Choosing a CMS: what to keep in mind
If you are building a website for the first time, the platform you choose will shape how quickly you launch, how easy it is to make changes later, and how much control you have over design and features. Important factors to weigh include how simple the editor is, whether the system needs hosting, the availability of extensions or templates, performance and security, and the size of the community that will help you solve problems. With that context, joomla is one of the established content management systems (CMS) and sits somewhere between the very simple hosted site builders and the developer-focused, highly flexible platforms. The rest of this article explains what Joomla offers and compares it to its common alternatives so you can pick the right tool for your project and skill level.
What Joomla is and who it suits
Joomla is an open-source CMS that has been around since the mid-2000s. It manages pages, menus, users, and media with a modular architecture: core features handle content and administration while extensions add functionality such as e-commerce, forms, or social features. Joomla is known for a built-in multilingual option and a flexible access control system that lets you set permissions for different user groups out of the box. For beginners with some willingness to learn, Joomla is a great option when you need more structure than a drag-and-drop website builder but do not want to code everything from scratch. It’s commonly used for corporate sites, community portals, membership sites, and mid-sized e-commerce stores.
Joomla vs wordpress: ease of use and ecosystem
WordPress is the most popular CMS by a large margin, with an ecosystem of themes and plugins that covers nearly every use case. For absolute beginners who prefer minimal technical setup, WordPress.com or hosted wordpress plans are very approachable. The self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) offers deep customization but can require more care with plugins and updates. Compared to WordPress, Joomla has a steeper learning curve in how it organizes content,Joomla uses components, modules, and templates in a way that can confuse new users initially. However, Joomla’s default user permissions and multilingual features are stronger without additional plugins. If you value an immense library of ready-made themes and one-click simplicity, WordPress is usually easier. If you want a balance of structure and control with stronger built-in features for complex permissions or multilingual sites, Joomla can be the better choice.
Joomla vs drupal: flexibility vs complexity
Drupal targets developers and large organizations that need extensive customization. It excels when you must model complex data relationships and fine-tuned content workflows. That power comes with complexity: Drupal requires more technical knowledge to set up and maintain, and arriving at the desired site often means writing or adapting modules and configurations. Joomla sits between WordPress and Drupal: it offers more built-in tools than WordPress for things like access control and multilingual content, while being less daunting than Drupal. For beginners who plan to grow into advanced features without immediately hiring a developer, Joomla offers a reasonable middle ground. If your project needs enterprise-grade scalability and you have developer resources, Drupal is worth considering.
Joomla vs Hosted Builders (Wix, Squarespace): speed vs control
Hosted website builders such as Wix and Squarespace shine at getting a polished site online fast, with drag-and-drop editors, included hosting, and customer support. They reduce the technical burden by handling security updates, backups, and performance tuning for you. The trade-off is limited flexibility: you may be constrained by the template system, subscription model, and fewer integration options. Joomla requires separate hosting and hands-on maintenance, but it gives you full control over file structure, server settings, and the ability to extend functionality without vendor lock-in. For personal sites and small businesses that prioritize speed and ease, a hosted builder is often the best choice. For sites that require more control, custom extensions, or specific server-side behavior, Joomla (or another self-hosted CMS) will serve you better.
Joomla vs Webflow and visual builders
Webflow combines visual design freedom with a CMS under the hood and produces clean front-end code. It’s attractive to designers who want pixel-perfect control without heavy coding. Like hosted builders, Webflow handles hosting, backups, and ssl, but it also focuses on modern front-end standards and interactions. Joomla does not offer the same visual page-building experience by default; you pair it with templates and third-party page builders if you want similar visual control. If design precision and modern front-end animation are top priorities and you prefer a visual workflow, Webflow is compelling. If you prefer a traditional CMS structure with server-side dynamics and richer extension options, Joomla will be more appropriate.
Joomla vs Ghost: blogging and performance
Ghost is a minimalist platform built specifically for publishing and newsletters; it’s fast, simple, and focused on content creators. Its editor is modern and supports memberships and subscriptions out of the box. Joomla can handle blogs, but its strength lies in building multi-section sites, directories, or portals where different content types interact. If your main goal is blogging, monetizing posts with memberships, and keeping things lightweight, Ghost is easier to maintain and faster. If you need broader site architecture, mixed content types, or advanced user roles alongside a blog, Joomla gives that flexibility.
