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Drupal

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Astro

Drupal vs Astro

Drupal vs Astro: which is right for your project? Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures. Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Astro wins overall, but Drupal is better for large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Drupal for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Astro for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript.

Official docs: Drupal Documentation · Astro Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureDrupalAstro
Ease of Use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Drupal

Pros

  • Powerful content modeling with custom entity types and fields
  • Enterprise-grade access control and user permissions
  • Built-in multilingual support for global sites
  • Strong security track record used by governments and universities

Cons

  • Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise
  • Fewer themes and modules compared to WordPress
  • Major version upgrades (e.g. Drupal 7→10) are complex migrations
  • Slow without aggressive caching configuration

Astro

Pros

  • Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture)
  • Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework in the same project
  • Content collections with type-safe Markdown/MDX
  • Purpose-built for content sites — blogs, docs, marketing pages

Cons

  • Not ideal for highly interactive apps (designed for content sites)
  • Smaller ecosystem than Next.js — fewer integrations available
  • SSR support is newer and less battle-tested
  • Island architecture requires thinking differently about interactivity

Platform Details

DetailDrupalAstro
Language / Stack
PHPJavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
Type
traditional cmsframework
Pricing
Free (self-hosted)Free (open-source)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access controlContent-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript
Export Method
JSON:API module or Views data exportN/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Drupal if…

  • You need large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control
  • Your team is comfortable with PHP
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Choose Astro if…

  • You need content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal javascript
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members
  • You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Drupal and Astro depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Drupal is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Astro is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Drupal's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Drupal better than Astro?
Astro scores higher overall (25/30 vs 20/30) thanks to better performance. However, Drupal remains the better choice for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control.
Can I migrate from Drupal to Astro?
Yes. Export your Drupal content via JSON:API module or Views data export, then convert it to Markdown or import into a headless CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Drupal and Astro?
Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures, while Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. Key differences: ease of use (Drupal: 2/5, Astro: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free (open-source)), and scalability (Drupal: 4/5, Astro: 4/5).
How much does Drupal cost compared to Astro?
Drupal: Free (self-hosted). Astro: Free (open-source). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Drupal or Astro?
Astro is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 2/5). Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture). Drupal Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise.
Which performs better, Drupal or Astro?
Astro has the performance edge (5/5 vs 3/5). As a framework, Astro pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Drupal Slow without aggressive caching configuration.

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