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WordPress

VS
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Drupal

WordPress vs Drupal

Detailed comparison of WordPress and Drupal β€” two traditional cms platforms. Compare features, performance, pricing, and find out which is right for your project in 2026.

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TL;DR β€” Our Recommendation

It depends β€” WordPress and Drupal serve different use cases well. Choose WordPress for Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control. Choose Drupal for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control.

Official docs: WordPress REST API Docs Β· Drupal Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

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

Pros & Cons

WordPress

Pros

  • Massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins
  • Huge community β€” easy to find developers and tutorials
  • Visual block editor (Gutenberg) for non-technical users
  • Works for any site type from blogs to e-commerce

Cons

  • PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML
  • Requires constant security patches and plugin updates
  • Database-driven architecture limits scalability under load
  • Plugin conflicts can break your site after updates

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 β€” requires developer expertise
  • Fewer themes and modules compared to WordPress
  • Major version upgrades (e.g. Drupal 7β†’10) are complex migrations
  • Slow without aggressive caching configuration

Platform Details

DetailWordPressDrupal
Language / Stack
PHPPHP
Type
traditional cmstraditional cms
Pricing
Free (self-hosted) + hosting costsFree (self-hosted)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full controlLarge organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control
Export Method
REST API or WP All Export pluginJSON:API module or Views data export

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose WordPress if…

  • You need content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control
  • Your team is comfortable with PHP
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

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

Which Should You Pick?

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

Both platforms sit in the same category β€” traditional cms β€” so the deciding factors are ecosystem size, editorial workflow, and specific feature gaps. WordPress uses PHP, while Drupal runs on PHP. If your developers already know one of those stacks, lean toward that platform to reduce ramp-up 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 WordPress better than Drupal?
They're closely matched (22/30 vs 20/30). WordPress is best for Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control, while Drupal excels for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.
Can I migrate from WordPress to Drupal?
Yes. Export your WordPress content via REST API or WP All Export plugin, then import it into Drupal. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between WordPress and Drupal?
WordPress is php-based cms powering 43% of the web, while Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures. Key differences: ease of use (WordPress: 4/5, Drupal: 2/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs vs Free (self-hosted)), and ecosystem size (WordPress: 5/5, Drupal: 3/5).
How much does WordPress cost compared to Drupal?
WordPress: Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs. Drupal: Free (self-hosted). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, WordPress or Drupal?
WordPress is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 2/5). Massive plugin ecosystem with 59,000+ plugins. Drupal Steep learning curve β€” requires developer expertise.
Which performs better, WordPress or Drupal?
Drupal has the performance edge (3/5 vs 2/5). Drupal has strong performance characteristics. WordPress PHP rendering is slow compared to static HTML.

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