If you are thinking about using a content management system then you’re more than likely will be selecting from the three most popular: WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Now the tough question for web-masters is which of these management systems in the best. To help you make the best choice for your website we will take a quick look at what each has to offer in comparison to the others.
WordPress CMS
WordPress came onto the internet scene in 2003. This content management system is best know as a blogging platform, mainly due to the WordPress.com service. What gives WordPress its advantage is the simplicity to power a blog, but at the same time it can handle even more complex tasks. This makes it the best option for websites that are starting with a limited plan but are in hopes of expanding their website into something larger.
Upside of WordPress
- Most Prevalent CMS
- Easiest Content Creator
- Easiest to Instal
- Easiest Learning Curve
- Balance between Joomla and Drupal
- Best For Blogging
Downside of WordPress
- Very Plan By Default
- Hidden Controls
- Content is Location-Based
WordPress Summed Up
This unique content management system is the most recognizable blogging platform. The system itself may not be as sophisticated or versatile as Drupal or Joomla, but when it comes to speed and simplicity, WordPress wins easily. Even the least experienced web-masters can create their new website in a matter of minutes. Installation of WordPress is literally as simple as a single click when you select a web hosting provider such as
HostGator. The one negative that comes from using WordPress is that some of the best features are hard to find from the dashboard.
Nothing comes close to the ease of creating content using WordPress, and the same can be said for selecting a theme or template to give your website that professional looks. WordPress even offers additional add-ons, better known as plugins, that can be installed with a single click. This unique platform can even handle e-commerce websites, as it handles large inventories. However, it’s best the perfect solution for the smaller sites that are selling a few items.
Joomla CMS
Fairly new to the content management world, Joomla arrived in 2005 as a Mambo CMS fork. This CMS platform is centralized around giving developers the power to build template-based websites. Unlike WordPress and Drupal, Joomla what is known as a model-view-controller structure, making it an excellent asset for developers looking to stretch the platforms legs. The default installation of Joomla offers many features and extensions are only available as add-ons for WordPress and Drupal.
Upside of Joomla
- Second Most Prevalent CMS
- Build-In SEO Friendly URLs
- Intuitive Control Panel
- Easiest E-commerce Platform
- Most Sophisticated Platform
- Explicit Installation Process
Downside of Joomla
- Some Coding Required For Configuration
- Controls Requires Tedious Tasks
- Sometimes Unstable and Crashes Occasionally
- Sample Data Can Sometimes Be A Pain
Joomla Summed Up
Joomla uses a small step approach and everything is documented in a very usable form. The controls are very intuitive, however, simplicity is sometimes a limitation as the platform requires users to perform menial tasks repeatedly. As content management systems are suppose to be code free, Joomla doesn’t deliver, as is almost always requires users to play around with the coding. Lastly, adding extensions and plug-ins is much more difficult as compared to its competitors in WordPress and Drupal.
Drupal CMS
This open source solution was released in 2001 by Dries Buytaert. Drupal is very similar to Joomla in that their primary goals are to achieve powerful template-based websites, all while remaining user friendly. The Drupal CMS provides a excellent alternative to the blog-oriented WordPress system. It is also very popular for knowledge management and business collaboration websites and is well known for for being the tech that runs the whitehouse.gov website.
Upside of Drupal
- Very Easy Configuration
- Very Powerful Admin Controls
- Dashboard Supports Advanced Customization
- Offers Simple Static Pages
- Easy Add-on Installation
- Excellent E-commerce Platform
Downside of Drupal
- Complicated Installation Process
- Very Tough Learning Curve
- No Rich Text Editor By Default
- No Built-In Social Media Tools
- Control Flexibility Causes Some Complexity
Drupal Summed Up
The installation of Drupal is very good and similar to that of Joomla. The Drupal controls are more complicated than Joomla’s, however, they’re much more customizable and powerful. installing add-ons to Drupal is more similar to WordPress in the sense that it’s much more user friendly as compared to Joomla. Drupal is second in popularity only to WordPress, but at the same time the commercial community is far less than Joomla.
Similarities Between The “Big 3″
WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are very similar in many different aspects. Each of these content management systems use MySQL as the back-end database and are all written in PHP form. They also all have a great collection of add-ons and commercial support to go along with their default features. Lastly, they are all offered for free by web hosts and can be installed with single click installations. This easy instal option keeps the burden of building a website minimal.
Conclusion
Each of these content management systems is an excellent option, which tells the tale of why their the most well known. Joomla is the most modern option, which as allowed for it to learned from WordPress and Drupal’s mistakes. It also may be the number one option for someone with strong technical skills. On the flip side of things, WordPress is most certainly the number one option for those without technical skills. Out of the “Big 3,” Drupal has superb potential, but will require strong technical skills similar to Joomla.
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