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Joomla

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Framer

Joomla vs Framer

Joomla vs Framer: which is right for your project? Joomla is php cms balancing power and usability. Framer is design-to-production website builder with react components. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

It depends — Joomla and Framer serve different use cases well. Choose Joomla for Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management. Choose Framer for Designers creating marketing sites with polished animations.

Official docs: Joomla Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

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

Pros & Cons

Joomla

Pros

  • Built-in ACL system more powerful than WordPress out of the box
  • Native multilingual support without extensions
  • Flexible content categorization system
  • Good balance between ease of use and developer features

Cons

  • Smaller community means fewer extensions and themes
  • Admin interface feels dated compared to modern CMS options
  • Performance degrades with many extensions installed
  • Finding skilled Joomla developers is increasingly difficult

Framer

Pros

  • Stunning animations and interactions with no code
  • Ships real React components — not just visual mockups
  • Excellent performance with static generation
  • CMS with localization and scheduling built in

Cons

  • Limited CMS capabilities for complex content structures
  • Proprietary hosting — cannot self-host or export code
  • Smaller community and fewer resources than established builders
  • Complex logic still requires React code components

Platform Details

DetailJoomlaFramer
Language / Stack
PHPReact (custom components)
Type
traditional cmswebsite builder
Pricing
Free (self-hosted)Free / $5-15/month
Open Source
YesNo
Best For
Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user managementDesigners creating marketing sites with polished animations
Export Method
Database export or J2XML extensionNo code export — API for CMS content only

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Joomla if…

  • You need community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management
  • Your team is comfortable with PHP
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Choose Framer if…

  • You need designers creating marketing sites with polished animations
  • Your team is comfortable with React (custom components)
  • Budget is a top priority — free / $5-15/month
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Which Should You Pick?

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

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Joomla is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Framer is a website builder built with React (custom components). 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, Joomla's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, Joomla is open-source (Free (self-hosted)), while Framer (Free / $5-15/month) carries ongoing license costs. 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 Joomla better than Framer?
They're closely matched (18/30 vs 20/30). Joomla is best for Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management, while Framer excels for Designers creating marketing sites with polished animations. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.
Can I migrate from Joomla to Framer?
Yes. Export your Joomla content via Database export or J2XML extension, then import it into Framer. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Joomla and Framer?
Joomla is php cms balancing power and usability, while Framer is design-to-production website builder with react components. Key differences: ease of use (Joomla: 3/5, Framer: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free / $5-15/month), and ecosystem size (Joomla: 3/5, Framer: 2/5).
How much does Joomla cost compared to Framer?
Joomla: Free (self-hosted). Framer: Free / $5-15/month. Joomla is open-source and free to self-host, while Framer is a paid platform.
Which is easier to learn, Joomla or Framer?
Framer is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Stunning animations and interactions with no code. Joomla has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to PHP.
Which performs better, Joomla or Framer?
Framer has the performance edge (4/5 vs 2/5). Framer has Excellent performance with static generation. Joomla Performance degrades with many extensions installed.

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