6 alternatives to the WordPress CMS

By Fabien Paupier

Published: 24 October 2024

In July 2016, 26.5% of websites were created with WordPress, putting it far ahead of all other CMSs on the market. WordPress alone holds 59.6% of the CMS market (Open Source and proprietary combined) according to W3Tech.

Its success has been built on the popularity of blogs and information sites created by individuals and small businesses. Today, WordPress is used for more than just the purposes for which it was created: high-traffic press sites, corporate websites, e-commerce sites, e-learning platforms, etc. The strengths of WordPress lie in its user-friendliness, which makes it extremely easy to design websites, and its rich ecosystem of extensions and themes.
SUMMARY

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Why look for an alternative to WordPress?

Like all other tools for creating a website, WordPress has certain shortcomings. Here are a few of them:

WordPress websites are subject to frequent attacks. This does not mean that WordPress is badly designed. It is attacked simply because it is the most popular CMS.
Too many plugins can harm your site: if you have more than 20 active extensions, you are exposing yourself to security breaches because you have no guarantee that the extension publisher has secured it properly. What's more, you'll be reducing the performance of your site by making it more cumbersome. Finally, many plugins are discontinued, which can lead to data loss or an overnight shutdown.
Modifying the theme requires skills in PHP, CSS and HTML: WordPress gives you access to the CSS style sheet and PHP files for modifying your theme. Don't venture into this without PHP skills, as a small error in the code can be fatal for the site.

Here are 6 alternatives to WordPress that may be better options depending on your context.

Drupal, Open Source CMS for complex sites

Drupal version 8 is excellent for creating complex, high-traffic websites, and is aimed at very technically advanced users.

Advantages of Drupal

Many advanced options are native. So in some cases there are no plugins to install.
Drupal is very well suited to developers, as it allows them to do a great deal with very little code. The configuration is often sufficient. The system is therefore easier to maintain.
It is 100% API-based. Drupal is very open and can therefore easily coexist with a third-party application.
The level of security is excellent.

Disadvantages of Drupal

It is the most complex CMS on the market. It is aimed primarily at a technically advanced audience.
Very poor media management. In 2016, Drupal still doesn't have a media manager worthy of the name!
Few high-quality, up-to-date themes are available, even for a fee.
Ergonomics, although improved in version 8, are not on a par with WordPress

Joomla! is an Open Source CMS between WordPress and Drupal

Joomla! is the second most widely used CMS after WordPress. A little more complex and advanced in technical and functional terms, Joomla! is nonetheless very user-friendly. Joomla! is aimed at designers of high-traffic sites with security issues. Joomla! can be used to create any type of site.

Advantages of Joomla!

The technical potential of Joomla! has not detracted from its overall user-friendliness. It's a good compromise between Drupal and WordPress.
Few attacks target Joomla! sites
Excellent media management with a native folder tree structure
Plenty of plugins and themes

Disadvantages of Joomla!

The text editor is not as good as that of WordPress. It allows you to go further, but is sometimes confusing, with unexpected formatting.
The navigation and organisation of the pages is not very intuitive. It takes a while to adapt to its logic
Options are limited for advanced users (but sufficient for blogs, ecommerce sites and corporate sites)
Many plugins are not free, unlike WordPress and Drupal. The most popular, however, are free.

TYPO3, Open Source CMS for corporate websites

TYPO3 is another Open Source CMS perfectly suited to corporate websites. TYPO3 is particularly popular in Europe, especially in Germany.

Advantages of TYPO3

Easy management of websites for individuals and large corporations, with multilingual support
Many native features that require WordPress extensions
Very good management of traffic surges without loss of performance
Easy, native site configuration. Native workflow management

Disadvantages of TYPO3

1,500 extensions, which is far fewer than the 46,000 of WordPress
Reserved exclusively for corporate websites and intranets

Wix, world leader in proprietary site builders

Wix is designed for people with no technical skills. Wix is the world leader in private, all-in-one website creation tools.

Advantages of Wix

All-in-one and no technical skills required
Advanced features if required: e-commerce sites, online payments, user management, etc.
History and maturity. Wix will be on the market for a very long time

Disadvantages of Wix

Dependency from start to finish: impossible to leave Wix once you're there. On the other hand, Wix is a platform appreciated by its users, offering excellent ergonomics and very good functional coverage at a reasonable price.
Google's recent, one-off downgrading of Wix sites may have dampened the spirits of many enthusiastic customers. Customers could only suffer damage without any control. Google no longer penalises Wix sites.
Lack of flexibility: this is the flip side of ease of use. If you want to put your stamp on every layer of the site, it's best to go for an Open Source CMS.

memboGo, proprietary site builder for associations

memboGo is designed for associations and not-for-profit organisations. memboGo is much more than a CMS, as it also integrates all the functions needed to manage an association (accounting, member management, event management, donation management, etc.).

Advantages of memboGo

Creation of a website that is perfectly integrated with the management of an association
Easy to create, no technical skills required

Disadvantages of memboGo

Aimed specifically at associations
Does not have an ecosystem of plugins like WordPress to add a lot of functionality.