Joomla vs Headless CMS (Strapi, Contentful) and flat-file systems
Headless CMS platforms separate content management from presentation, exposing content through APIs so developers can build front ends in any technology stack. Strapi and Contentful are popular options that scale well for multi-channel publishing (web, mobile apps, IoT). They typically require developer involvement to create the front end and deploy it. Flat-file CMS options (like Grav or Statamic) store content in files rather than a database, which can simplify hosting and backups and improve speed. Joomla is a traditional coupled CMS where the backend and front end are integrated,this is easier for non-developers because templates and content rendering live in the same system. Choose a headless CMS if you need omni-channel delivery and have developer resources; choose Joomla if you want an all-in-one site-building environment without building an API layer.
Practical considerations: hosting, security, cost, and support
With Joomla you will need to arrange web hosting that meets php and database requirements, manage updates for the core and extensions, and take responsibility for backups and security hardening. This gives flexibility but requires attention. Costs vary: while Joomla itself is free, premium templates and extensions add up, and hosting fees depend on traffic and performance needs. WordPress has a similar model; hosted builders bundle everything into subscription plans. For security, smaller ecosystems sometimes mean fewer quickly available plugins, but also fewer automated attacks targeting add-ons; regardless of platform, staying current with updates and using trusted extensions is essential. Community support for Joomla is active but smaller than WordPress,expect helpful forums, documentation, and third-party developers, but fewer turnkey themes and tools than the WordPress ecosystem.
Checklist to help you decide
- If you want the fastest path to a polished site with minimal maintenance: consider Wix or Squarespace.
- If you want maximum plugin/theme options and a large community: WordPress is usually best for beginners.
- If you need robust user roles, built-in multilingual support, and a middle ground between WordPress and Drupal: Joomla is a strong candidate.
- If you need enterprise-level customization and have developer resources: evaluate Drupal or a headless CMS.
- If you are a content creator focused on blogging and memberships: Ghost or a hosted WordPress plan might be simplest.
migration and starting tips for beginners
If you decide Joomla is right for your project, start on a staging site or local environment so you can experiment without breaking a live site. Choose a reputable host with easy Joomla installation options and strong customer support. Limit the number of extensions to those you really need, and prefer extensions with recent updates and active maintenance. Use SSL, take regular backups, and apply updates promptly. If you’re switching from another CMS, plan your migration: export content, map content types, and prepare templates. Many hosting providers and specialist services offer migration help, and Joomla has migration extensions that can automate parts of the process,but always test thoroughly after migration.
Concise summary
Joomla sits between simple hosted builders and developer-focused platforms: it offers more built-in features than WordPress in areas like access control and multilingual support, but it has a steeper learning curve for beginners than hosted solutions. For users who want an all-in-one self-hosted CMS with flexibility and control without diving into full custom development, Joomla is a good choice. If you prefer the broadest plugin/theme marketplace and the easiest onboarding, WordPress or a hosted builder may be better. For heavy customization or multi-channel needs, consider Drupal or a headless CMS. Choose the platform that matches your technical comfort level, growth expectations, and the specific features your site needs.
frequently asked questions
Is Joomla good for small business websites?
Yes. Joomla can be a very solid option for small businesses that need structured content, multiple user roles, or multilingual pages. Hosting and maintenance require a bit more hands-on work than with hosted builders, but it offers more flexibility and control.
Which is easier for beginners: Joomla or WordPress?
WordPress is generally easier for absolute beginners because of its massive library of themes, plugins, and one-click installers from many hosts. Joomla requires learning its component/module/template structure but rewards that investment with more built-in features for access control and multilingual sites.
Can I switch from WordPress to Joomla later?
Yes, migration is possible and commonly done. There are migration tools and services that help move posts, pages, users, and media. Plan carefully, test on a staging site, and be prepared to redo templates and possibly adapt some functionality manually.
How much does it cost to run a Joomla site?
Joomla itself is free. Costs include web hosting, domain registration, premium templates or extensions if needed, and potential developer help. Basic Shared Hosting can be inexpensive, while managed hosting for performance and security will cost more.
Do I need to know how to code to use Joomla?
You don’t need to be a coder to build a functional Joomla site, but basic familiarity with concepts like ftp, databases, and web hosting helps. For custom templates or advanced extensions, developer assistance may be required.
