Should You Upgrade from Drupal 7 or Switch to WordPress?

Should they upgrade to a newer version of Drupal or switch to a different content management system (CMS) altogether?

While upgrading to Drupal 9 or 10 may seem like the obvious choice, for many companies, transitioning to WordPress might be a more cost-effective and efficient solution.

Let’s look at why WordPress could be the better option for businesses weighing their CMS migration plans.

The End of Drupal 7: What Does It Mean?

The end of life for Drupal 7 means that there will no longer be any security updates, patches, or official support for the platform. This creates significant risks, including security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and the inability to fix bugs. Businesses continuing to run their websites on Drupal 7 after the EOL date will have to take on these risks themselves, relying on either expensive custom development or third-party solutions to maintain their websites.

So, if you’re still on Drupal 7, an upgrade is essential. However, the question remains: is it better to move up to Drupal 9 or 10, or make a shift to WordPress?

Cost of Upgrading to Drupal 9/10 vs. Switching to WordPress

One of the biggest factors to consider in this decision is cost. Upgrading from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 or 10 is not a simple task. Due to major structural changes between Drupal 7 and newer versions, it often requires a complete rebuild of your site. This can be time-consuming and expensive, with many businesses facing significant development costs just to maintain their current site’s functionality.

On the other hand, switching to WordPress is typically much more affordable. WordPress has a large ecosystem of plugins, themes, and resources, meaning that many features can be implemented without the need for custom development. Additionally, WordPress tends to be easier for non-technical teams to manage, reducing long-term maintenance costs.

For businesses looking to save money while also gaining flexibility, WordPress often emerges as the clear choice.

Ease of Use and Content Management

Another compelling reason to switch to WordPress is its ease of use. WordPress was designed with non-technical users in mind, making it simple to manage content, update pages, and make changes without needing a developer’s assistance. Its intuitive user interface is one of the reasons why WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet.

Drupal, while powerful, is known for being more developer-centric. For businesses with in-house development teams or complex technical requirements, this may not be an issue. However, for organisations that need a flexible, user-friendly CMS for marketing teams or content creators, WordPress offers a much smoother experience.

WordPress Offers Greater Flexibility for Most Businesses

Many companies using Drupal 7 initially chose it for its scalability and robustness, especially if they had complex site needs. However, WordPress has evolved significantly in recent years and is now able to handle a wide range of site types, from small business websites to large-scale eCommerce platforms.

For businesses that don’t require highly customised, complex features, WordPress provides all the flexibility needed while offering a much lower learning curve. With its vast library of plugins, themes, and integrations, WordPress can be customised to suit nearly any business requirement without the need for extensive custom coding.

Additionally, WordPress has a strong developer community and ongoing support. This guarantees that new features, updates, and security patches are consistently rolled out, ensuring that your site remains secure and up-to-date.

SEO and Marketing Integration

For businesses focusing on marketing and SEO, WordPress is often the better choice. WordPress is highly optimised for search engine performance out of the box and has numerous SEO plugins like Yoast and All-in-One SEO that help users improve their rankings without needing technical expertise.

Drupal is certainly capable of strong SEO performance, but it often requires more manual intervention and technical understanding to configure. This makes WordPress a better choice for marketing teams who want to take control of their SEO without relying heavily on developers.

Community and Support

Both Drupal and WordPress have active user communities, but the sheer size of WordPress’s user base makes finding help, resources, and third-party developers easier and more affordable. Whether you need troubleshooting advice, a new plugin, or help with custom development, the WordPress ecosystem provides abundant support options.

Is WordPress the Right Move?

The decision between upgrading to the latest version of Drupal or switching to WordPress depends on your business’s specific needs. However, for many businesses using Drupal 7, WordPress offers a more cost-effective, flexible, and user-friendly solution that can grow with their needs.

If you’re looking to minimise costs, simplify content management, and make your website more accessible to non-technical teams, switching to WordPress is likely the smarter choice. With its strong community support, robust plugin ecosystem, and easy-to-use interface, WordPress can provide your business with the digital flexibility it needs moving forward—without the complexities of managing a Drupal upgrade.

As the clock ticks down on Drupal 7’s end of life, now is the time to assess your options and decide whether migrating to a more user-friendly and cost-effective CMS like WordPress is the right move for your business.