Comparison of 5 popular CMS: features, pros, cons





According to analytical studies, in March 2020, WordPress, 1C-Bitrix, Joomla !, OpenCart and Drupal took the leading positions in the Russian Internet among CMS. Let's figure out what features each system has, and consider what projects they are suitable for.



WordPress







WordPress is the free and most widely used content management system. More than 35% of websites around the world and almost 45% in Runet work on this engine.



For which sites is it suitable?



WordPress is suitable for any type of site, from blogs and one-page websites to news pages and online stores. For this, the engine has many built-in functions. Users also have the option to install additional plugins such as WooCommerce for e-commerce.



System requirements



Key technical features of WordPress:



  • programming language - PHP (version 7.4 and higher);
  • databases - MySQL (version 5.6 and higher), MariaDB (version 10.1 and higher);
  • operating systems - Windows, UNIX;
  • web server - Apache, Nginx.


It should be borne in mind that a WordPress site will not work on uCoz and other hosting services that do not support PHP, which somewhat reduces the possibilities of using the engine.



Safety and performance



WordPress has several important features in terms of security and performance:



  • moderation of published materials;
  • access control;
  • page caching;
  • SSL support.


However, WordPress users often encounter page hacks. Rather, the reason lies not in the engine itself, but in its prevalence. Using a large number of modules may degrade performance. The issue will be helped to resolve the changes in the source code, which is in the public domain, and the subsequent rejection of a number of plugins.



Self-configuration capabilities



WordPress sites are easy to scale by adding additional plugins. You can make a full-fledged portal from a small corporate website to Wordpress by adding an online store, forum and other pages.



The convenience of use



The advantage of CMS is ease of installation and configuration. Wordpress is easy to deploy on almost any hosting. For self-installation, the user has access to numerous instructions, manuals and other training materials. Novice developers will be able to work with the engine - thanks to a convenient administrative panel and a WYSIWYG editor, it is not necessary to make changes at the source code level.



Built-in modules



Basic built-in modules are available on Wordpress: RSS support, customization of feedback forms, photo gallery, site search and others. It is possible to install additional plugins to improve functionality. Most of them are freely available. There are also paid modules, and some free plugins have an extended pro version with an additional set of functions.



WordPress is one of the most SEO friendly platforms out there. The engine in the basic version has few built-in functions. However, users have the ability to install themes that will help bring the site to the first lines in search engines.



1C-Bitrix





1C-Bitrix is a commercial content management system. Among paid CMS in the Russian-speaking online environment, the product occupies a leading position. In the overall rating, the system holds the second place after Wordpress - more than 13% of sites use it.



For which sites is it suitable?



CMS 1C-Bitrix is ​​a solution mainly for large sites. The engine is used for sites where a wide range of functions is required: online stores, corporate portals. For small sites, for example, landing pages or 1C-Bitrix business cards, it is unprofitable to use because of the high cost of the product.



But this does not mean that the engine is only suitable for large venues. The product is presented in several editions, which are sold under separate licenses. For example, the "Start" tariff allows you to create a small corporate website. Business edition is suitable for online stores. The license price will become prohibitively high for start-up companies, so at the first stages of development, you should give preference to a free CMS. It is advisable to use 1C-Bitrix in such cases when project expansion is planned.

By the way, our hosting will perfectly cope with the placement of any project on 1C-Bitrix!



System requirements



Among the minimum requirements for a content management system:



  • programming languages ​​- PHP (version 7.1 and higher);
  • databases - MySQL (version 5.6 and higher);
  • operating systems - Windows, UNIX;
  • web servers - Apache.


Even the minimum recommended technical specifications provide ample opportunities for using the engine on different hosting.



Safety and performance



1C-Bitrix is ​​a product with a high degree of protection. Security is provided by built-in tools, and additional extensions can be purchased. The system is intended primarily for large projects, therefore it has a high performance.



Self-configuration capabilities



1C-Bitrix is ​​a content management system with great scalability. To expand the project, it is enough to purchase the edition with wider functionality. The developer can install not only ready-made solutions, but also modules and templates created by himself. This opens up ample opportunities for creating individual large projects.



The convenience of use



CMS is not convenient enough for novice developers and users. There are no full-fledged guides in free access - educational information is presented in full in paid courses.



Built-in modules



The platform supports other 1C solutions and third-party products. The number of built-in plugins and the ability to install them depends on the edition of the system. Younger versions of CMS are comparable in functionality to free systems. To get more advanced features, you need to pay for the advanced edition.



Joomla!







Free Joomla! are used by about 11% of sites in the Russian Internet. The system is popular not only in the CIS countries, but all over the world and is included in the TOP-5 leading CMS.



For which sites is it suitable?



Like WordPress, Joomla! suitable for all types of sites. At the same time, the scale does not matter: the system is equally optimal for small pages and large sites.



System requirements



Minimum technical parameters for Joomla! 3.x:



  • programming languages ​​- PHP (version 5.3.10 and higher);
  • databases - MySQL (version 5.5.3 and higher), MS SQL (version 10.50.1600.1 and higher), Postgres SQL (version 9.1 and higher);
  • operating systems - Windows, UNIX
  • web servers - Apache, IIS, nginx.


Most hosting sites have Joomla! unfold in one click.



Safety and performance



At the basic level, the engine is sufficiently protected from unauthorized access. New tools that improve security appear with every update. However, as is the case with other free CMS, installing third-party extensions reduces the level of security, so the statistics of hacks are disappointing. There are also performance issues when Joomla! used for large projects.



