Published: Dec 29, 2023, 10:50am
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Drupal and WordPress are two popular website-building platforms. Both solutions let users quickly set up a website and publish their own content. Though both platforms also have all the essential features for businesses, one may be ideal for you depending on your goals and objectives. Read our comprehensive Drupal vs WordPress comparison to learn how these popular website builders measure up in terms of features, cost, design and more.
Drupal and WordPress are both open-source and free platforms with reliable content management features. They are packed with tools for multichannel publishing, digital asset management and SEO.
WordPress is best for bloggers looking to set up a website fast with little to no experience because it has professionally designed themes and easy-to-use block editors. Meanwhile, Drupal is a more flexible solution but it has a higher learning curve. It’s ideal for bloggers with technical skills or access to a developer who can build their site.
Yes
Requires third-party hosting provider
Users looking for an open-source solution to build complex sites
Yes
Requires third-party hosting provider
Users looking for an open-source solution to build complex sites
Drupal is an open-source CMS used by at least 14% of the top 10,000 websites across the globe. It comes with features including content management tools, multimedia support and e-commerce functionality, which make it a top choice for media and publishing.
Yes
Premium hosting and security included on paid and free plans
Users looking to build all types of websites without much technical expertise
Yes
Premium hosting and security included on paid and free plans
Users looking to build all types of websites without much technical expertise
WordPress is a leading content management system used by more than 455 million websites across the globe. The platform has hundreds of mobile-ready designs and themes, easy-to-install add-ons, built-in SEO tools and e-commerce capabilities. Users can level up their website’s capabilities through its WordPress Plugin Directory, which boasts more than 59,000 free plugins, as well as 9,000 free themes.
Building a basic website is free on WordPress. Even so, we recommend exploring its paid plans to enjoy more functionalities.
From INR 415.72 ($5) per month, WordPress Starter offers a free custom domain for a year, the ability to collect payments, 6 GB of storage and Google Analytics integration. Meanwhile, WordPress Pro is packed with all the features of WordPress starter plus 50 GB of storage, unlimited plugins, premium support and WooCommerce integration among others.
Drupal is a free content management system with no licensing fees. However, building a website requires a higher learning curve, so it is better suited for website owners with technical knowledge or access to professional developers. According to users, a Drupal project with minimal custom development may take around six to eight weeks of work and cost INR 2,494,326.00 to INR 3,325,768.00 $30,000 to $40,000.
Although there are some stark differences in the web design process, users can build professional-looking websites on both platforms.
WordPress has a large variety of free or paid customizable themes and templates. Its interface is not widely regarded as user-friendly. However, it is possible to use an array of page builder plugins that transform its standard editor into a drag-and-drop editor. Some popular options include Beaver Builder, Elementor, and Divi.
Drupal doesn’t have a large variety of ready-made themes or third-party page builders, compared to WordPress. However, you’ll likely need a developer to guide you in the process of designing your website.
SEO is crucial to get on the top of search engine rankings and attract more traffic to your website. Thankfully, most blogging platforms have built-in SEO features.
WordPress has auto-generated XML sitemaps that improve your site’s visibility on search engines. However, only users on Business tiers can access its advanced SEO tools, leverage Google Analytics or install third-party plugins.
Drupal has modules or codes—consisting of PHP or JavaScript files—that add new features or alter existing functionalities on a website. It’s easy to add SEO modules to your website for meta tags, site verification, XML sitemaps, page titles and Google Analytics.
WordPress has a full range of e-commerce features for all types of businesses. It’s easy to build an online store, add products and install e-commerce plugins to boost your site’s capabilities. Collecting payments is also a breeze because you can set up subscriptions with automated payments, one-click payments and credit or debit card payments with no hassle.
Drupal Commerce lets users develop e-commerce sites that suit their needs. Core features include dynamic product ranges, multiple order types, promotions with multiple offer types, robust payment API and order management.
WordPress may be the better option for small businesses looking to set up their website quickly with minimum complications. The user-friendly platform has themes and plugins you can use to build a simple website to introduce your product or sell to customers. Drupal is the better choice, if you want a more customizable and flexible solution. With its rich theme ecosystem and modules, you can build the website of your dreams.
To build a WordPress website, start by getting a web hosting plan and a domain name. Many of the best hosting companies include money-saving extras such as a free domain name and a free SSL certificate. From there, install WordPress through your web hosting dashboard. Select and install a theme, install plugins, and customize pages. Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to build a WordPress website.
Both WordPress and Squarespace are reliable website builders. However, Squarespace is easier to set up and it has a more user-friendly interface which makes it the ideal option for individuals looking to build a beautiful website quickly. In contrast, WordPress has a wider range of templates and plugins, so you have more control when customizing your website. For more information, check out the head-to-head comparison of Squarespace vs WordPress.
A reliable web hosting service must offer 99.9% uptime, fast loading times and quality customer service at a reasonable price. Some popular options include Hostinger, Bluehost, Dreamhost and HostGator. Learn more about the best web hosting services.
Some free blog platforms are free. Wix, WordPress and Weebly, for example, offer truly free forever plans you can use to design a blogging website and publish your posts. However, truly free blogs offer limited functionality, often limiting the amount of storage you can use and the number of pages you can publish. You must also use a subdomain that includes the name of the free platform and the platform’s ads may appear on your blog pages.
If you want to build a website, web hosting is necessary. You have a few different options. There are cheap web hosts, all-in-one website builders and top-rated web hosts. The best web hosting services are still affordable but, more importantly, they offer a range of hosting plans, features and unlimited or generous storage.
Monique Danao is a journalist and freelance writer who has worked with several startups and tech companies. Her work has been published in Sitepoint, Fast Capital 360, Social Media Today, WPMayor among other publications.
Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine.
Rob is an SMB writer and editor based in New Jersey. Before joining Forbes Advisor, he was a content producer at Fit Small Business. In that role, he was responsible for writing, editing, and strategizing content geared toward small business owners. Before that, he worked at PCMag as a business analyst.