply have preferences. At the end of the day, the requirement of your business is the clear winner. And, in reality, the people who are exploring your website. When your team is implementing a CMS that suits your style and business needs, the results will be reflected in the user experience. Try to keep end-user demands and their requirements in mind. Make a wise decision while selecting the CMS for your E-commerce website.
