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Joomla

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Gatsby

Joomla vs Gatsby

Joomla vs Gatsby: which is right for your project? Joomla is php cms balancing power and usability. Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Gatsby wins overall, but Joomla is better for community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management. Choose Joomla for Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management. Choose Gatsby for Content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL.

Official docs: Joomla Documentation · Gatsby Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureJoomlaGatsby
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

Gatsby

Pros

  • Rich plugin ecosystem for data sources (CMS, APIs, databases)
  • Unified GraphQL data layer pulls from any source
  • Excellent image optimization with gatsby-plugin-image
  • Pre-renders pages for fast initial load and good SEO

Cons

  • Build times scale poorly with page count (minutes for 10K+ pages)
  • Gatsby Cloud was shut down — hosting is now DIY
  • GraphQL data layer adds complexity to simple projects
  • Declining community momentum — many projects migrating to Astro or Next.js

Platform Details

DetailJoomlaGatsby
Language / Stack
PHPJavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Type
traditional cmsssg
Pricing
Free (self-hosted)Free (open-source)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user managementContent-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL
Export Method
Database export or J2XML extensionN/A (destination framework)

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 Gatsby if…

  • You need content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
  • You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Joomla and Gatsby 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 Gatsby is a ssg built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React). 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, 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 Joomla better than Gatsby?
Gatsby scores higher overall (22/30 vs 18/30) thanks to better performance. However, Joomla remains the better choice for Community portals and membership sites needing built-in user management.
Can I migrate from Joomla to Gatsby?
Yes. Export your Joomla content via Database export or J2XML extension, 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 Joomla and Gatsby?
Joomla is php cms balancing power and usability, while Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. Key differences: performance (Joomla: 2/5, Gatsby: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free (open-source)), and scalability (Joomla: 3/5, Gatsby: 3/5).
How much does Joomla cost compared to Gatsby?
Joomla: Free (self-hosted). Gatsby: Free (open-source). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Joomla or Gatsby?
They're similarly approachable (both 3/5). Joomla uses PHP, while Gatsby uses JavaScript/TypeScript (React). Your team's existing skills will determine which feels easier.
Which performs better, Joomla or Gatsby?
Gatsby has the performance edge (4/5 vs 2/5). As a static site generator, Gatsby pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Joomla Performance degrades with many extensions installed.

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