Joomla vs. Drupal – Which is Better?
Joomla and Drupal may be considered some of the best open source content management software out there, but the one you choose should be based on your specific requirements. Even though they are similar in several aspects, they differ in the type of content they can effectively manage. Of course, that is not to say that either is better than the other, but it’s better to look at what you need first before downloading either one. The following guide can help you narrow down your choice:
Drupal is Best for…
Even though large brands such as Yahoo!, McDonalds and Best Buy use Drupal, they use other software for their main websites. For instance in Yahoo it is used to manage style guides, while it is used to manage Best Buy’s online magazine. It is also preferred in the education sector by universities such as Duke, Stanford and Rutger to name a few who use it for their mail site. In fact, MIT also uses it to manage its media lab since it is very easy to use. The CMS may not be suitable for everybody, but it is still popular with those whose skills are not technically strong.
Joomla is Best for…
Just like Drupal, Joomla is a preferred CMS for the educational sector and a number of big brands. It does have a steeper learning curve compared to Drupal, but according to fans and photographers, the small hassle is worth it. It is particularly popular in the photography industry with its state of the art graphic capabilities so much so that many photography buffs and businesses use it to completely manage their websites. Similarly, Harvard utilizes Joomla to manage its School of Arts and Sciences website, while newspapers such as The Faison Spot and The Hill also use it to manage their web content.
Drupal’s Functionality
If you are a webmaster, then using Drupal can be worth your while, especially if you want to create attractive AND functional websites. The CMS offers a lot of designs that are free to use along with plug-ins that can help you up the ante on your web presence and make it more flexible at the same time. However, if you are used to using simple platforms such as Blogger, then Drupal may be harder to adopt. Even though you don’t need to be a seasoned developer or have programming knowledge to use it, you still need some technical knowhow to use the platform to its full potential.
Joomla’s Functionality
Joomla is the best CMS to use when it comes to managing a website since it offers a range of options in its user management area. This includes options such as language, contact, media management and even your choice of banners. However, just like Drupal, it can be a challenge to use in the beginning, but there are a ton of online resources out there that can help you get the hang of it in no time.
When it comes to choosing appropriate CMS platforms, the choice ultimately comes down to your requirements. Even though Joomla and Drupal can take time to master, each can take your web presence to the next level if you can master them.