Drupal vs WordPress: Which is the Best CMS for Australian Marketers?

Table of Contents

• Why are we comparing Drupal & WordPress?
• Drupal vs WordPress: Difference in a Snapshot 
• When to Use WordPress?
• Where WordPress is Not Great?
• Cost of WordPress Website Development
• Which One to choose? Drupal or WordPress
• When to Use Drupal?
• Where Drupal is not great?
• Cost of Drupal Development
• Get Your Websites Designed!

We’ve been working with WordPress websites for quite a while now. We often get asked questions like ‘Should we choose WordPress or Drupal for our website?’. 

And our reply is: what are the requirements? 

Even though both are CMS platforms, Drupal and WordPress serve different needs. 

WordPress is an excellent platform, widely used across the globe for all types of projects, particularly by small to mid-sized businesses that need to manage content regularly or focus heavily on marketing. Its user-friendly interface, vast array of plugins, and ease of customisation make it the go-to choice for businesses wanting to keep things simple yet effective. 

On the other hand, Drupal is more suited for larger, complex projects—ideal for enterprises, governments, and NGOs that require advanced integrations, complex designs, and high-volume user operations, such as CRUD tasks, or large eCommerce giants like Amazon or SaaS platforms with intricate third-party applications.

That being said, let’s dive in and determine which platform is best for your needs.

Why are we comparing Drupal & WordPress?

The reason for comparing Drupal and WordPress is straightforward: new businesses need to understand the differences when choosing a platform that will serve them for years. 

A website isn’t something you create this year and then switch platforms frequently—that’s not a recommended approach. If you’re planning to market your business in the long term, you’ll likely stick with the CMS for at least four to five years, if not longer. This makes it a significant investment. 

Therefore, it’s crucial to choose wisely. This comparison will help you decide between Drupal and WordPress based on your specific website design needs and future requirements.

Drupal vs WordPress: Difference in a Snapshot

When to Use WordPress?

WordPress is indeed the most widely used CMS platform globally, holding a dominant position in the market. It powers a vast range of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites and everything in between. Its extensive use across various types of websites underscores its flexibility, ease of use, and broad appeal, making it a top choice for users worldwide.

1. Marketing Websites

WordPress is ideal for marketing-heavy websites like eCommerce platforms, coupon sites, and SaaS-based lead generators because it offers a perfect balance of flexibility and functionality. 

Its content management system (CMS) allows for easy, narrative-driven content updates, while its vast selection of themes and plugins helps customise the design to meet the needs of any business. With WordPress, you can create content-rich, SEO-optimised websites without sacrificing performance, and it integrates seamlessly with eCommerce tools like WooCommerce or lead generation plugins.

2. Blogging & News Websites

You might be surprised to learn that major news websites like Microsoft News, TechCrunch, and even The Times use WordPress as their backend. 

WordPress is one of the most common and popular platforms for news sites and blogging. Many people prefer WordPress.org because of the extensive customisation and design flexibility it offers, which isn’t easily found with hosted CMS platforms like Webflow and Wix. This level of enrichment makes WordPress a standout choice for those seeking powerful, adaptable solutions.

3. Business or Enterprise Websites 

WordPress is also used as the front end of many enterprise and business websites with sophisticated models, including notable names like Sony, PlayStation, and Flickr. These sites leverage WordPress for its robust features and flexibility, making it a solid choice for complex, high-profile digital platforms.

4. Portfolios & Landing Pages

WordPress is extensively used for lead generation. Many landing pages designed to drive leads are built on WordPress due to its extensive options and flexibility available through plugins. This platform’s versatility makes it an ideal choice for crafting effective landing pages that capture and convert leads efficiently.

5. Small Community Websites

For small community websites, WordPress is an excellent choice. Many platforms and forum websites with a few hundred to a thousand users are operated using WordPress. It’s particularly well-suited for these types of sites because of its extensive range of plugins. With plugins like bbPress, users can easily create and manage bulletin boards or forum websites, making WordPress a versatile solution for small community sites.

6. Ecommerce Stores or Storefronts

One of the main reasons people choose WordPress is its robust eCommerce capabilities and customisation options. There’s a clear difference between full-fledged eCommerce stores and simpler shop fronts. 

For instance, platforms like Amazon offer a vast range of products that customers can buy online, while shop fronts may have a limited selection of items available for online ordering with the option to visit the physical store. WordPress plugins cater to both types of setups effectively, providing excellent tools for creating both expansive online stores and more straightforward shopping experiences.

Read More: Wix vs WordPress for Australian Marketers: Choosing the Best Web Development Platform

Where WordPress is Not Great?

1. SaaS Platforms 

When it comes to creating complex websites, especially those involving SaaS platforms or intricate web applications that handle large amounts of data, WordPress might not be the best choice. While it’s excellent for small business sites and enterprise websites, its limitations become apparent in scenarios requiring extensive data manipulation or customisation.

2. Web Applications

WordPress operates on a traditional CMS model, which can be restrictive for developing highly customised solutions. It’s not a full-fledged framework like Drupal or other specialised development environments that offer the flexibility needed for complex applications. For projects demanding extensive backend functionality or advanced data handling, a more robust framework or development platform would be more suitable.

Cost of WordPress Website Development

The cost of developing a WordPress website varies based on its complexity and customisation. For basic sites using pre-built themes, you’re looking at around $2,000 to $8,000. These are straightforward with minimal customisation.

If you’re going for a custom-built theme with extensive modifications, costs can range from $10,000 to $50,000 AUD. This includes more tailored design and functionality. For business or enterprise sites with 10 to 12 pages, expect to spend between $20,000 and $45,000 AUD. This includes additional custom features and integrations. 

