Drupal vs. Joomla: Pros, Cons, and Features You Should Know
Choosing the right content management system (CMS) is essential for building and managing a website efficiently. Drupal and Joomla are popular platforms known for their wide range of features, active community support, and regular updates. This comparison highlights key differences between the two, including costs, ease of use, site management, multilingual support, performance, eCommerce functionality, security, and customer support, helping you decide which platform best fits your website’s needs and long-term goals.
Comparing Drupal and Joomla: Which CMS is Right for Your Project?
Pricing – Joomla is More Cost-Effective
The overall cost is one of the first factors to consider while developing a website. While Drupal and Joomla are free to download and install, creating and maintaining a professional website incurs additional costs that vary according to project complexity.
Although Drupal is open-source, the total cost of building a fully functional website can be quite expensive:
- Hosting costs range from $20,000 to $100,000 (Expenses for UI/UX design, graphics, and programming significantly increase the budget);
- Backend development alone may cost between $100,000 and $400,000;
- Testing and additional tasks raise the total project cost to $200,000 to $350,000;
- Ongoing maintenance and third-party services add an extra $1,500 to $5,000 annually.
Joomla is also free to use, but the total project costs are generally lower:
- Hosting expenses range from $5,000 to $20,000;
- Design and development costs are similar to Drupal;
- Backend development is less expensive, costing between $20,000 and $100,000;
- The total cost to build a Joomla site is typically $50,000 to $150,000;
- Annual maintenance costs around $1,500 to $3,000.
Both systems are free to use, although Joomla is a more cost-effective solution for most projects. Its cheaper creation and maintenance expenses make it ideal for small to medium-sized websites.
Ease of Use – Joomla is More Beginner-Friendly
How easy a platform is to use can impact project timelines and the need for technical help.
Drupal requires more technical knowledge from the start. Users must handle tasks like updating the codebase, installing libraries, setting up a database, and running installation scripts. Its interface is simple but offers limited built-in features. Formatting and content creation options are basic, and working with Drupal often requires HTML and development skills, making it better suited for experienced users.
Joomla offers a much easier setup. Installing Joomla is simple—just download the package, set up a database, and follow the step-by-step instructions. The interface is user-friendly and packed with built-in features that are easy to access. It also provides extra formatting options in the content area, allowing users to customize their pages easily without any coding knowledge.
For businesses or individuals with limited technical knowledge, Joomla is the more user-friendly option. This accessibility also helps reduce development costs since basic tasks can be handled without outside help.
Site Management – Joomla is Easier to Manage
Both platforms offer flexibility in site management, but the process differs.
Drupal is more technical. It allows users to sync configuration settings through a dedicated section. Users comfortable with the command line can also make changes directly. Content management is manageable, with options to publish, organize, and filter articles and comments. However, these tools are designed with developers in mind.
Joomla simplifies the process. Site settings are easy to find in the Global Configuration menu, with sections clearly organized. Joomla also provides 30 free modules for users who want to add custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript without overcomplicating the process.
Overall, Joomla makes site management accessible to beginners while still offering customization options for developers. Drupal, in contrast, is better for users with a technical background who need advanced control.
Multilingual Support – Both Perform Well
Multilingual support is essential for websites that cater to multinational audiences.
Drupal has strong built-in multilingual tools that handle over 100 languages, including right-to-left languages. It has four main modules that manage language switching, interface translations, content translations, and configuration settings. Drupal also has a clever language detection system that adapts content based on the user’s browser settings, IP address, or session.
Joomla lacks built-in multilingual support, however it compensates with plugins such as GTranslate, which supports translation into 103 languages and includes multilingual SEO tools. Joomla also provides 28 more language extensions, giving you more flexibility over translations and localization.
Both platforms are capable of supporting multiple languages. Drupal handles this natively, while Joomla relies on extensions that are easy to install and use. Both are good choices for multilingual websites.
Performance – Joomla Offers Better Speed and Stability
Website performance is critical for user experience, and slow-loading pages can cause visitors to leave. Both Drupal and Joomla give users control over hosting, but their performance differs.
Drupal runs on any server that meets PHP requirements, offering flexibility in hosting choices. However, its performance can suffer due to the large number of import files needed during setup. Testing shows that Drupal’s first-page load can take 5 to 7 seconds, even with good hosting. Although repeat visits load faster — under 3 seconds — that slow initial load can negatively impact user experience.
