Content management systems like Wordpress and Joomla, are used by webmasters to manage the content that is on their website. There is a lot of debate about which system is the best for an individual’s needs. The three major content management systems that people use are Wordpress, Joomla and Drupal, and each of these systems as its pluses and minuses. One of the reasons these three open source content management systems are the most popular, is because they are free to use. This article takes a brief look at each of these three content management systems.

If you are just beginning your first venture on the world wide web, then Wordpress is an ideal system for beginners because it is very easy to use. When you opt for Wordpress, you can install it at the click of a button. The system offers users plenty of free web templates, many of them customizable to suit the individual’s needs, and free plugins to make your website easier to use. At the same time, the simplicity of Wordpress is the thing that lets it down because there is a limit to what you can do with the system. Many webmasters find that as their site grows, so there is a need for more options and greater functionality. If your needs are fairly basic and all you require is a blog and perhaps a place to sell your services then Wordpress may be just what you need.

Joomla is a content management system that also has mass market appeal, because it is fairly easy to use and has a good interface. Joomla operates some active community forums where the beginner is sure to get their questions answered, the system also offers its users a host of free plugins to make running their site easier. Some users find that not all of the plugins work well and often have to be deactivated. Users may find that they are limited in what they can do with the presentation of their pages.

The third content management system is Drupal, which is aimed at those webmasters with certain technical abilities, it is not really aimed at the novice. Drupal is quite advanced and therefore not accessible to everyone. The system is very well built and is probably the fastest and most effective of these three content management systems. Unlike Joomla, there are very few security issues with Drupal, which is great for those with the ability to use the system. The layouts and presentation of web pages is more advanced than either Joomla or Wordpress, but using these layouts assumes a certain level of skill. The main problem with Drupal is that when you first encounter it, you’ll find yourself having to acquire a greater level of technical skill than before, in this sense it is definitely not as user friendly as either Joomla or Wordpress. There is not much assistance on Drupal’s forums for those with only light technical skills.