When choosing a content management system (CMS) for your website, options like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla often come up. While each platform has its strengths, business owners should be mindful of the long-term implications of their CMS choice—especially when it comes to scalability, support, security, and ease of use.
At Windy City Web Designs, we often advise clients to proceed with caution when considering Drupal or Joomla. These platforms are widely used around the world, but they come with a few limitations that may not suit small to mid-sized businesses looking for flexibility, local support, and long-term success.
Here’s why we generally recommend avoiding Drupal and Joomla for most websites:
Complexity and Maintenance
Drupal and Joomla often require more advanced technical knowledge for setup, customization, and maintenance. Even routine tasks like updating content or installing plugins can be difficult without developer experience. This can leave business owners dependent on developers—often overseas—who are familiar with these platforms.Limited Local Support
Compared to WordPress, which has a vast global and local developer community, Drupal and Joomla are more niche. This means fewer web professionals in the U.S. specialize in these platforms, potentially leading you to outsource work to agencies or freelancers in other countries. This can create communication challenges, time zone issues, and security concerns.Higher Development Costs
Due to their complexity and smaller talent pools, websites built on Drupal or Joomla can be more expensive to build and maintain. If updates, bug fixes, or design changes require specialized skills, even simple adjustments may result in unexpected costs.Plugin and Theme Limitations
While WordPress offers tens of thousands of plugins and themes, Drupal and Joomla have smaller libraries, limiting your ability to add features or customize your site without expensive development. This may hinder future growth or integrations as your business evolves.Long-Term Scalability and Flexibility
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide for good reason—it’s user-friendly, SEO-ready, and scalable for businesses of all sizes. By contrast, Drupal and Joomla often fall short in terms of intuitive content editing, third-party integrations, and marketing tools.
When is Drupal or Joomla appropriate?
There are specific use cases—like highly secure enterprise platforms or government sites—where Drupal excels. However, for most small to medium-sized businesses, nonprofits, and startups, these platforms tend to be overbuilt and under-supported locally.
Our recommendation:
Stick with a CMS that offers easy management, robust support, and strong local developer availability. In most cases, WordPress checks all these boxes. It’s not only powerful and flexible, but it also allows you to stay in control of your website—without relying on hard-to-reach developers or high technical barriers.
Need help choosing the right platform for your website?
At Windy City Web Designs, we build secure, SEO-optimized WordPress websites that are easy to manage, scalable, and backed by a local U.S.-based team you can trust. Contact us today for a free consultation.