There is no one perfect way to build a website. Depending on the business, industry and the aims of the site, one platform may be better than another. Two of the leading content management systems (CMS) often used by good developers are WordPress and Drupal. Today, we will size them both up to help you choose between them in 2021.

A brief look at WordPress and Drupal

WordPress and Drupal are both platforms where websites can be created and business ambitions realised. WordPress may be the biggest household name and an estimated 40% of the market chooses WordPress, including some big names like The New Yorker and Sony Mobile.

On the other hand, Drupal has a much smaller market share with fewer than 3% of websites being created on this CMS. However, it may surprise you to hear that Drupal has actually been around even longer than WordPress and they also have some big sites under their belt, including The Economist.

Read on for our insider's guide to comparing the two.

The advantages of WordPress

WordPress offers website developers and business owners an array of benefits. Some of the most prominent are:

• WordPress is super easy to use for most people and can even be handled by people without a serious developer background
• WordPress has many plugins to cater to most website needs
• Due to the popularity of WordPress, it is relatively easy to find help online when you come unstuck
• WordPress includes solutions straight off the shelf, which can make WordPress developers more affordable

The advantages of Drupal

Don’t think that Drupal’s much lower market share makes them a non-competitor to WordPress. Drupal offers many benefits too, namely:

• Drupal offers more customisable and bespoke website options
• Drupal enables team development with permissions for each developer
• Drupal 8 allows for multilingual content without needing a plug-in like many other CMS, including WordPress
• Drupal can help create complex websites with lots of content

Drupal’s steep learning curve

One of the key differences, if you didn’t spot it already, is that Drupal is aimed at professional developers or those with a lot of time to learn a new skill. Essentially, if you want to create a website with Drupal, you either need to be a website designer yourself or are willing to pay for the services of one.

We must say, this is strongly recommended for WordPress sites too, but WordPress can conceivably be used to create a semi-bespoke website even if you are not a developer.

Which is the more secure option?

If you want a complex and bespoke website on WordPress, you are probably going to need a range of plug-ins, which often get supplied by third parties. Although this doesn’t sound like a problem, it does leave the website more open to cyberattacks.

With Drupal, this is not an issue because most bespoke websites can be created on Drupal without needing third-party support. Moreover, Drupal tends to provide more transparent security reports than WordPress.

Drupal vs. WordPress (the final verdict!)

Drupal and WordPress are both fantastic options for anyone needing a website that gets results. If you are paying for the services of a developer and want a bespoke website that is more secure, Drupal will probably be your better option.

But if you just want a very simple website that you create yourself, choose WordPress over Drupal.

Here at WEBPRO Creative, we can create a beautiful website on any platform. Get in touch to discuss your project and we'll help you decide which is best for you and your business.