Self-configuration capabilities



The engine provides the ability to create an unlimited number of pages, which is convenient for project scaling. You can also install self-developed plugins and create custom layouts.



The convenience of use



To understand how the CMS works, you do not need to upgrade skills for a long time and get special skills. Installation and configuration of the system does not cause problems even for beginners, so the engine is considered a worthy alternative to Wordpress.



Built-in modules



Basic Joomla! quite wide. The engine has built-in modules for forums, RSS, FAQ, online store. Various plugins help to expand the possibilities. You can install them from official or third-party sources.

It should also be borne in mind that when you update Joomla! extensions in older versions will not work correctly. This is a common problem that mostly affects free plugins - developers don't always release updates on time.



OpenCart







OpenCart is a free CMS designed for online stores. In the Russian-speaking Internet space, the system is used by about 3% of sites.



For which sites is it suitable?



The system was originally designed to create online stores. For sites in another direction, the functionality is not enough. For e-commerce projects, this is one of the best free solutions.



System requirements



System technical requirements:



  • programming languages ​​- PHP (version 5.4 and higher);
  • databases - MySQLi;
  • operating systems - Windows, UNIX;
  • web servers - Apache (recommended), IIS, nginx.


OpenCart is suitable for most paid hosting - free ones most often do not meet the CMS system requirements.



Safety and performance



The advantage of a CMS is good basic security, which includes:



  • recording user actions;
  • protection against automatic filling of captcha;
  • moderation of publications;
  • distribution of access rights;
  • support for secure SSL protocol.


Performance can drop as the store fills up with items. Choosing the right hosting provider and working with the necessary tools, such as page caching, solves the problem.



Self-configuration capabilities



OpenCart is open source, which allows the developer to implement their own solutions. It's a little more difficult to edit the design. The platform does not provide a visual editor, therefore, having installed a template or a theme downloaded from an external resource, you need to work with separate files.



The system opens up great opportunities for online sales in the CIS. The CMS is integrated with many delivery and payment services for goods, including Yandex products. If the business goes international, it is easy to make the site multilingual. It is also possible to connect European and American services for delivery and payment.



The convenience of use



OpenCart is suitable for newbies in development. A convenient admin panel is provided for management. The interface is convenient and fully Russified.



Built-in modules



OpenCart functions, even in a basic version, are enough for the development of an online store. If the functionality is low, there are many extensions available designed for the e-commerce industry.



Many developers are faced with the fact that page loading speed slows down when installing conflicting plugins. However, the problem is solved by choosing appropriate extensions from official sources.



Drupal







Drupal is a free open source content management system. The engine ranks fifth in the popularity rating on Runet. More than 3% of websites use it.



For which sites is it suitable?



Drupal can be used for sites in any direction. The engine is mainly used for large projects that require high performance. For small blogs, alternative free systems are more optimal.



System requirements



Drupal basic requirements:



  • programming languages ​​- PHP (version 7.2 or higher);
  • databases - MySQL (version 5.5.3 and higher), Postgres SQL (9.1.2 or higher), SQLite (version 3.4.2 or higher);
  • operating systems - Windows, UNIX;
  • web servers - Apache, nginx, IIS.


It is worth mentioning that the CMS only works correctly on high-performance hosting. With insufficient power, content will load slowly, despite excellent basic functionality.



Safety and performance



Drupal is highly secure and basic in performance. So, built-in caching capabilities ensure fast page loading.



Self-configuration capabilities



Drupal can be adapted and customized for simple sites or complex web applications. The system is flexible due to open source code and the ability to implement your own settings.



The convenience of use



Drupal has a not-so-friendly interface. For a wizard who has not yet worked with this CMS, it will seem complicated due to the large number of settings. Drupal is a system for more experienced developers. Guides from the user community can help you simplify learning tasks. You can install the system from your personal account on the hosting in a matter of minutes.



Built-in modules



Drupal provides a basic set of modules (for displaying content, processing images, adding publications, and others). They all work in conjunction with each other. The built-in modules will not be able to create a large project, for example, an online store. To do this, you can download the official versions of additional extensions. But during installation, you need to understand that all modules complement each other. New extensions must be checked for compatibility with the base ones.



comparison table



Each of the content management systems can be a good solution for your site. It is important to consider the focus, scope of the project, performance requirements. Below is a summary table with the key characteristics of each of the reviewed CMS. Comparison of individual parameters will help you choose the best option.



  WordPress 1C-Bitrix Joomla OpenCart Drupal
License
?
PHP ( 7.4 ) PHP ( 7.1 ) PHP ( 5.3.10 ) PHP ( 5.4 ) PHP ( 7.2 )
MySQL ( 5.6 ), MariaDB ( 10.1 ) MySQL ( 5.6 ) MySQL ( 5.5.3 ), MS SQL ( 10.50.1600.1 ), Postgres SQL ( 9.1 ) MySQLi MySQL ( 5.5.3 ), Postgres SQL (9.1.2 ), SQLite ( 3.4.2 )
Windows, UNIX Windows, UNIX Windows, UNIX Windows, UNIX Windows, UNIX
- Apache, nginx Apache Apache, IIS, nginx Apache (), IIS, nginx Apache, nginx, IIS
, , , ,
, , , , ,
, , , , , , ,
, , -, , ,


On which CMS do you create your projects or samopis is our everything? Write in the comments, only sharing information helps us all to become better!



You can install absolutely any CMS on our epic servers because you get full root access to install the software you need. If you don't have much experience, then you can choose the automatic installation of the VestaCP panel , which is perfect for hosting almost any site.









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