The Swiss Army Knife of Content Management Systems
Software Version
3.4
Modules Used
- AkeebaBackup, JFBConnect
Overall Satisfaction with Joomla!
- Easy to use Content Management system for creating rich content for your website.
- Cost-effective extensions allow adding new functionality with minimal effort.
- Easy integration with social networks using JFBConnect to help grow your site organically.
- User ACL can be tricky to set up and manage if you need many different levels of user groups with various permissions for each.
- Media manager is rudimentary. Uploading and editing images isn't possible.
- Has improved overall customer service by allowing for an easy to implement and manage public forum where users can post and find answers to their questions.
- Reduced management costs compared to custom-built site.
- Easier user tracking and Google Analytics integration due to powerful SEF integration and analytics extensions.
- WordPress,Drupal
Joomla! can seem a little more complex to use than WordPress right out of the gate. However, that additional complexity brings with it immense power to add and customize the site to perform anything you want it to do. While WordPress is working to add more CMS capabilities with more varied plugins, it still lags behind. Additionally, while WordPress plugins are generally 'free' and Joomla!'s best extensions come with an immediate price tag, upon closer inspection, the Joomla! ecosystem is much more robust. Paid WordPress extensions are generally two to three times more expensive than comparable Joomla! ones and they usually come with less features.
Drupal is at the other end of the spectrum regarding add-ons. Almost all are completely free, but you're expected to pay handsomely to have new features added. In general, with Drupal, it seems you need a PhD to be able to create your own site. Definitely not for do-it-yourselfers.