Did you know that there are around 700 coding languages?
That’s 700 different ways to create a website. That’s a staggering amount to wrap your head around.
Luckily you don’t have to.
Content management systems make building and maintaining your website a breeze. But which one is right for you? Keep reading as we explore the great Joomla vs WordPress debate, and give you all the info you need on how to choose the right one.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is a Content Management System?
Content management systems (or CMS) are crucial to building a website when you have absolutely zero knowledge of coding. This software takes care of everything from layout to functionality, making these elements easy to customize for those of us who otherwise wouldn’t have a clue where to start.
There are a variety of content management systems available today. These support every type of website from blogs, to e-commerce sites. With so many available, you might be wondering which one is right for you.
Well, the answer to this depends on your needs. If we’re going by popularity, WordPress and Joomla, are both at the top of the list. There are some key differences which we’ve outlined below to help you decide.
Joomla vs WordPress: The Basics
Both WordPress and Joomla have been around for well over a decade. This means they’ve had some time in the game to refine their services and develop their software suitably.
While WordPress is the most popular content management system around, Joomla also has a substantial chunk of the market share. Both Joomla and WordPress are open source, and free to download and use for basic management needs.
Customization and Functionality
When it comes to the design of your website, both Joomla and WordPress are easily customizable to suit your needs. WordPress has a vast array of themes, some paid and some free so that you can easily choose a website design that works for you.
WordPress also offers an extensive range of plugins, to integrate specific functionality into your website. If we were comparing the sites by the number of themes and plugins available, WordPress would come out on top.
Joomla’s offerings are similar. However, they’re called templates instead of themes and extensions instead of plugins. There are fewer themes available when it comes to Joomla, but a key difference is how flexible Joomla is when it comes to customizing details. Joomla sites tend to offer a lot more wiggle room for customizing different features.
Support and Ease of Use
Due to its popularity, WordPress has a large and very helpful community of developers and users, with solutions at the ready. Its user interface is also clean, simple, and easy to navigate.
Because Joomla has fewer users, there’s a common misconception that their support community isn’t as reliable. This definitely isn’t true, as Joomla also has a large support community. Plus, Joomla offers built-in support in multiple languages. Joomla support services are pretty easy to come by.
Joomla’s user interface is slightly more complex than WordPress. This is because a lot of the features that come as plugins in WordPress are already integrated into Joomla.
The Final Say
In the Joomla vs WordPress debate, there are always going to be advocates for each side. While WordPress seems to be the best option for beginners, Joomla is an excellent content management platform for those who want to create a truly unique website. It all comes down to the purpose of your website, and which software is better suited to its functionality.
For more comparisons, insights and advice, take a look at our tech section.