Joomla also allows users to choose their hosting provider, as long as the server meets the platform’s technical requirements. Joomla works well with a LAMP infrastructure and includes key modules such as mod_rewrite and Gzip compression. It works better out of the box, with initial load times ranging from 2 to 3 seconds. Enabling cache and Gzip compression may significantly reduce load times, frequently to 1.5 seconds.
Overall, Joomla performs better from the start, making it an excellent alternative for organizations that value speed and consistency in load times.
Automated Workflow – Joomla is Easier to Use
Automation helps improve efficiency, and both platforms offer features to support this — though their approaches differ.
Drupal’s Flow module automates processes when content is produced, saved, or destroyed. It ties tasks to certain data kinds, such as articles, so that actions are performed automatically when certain circumstances are satisfied. Auto-generated content, field value merging, notice sending, and content relationship management are among the features. You may also specify whether tasks should be executed immediately or in the background.
Joomla has a Task Scheduler, which enables users to quickly automate regular activities. Users can change how frequently tasks run and assign priority if specific activities must be completed first. Joomla also offers API integration, which enables automatic content generation, changes, and data synchronization with other systems.
Both platforms support automation, but Joomla’s built-in scheduler is more user-friendly and accessible for non-technical users.
eCommerce Capabilities – Joomla is More Organized and Secure
While neither platform was built specifically for eCommerce, both support online store development through extensions.
Drupal offers around 4,900 eCommerce modules that handle payments, inventory, taxes, and more. This gives users a wide range of options but can also create challenges. Modules are grouped broadly under “eCommerce,” making it hard to find specific features. Plus, any Drupal user can upload a module, which raises concerns about reliability and security. It’s important to research each module carefully before using it.
Joomla has a smaller but more organized eCommerce extension library with 263 options. Of these, 85 focus on payment systems, and 65 offer integrations with platforms like Ecwid. Joomla’s extensions are sorted into clear categories, making them easier to browse. They also tend to have better security standards, though it’s still a good idea to check for updates and reviews.
Overall, Joomla provides a more structured and secure eCommerce setup. However, both platforms could improve when it comes to supporting large-scale online stores.
Apps and Modules – Drupal Has More Options, But Security Needs Attention
Both Drupal and Joomla offer extensive libraries of apps and modules to expand functionality, but there are key differences in variety and security.
More than 52,000 modules spanning a broad variety of website functions are available through Drupal. Although it features filters to assist users in locating current and suitable alternatives, Drupal’s security team does not keep an eye on many of the modules because they are developed by third parties. It is the users’ duty to ensure that these modules are safe. If you’re looking for recommended options, you can check out our detailed guide on Drupal security modules to help protect your website.
Joomla has a smaller selection of around 5,300 extensions, but these are generally more secure, following stricter standards. While Joomla lacks advanced filters for sorting extensions, it does offer an option to control how many extensions are displayed per page, making browsing easier.
Drupal offers more flexibility with its modules, but security requires caution. Joomla offers fewer extensions but provides stronger security during installation.
Security – Both Platforms Offer Reliable Protection
When it comes to overall platform security, both Drupal and Joomla perform well and take safety seriously.
Drupal has earned a strong reputation for security. A dedicated team monitors the platform, working closely with the community to spot and fix issues quickly. Security updates are released regularly to patch vulnerabilities. In fact, an update was rolled out during our review — which shows how responsive the team is.
Joomla also has a proactive approach to security. It follows a structured process for handling user-reported issues. Every report gets a response within 24 hours. Within a week, Joomla either resolves the issue or provides an update if more investigation is needed. Most problems are fully resolved within 21 days unless something significant causes a delay. Joomla releases updates regularly, ensuring users have the protection they need.
Both platforms maintain solid security standards with active monitoring and frequent updates. Neither comes out on top here — both are reliable choices when it comes to keeping your website secure.
Customer Support – Both Platforms Provide Helpful Resources
Customer support is crucial for those without developer experience. Both Drupal and Joomla offer reliable support options.
Drupal provides detailed documentation and a knowledge base. Users can submit requests through the issue queue, with moderators responding based on urgency. For login issues, users can email [email protected]. While there’s no phone support, responses are typically quick.
Joomla lets users submit issues via the “Report An Issue” feature, requiring a GitHub account. A support member will respond within 24 to 48 hours, guiding users through resolutions.
Conclusion
Both Drupal and Joomla are capable content management systems suitable for a range of project needs. When choosing between them, it’s important to consider your project’s requirements, budget, and available resources. Both platforms are reliable options for building websites, offering strong security, multilingual support, and dependable customer service.
