Joomla vs WordPress: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Joomla and WordPress are both free, open-source content management systems, and both can run a great business website. We build on both, and Joomla is our main platform. Here's how they compare so you can pick the one that fits.
Quick comparison
| Topic | Joomla | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Content structure | Categories, nested categories, tags, and custom fields built in | Posts and pages, categories and tags; more structure usually comes from plugins or custom code |
| Users and permissions | Detailed user groups and access levels built in | Set roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, and so on); finer control usually needs a plugin |
| Languages | Multilingual sites built in | Usually needs a plugin |
| Editing | Article editor in the admin | Block editor for visual, block-by-block editing |
| Add-ons | Smaller but solid library of extensions | Very large library of plugins |
| Built-in features | More out of the box (redirects, search, workflows, multilingual) | Lean core; more features come from plugins |
| Upkeep | Core and extension updates, backups | Core, theme, and plugin updates, backups |
When Joomla is a good fit
- You have a lot of content to organize, or several sections with their own layouts
- Different people need different levels of access
- You need more than one language
- You'd rather lean on built-in features than a long list of extensions
When WordPress is a good fit
- Your site is mostly pages and a blog
- Your team wants the block editor's visual, drag-and-drop style
- You need a specific plugin that's only available for WordPress
What matters on either platform
The platform matters less than how the site is built and cared for. Either one needs:
- Regular updates to core and add-ons
- Backups you've tested
- A good host
- Fewer, well-maintained add-ons rather than lots of them
Already have a site?
If your current site works and your team knows it, switching platforms isn't always the answer. A redesign on the platform you have can be quicker. If you're running into real limits, a move can make sense, and we can help you plan it.
How 3by400 can help
We'll recommend the platform that fits your business, not the other way around. Learn about our website development work, or read How to Plan a Website Redesign: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Start a project
Ready to talk about your website? Start a project or reach us at 678-379-9321 or