Just looking at the number of users, Drupal vs WordPress likes the fight between David and Goliath. While WordPress weblog software holds the leading position among free content management systems with a market share of 59.3 percent, Drupal is ranked third with a modest 4.9 percent (Source: W3Techs / Stand: 02.05.2016)). We show the pros and cons and explain who is the best for which system.
An overview of the six decision criteria
When choosing the right CMS, the following questions must be clarified: What are the systems needed for, what requirements must be met and what budget is available? Comparing WordPress vs Drupal focuses on six decision criteria: usability, functionality, customization options, security, search engine optimization, and cost.
1. Ease of use
Especially for webhosting beginners, the use of CMS is an important decision factor. Here WordPress has the blessing of installing 5 minutes and an intuitive backend of nose at the front. The system, which was developed as a weblog software, allows integration of fast and uncomplicated plug-ins and can be upgraded to a complete content management system. Inexperienced users will also receive convenient updates at the touch of a button. The popularity of the hobby sector and semi-professional website operators is also high. On the other hand, administration is more complicated for multilingual content and multi-domain management. Although functions like this can be implemented using plug-ins, the blogging system quickly loses the familiar intuitive operation.
Another approach is the open source project Drupal. This CMS is impressive with a sleek basic installation, but its modular structure allows various online projects with complex page structures. Because additional modules must be installed manually if necessary, the system configuration is much more complicated than with WordPress. Additionally, extensions cannot be added via the administration interface, but installed via FTP must be. The modular structure makes update management more difficult because many modules are interdependent and sometimes incompatible. However, website operators who can familiarize themselves with Drupal or enlist the help of specialist staff benefit from CMS with a variety of possible uses. Therefore CMS is very popular as a basis for corporate websites and online appearance of public institutions.
2. Functional scope
Both content management systems rely on a narrow base installation, which can be specified by optional extensions. While WordPress is primarily designed as a software for creating and managing blog articles, Drupal focuses on community applications and social publishing. Various multi-user functions are available in the basic version. WordPress only supports rudimentary roles and user rights settings. However, the appropriate function can be installed with a plug-in.
3. Individualization
Some players on the Internet are satisfied with the website from the bar. Therefore, the choice of content management system focuses on customization options. While plug-ins and modules add new functionality to the CMS, the theme allows the website design to be changed. Given the programming skills needed, it is open for each user to create their own WordPress - Drupal theme. However, newcomers appreciate the opportunity to use ready-made design templates. Therefore, choosing a free theme is an important decision criteria when it comes to finding the right CMS for your own website.
Choosing available extensions and design templates, WordPress benefits from the large user and developer community, which provides around 44,000 plug-ins and around 14,000 themes. But Drupal also proved its versatility with around 34,000 modules and more than 2,000 themes.
4. Security
Drupal vs. WordPress - Which CMS makes a race?
Software solutions that are often used are popular targets for hacker attacks. Also in the case of WordPress, cyber criminals repeatedly find security holes in the system. Especially the many plug-ins provided by the developer community are a weak point - especially if the website operator fails to install the current version of the extension. But even Drupal, according to a study by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), most of the vulnerabilities in the expansion module. However, BSI explicitly recommends Drupal for use in public administration and medium business. The leading websites that use Drupal are the online presence of the Federal Environment Agency as well as the Doctor Without Borders or Warner Music Germany websites
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Basically, search engines don't care if a website is based on WordPress or Drupal. Both content management systems offer SEO features or can be optimized with extensions for search engines. What determines good placement is above all content offered to users on the site. Designed to handle large volumes of content, Drupal provides native database caching to speed up the page layout at the front end. With WordPress, caching is realized through plug-ins. For WordPress users, take advantage of it already during the basic installation of the ability to create search engine friendly URLs. This feature requires Drupal to reinstall additional modules.
6. Costs
Drupal and WordPress are both licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 2.0. Therefore, website operators are allowed to download a content management system for free and use it as part of a software license. Themes and plug-ins are also available for free download on the respective project page. In addition, there are various third-party providers whose business models are based on providing services in connection with Drupal or WordPress for a fee. Possible services include programming individual design templates and customized software upgrades, as well as user training.
Conclusions from CMS comparisons
The following table summarizes the most important facts:
| Merkmal feature | WordPress WordPress | Drupal Drupal |
|---|---|---|
| feature WordPress Drupal market share | 59.3 percent | 4,9 percent |
| Themes | 14.000+ | 2,278 |
| extensions | 44.326 plug-ins | 33,986 modules |
| installation work | low | medium |
| configuration effort | medium | high |
| user friendliness | high | medium |
| update efforts | low | high |
| Functional scope (basic installation) | mittel medium | medium |
| expandability | high | high |
| customizability | hoch high | medium |
| safety | mittel medium | high |
| Search engine optimization (without plug-ins) | mittel medium | medium |
| Search engine optimization (with plug-ins) | high | high |
| price | free | free |
While WordPress focuses on bloggers and other home users, with a fast installation and ease-of-use, Drupal is a secure and versatile CMS for businesses and public institutions. With an extensive range of freely available design templates, WordPress addresses users who value a sophisticated aesthetic but do not have the programming skills they need for their own themes. If you want to put content online on a simple website, WordPress will provide you with an intuitive software solution that is installed within minutes and easy to use in the backend. Drupal users, on the other hand, should have previous web development experience. Then, with the powerful CMS, individual website projects with a complex page structure can be implemented.
Source : https://www.ionos.de
