The debate between WordPress and Joomla has long been a contentious one. In the world of content management systems (CMS), these two platforms have been vying for supremacy, and a simple Google search will give you a multitude of articles that never quite settle on a clear winner.
Today, I’m going to put my 25 years of experience into resolving this debate once and for all.
Let me start by acknowledging that each tool has its place. Joomla, for example, has proven itself to be a great CMS, and I’ve used it for the company I work for, Anchor Computer Software. Transitioning from Joomla 3 to 4 was indeed a turbulent process, but we weathered the storm, and the system is functioning beautifully now.
However, when it comes to choosing a CMS for my personal projects, I pick WordPress every time. Here’s why:
Ease of Use and Speed
In terms of ease of use, WordPress is superior. The learning curve is lower, making it accessible to users of varying tech savviness. Its intuitive interface makes the process of building a website smooth and speedy.
Plugin Marketplace
WordPress’s plugin marketplace is vast, and most importantly, you can test out numerous add-ons for free. In contrast, Joomla’s marketplace requires registration before downloading any add-ons – a time-consuming step that can pose security risks.
Ecommerce Capabilities
If you’re looking to set up an online store, WordPress’s WooCommerce beats Joomla’s Virtuemart hands down. It offers more features and better support, making it a more reliable choice for ecommerce.
Web Editors
When it comes to web editors, both WordPress and Joomla have their strong contenders—WP Bakery and Avada for WordPress, and SP Pagebuilder for Joomla.
While SP Pagebuilder is undoubtedly powerful, offering a high degree of customization and control, WordPress’s web editors outshine in terms of responsiveness and speed. WP Bakery and Avada are known for their fluid, user-friendly interfaces that significantly simplify the website building process.
Furthermore, both of these editors have extensive support communities, ensuring that help is readily available whenever you hit a road bump. This is another considerable advantage of WordPress and contributes to why I consistently choose it for my projects.
Who Should Use Joomla?
Joomla isn’t without its strengths. It’s great for structured websites or for corporations that require a robust level of control. If you have the time and resources to ensure everything works perfectly, Joomla might be the CMS for you.
So, WordPress or Joomla? From my perspective, WordPress comes out on top. However, remember that the best choice depends on your specific needs, skills, and the nature of your project.