Complex websites with thousands of pages or advanced eCommerce setups can cost around $50,000 AUD or more. This involves high-level customisation and significant data handling. The final cost depends on the specific requirements and complexity of the site.

Which One to choose? Drupal or WordPress

Choosing between WordPress and Drupal depends on your specific needs. For most businesses, WordPress is often the ideal choice due to its extensive functionality and flexibility. With built-in features and a wide array of plugins, WordPress can accommodate various needs effectively. Typically, WordPress involves a one-time development cost, which can range from AUD $10,000 to $20,000. After the initial setup, maintenance costs are relatively low, usually between AUD $5,000 and $10,000 annually.

On the other hand, Drupal is better suited for creating complex web applications, such as custom polling systems, eCommerce platforms with intricate payment methods, or highly secure sites. 

Examples include platforms like Kickstarter, PayPal, and Amazon. Developing a Drupal site can be a substantial investment, with costs ranging from AUD $50,000 to $150,000 for initial development. Maintenance is also higher, with annual costs potentially reaching AUD $20,000 to $50,000 depending on the platform’s complexity and data requirements.

In summary, WordPress is targeted at small to mid-sized businesses focusing on marketing, while Drupal excels in creating sophisticated web applications and systems requiring advanced features and security.

When to Use Drupal?

Drupal is widely used for complex web applications, especially in government and large-scale platforms with extensive user bases. Its complexity means that designing and managing a Drupal site often requires professional help. The interface and functionalities needed for a sophisticated website can be intricate, making the design process more time-consuming and challenging for those without specialised skills. Here is a list of websites built with Drupal.

1. Complex Applications

Many complex applications are built using Drupal, including high-profile sites like Tesla, Nokia, and the University of Oxford. Professionals choose Drupal for its robust functionalities and features. It’s particularly well-suited for complex applications that need extensive design functionalities and support for numerous users performing CRUD operations. Drupal excels in these scenarios, offering the flexibility and power needed to manage intricate and demanding web requirements effectively.

2. Government Platforms

Drupal is an excellent choice for government platforms, often used for creating sites where users interact directly with government entities. These can include complaint submission sites, suggestion boxes, voting platforms, and donation systems. Such platforms typically require complex features to handle payments securely and ensure minimal security issues. Drupal’s robust capabilities and flexibility make it well-suited to meet these demanding requirements, providing the necessary functionality and security for these critical applications.

3. Requiring Third-party Integrations

Drupal is also an excellent choice for integrating with third-party services. For instance, if a business wants to transform their website into a web app that runs on iPhones or integrates with microservices, web services, and other libraries, Drupal can serve as a solid base layer. Its flexibility allows for extensive customization, enabling developers to build and integrate complex functionalities and services into their projects or web applications.

4. Secure Access

When it comes to security, Drupal stands out with its robust built-in features. This is one reason why many enterprise platforms, government sites, and sophisticated web applications opt for Drupal. It offers strong security measures, including encrypted data and PCI compliance, which are crucial for handling sensitive information and meeting additional security requirements. These built-in security features make Drupal a preferred choice for projects with high-security needs.

5. Complex Customisations

Drupal provides more flexibility by allowing you to customise modules directly. This means you can build themes from scratch and extend functionality without depending on external plugins. With Drupal, you can leverage your programming skills to implement extensive customisations directly within the CMS, offering a higher level of control and customisation for complex requirements.

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Where Drupal is not great?

1. User Experience

Drupal excels in handling complex, content-rich, and database-intensive websites, particularly from a programming and customisation standpoint. However, it does have its drawbacks. One notable downside is its user experience. Drupal’s frontend interface can be less intuitive and more challenging for non-technical users compared to other CMS platforms. This can make it harder for content creators and administrators to manage and update the website efficiently, impacting the overall user experience of the platform.

2. Architecture Complexity

One thing to note about Drupal is that it’s not typically suited for newcomers or those looking to manage their own website without professional assistance. If you’re someone who prefers a hands-on approach or wants to avoid hiring experts, Drupal might not be the best fit. It requires constant maintenance and can be challenging to customise without technical expertise. For those who need a more manageable platform or want to handle things on their own, other CMS options might be more appropriate.

3. Design Customisations

While Drupal offers extensive customisation options for themes and functionalities, its complexity means that it often requires programming knowledge and hands-on experience. For those without this expertise, it typically necessitates hiring a digital development agency to manage and implement the customisations. This makes Drupal a costly and complex CMS to maintain, particularly for those who lack the technical skills needed to handle it independently.

Cost of Drupal Development

Drupal projects can be quite costly compared to other platforms. A basic website built with Drupal can start at over $20,000 AUD, while more complex sites with advanced functionalities and extensive database integration can reach up to $100,000 AUD. Additionally, the ongoing maintenance costs for a Drupal site can range from $8,000 to $15,000 AUD per month. Given these factors, Drupal is generally not suited for beginners or those looking for a low-cost, easy-to-manage solution.

Here’s a breakdown of Drupal website development costs:

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Get Your Websites Designed!

At WP Creative, we specialise in designing WordPress websites—whether you’re looking for a straightforward business site or a feature-rich ecommerce store. Our expertise in WordPress web development ensures that we can create a tailored website from scratch that meets your unique needs. We’ve worked with Australian businesses and enterprises, helping marketers and business managers achieve their goals and generate more leads effectively.

If you’re ready to elevate your online presence and need expert guidance in website development, get in touch with us today. We’re here to help you succeed, whether you’re new to the field or looking to enhance your existing site.

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