WordPress vs Craft CMS: Which One Should You Use?
Are you having trouble identifying between WordPress vs Craft CMS to create your new internet site? Although both of those platforms are tremendous at building websites, it might be hard to pick the exceptional one for you. Though their strategies are very special, they can accomplish equal goals.
To assist you in making a decision, I will conduct a head-to-head assessment of WordPress vs Craft CMS.
WordPress vs Craft CMS: A Comparison
Before diving into certain categories, it’s critical to comprehend what distinguishes WordPress vs Craft CMS for each platform. Despite being CMSs, these systems’ fundamental identities are very different from one another.
Let’s examine this.
Craft CMS: What is it?
Pixel & Tonic developed Craft CMS to assist web developers in creating stunning websites in a contemporary style. This is not a website builder, in contrast to many contemporary CMS. As an end result, writing your personal HTML code is required, which makes it challenging to use for beginners.
However, you may create an internet site that uses some of the best coding principles even if you most effectively understand the basics of internet development.
Collaboration is one of its strong points. Making sure each team member has access to what they require without hindering others’ work is simple with Craft Pro.
Nevertheless, there is a cost associated with this, since Craft CMS Pro access is more costly in comparison to other available solutions. Nevertheless, it has made a name for itself in the CMS market despite the cost.
WordPress: What is it?
WordPress is a loose and open-source content material management machine. This, in conjunction with several different variables, has brought about WordPress’s upward push to the pinnacle of the CMS industry, with a proportion of greater than forty!
To place it mildly, it’s miles prevailing in the area.
Users do not want to realize a way to code, which is a primary issue. All of that is made feasible by using the good-sized series of topics and plugins at your disposal. A subject is a hard and fast of templates and stylesheets that define how your internet site will appear.
As a consequence, all it takes to have a fantastic design is clicking the “Install” button. Plugins are little software programs that enhance your website with certain features. There are premium and free versions of both of them, so there is something for everyone.
What, then, is the difference?
WordPress is the maximum famous content material control device in the marketplace, even if Craft CMS is also a viable alternative for beginners. Users now have additional options for integration and support as a consequence. Although Craft CMS is easy to use, it takes some coding experience, therefore novices should stay away.
Nevertheless, the same kind of websites may be created with either of these.
Usability
Undoubtedly, a lot of consumers appreciate an easy-to-use site. Despite not knowing how to code, many companies decide to create their own websites to save money. Because of this, a lot of contemporary CMS have created platforms that don’t need programming.
That truly relies on the person creating the webpage, though.
Craft CMS Accessibility
Craft CMS is an extremely user-friendly platform that was created with web developers in mind, with a focus on their needs. This platform is not appropriate for someone completely ignorant of HTML.
That being said, Craft CMS could be the ideal platform if you are accustomed to creating websites in this fashion. Because there isn’t any extraneous code, you can create pages with its clever design philosophy that load more quickly and function better overall.
Officially, there are no themes available for Craft CMS. However, if you know where to search, you may discover a variety of user-created layouts. You will need to make some adjustments to most of these, though.
In the end, this is a platform where everything is created from the ground up.
Accessibility of WordPress: A Winner
WordPress began as a blogging platform but continued to develop into the feature-rich platform it is today. You might not ever want to put in writing a line of code whilst the usage of it to create any shape of a website.
As a result, it’s by far absolutely the most consumer-pleasant platform available.
Installing WordPress, selecting a subject matter, finding and putting in your favorite plugins, and beginning content advent are all which are required while developing a new website.
It truly is that easy. Anyone may use WordPress to create a website.
WordPress is as simple to manage. While plugins can assist you in managing other parts of your website, such as security or SEO, updates can be automated. The best aspect is that you may select the tools that best fit your ability level because you have a wide range of possibilities.
Outcomes
WordPress is unquestionably simpler to use than Craft CMS. That doesn’t always imply that it is superior, but it is a major factor in WordPress’ rise to prominence in the market. Anyone may use the platform to develop.
WordPress is designed with accessibility in mind in every aspect.
Design
The days of websites being just functional are long gone. Websites these days have to look decent. Though subjective, each of these platforms has a unique perspective on how to approach design philosophy.
Ultimately, one’s point of view determines which is superior, yet there seems to be an obvious winner.
Craft CMS Design
Because Craft CMS is entirely code-based, you may create whatever kind of website design you choose. The only restrictions are those related to your level of coding expertise. Craft does not come with any pre-made templates, in contrast to many other CMSs.
Having said that, there are many unauthorized templates available and a vibrant community. For less experienced developers, they can serve as an excellent starting point, but you’ll still need to make some adjustments to make it stand apart from other websites.
Layouts can also be done with this freedom. Any page or post layout may be created. A few paid plugins that offer a visual editor to assist less skilled developers are also available for purchase.
All things considered, the platform works well for creating both content and websites.
WordPress Design: The Winner
WordPress offers you total control over your web creation process. You have two options for designing your pages: you may use a page builder like Elementor to start from scratch, or you can utilize more conventional techniques like employing CSS code.
It really is all a matter of preference. You may add particular pieces or generate material using a plethora of tools; the design is really up to your taste. Additionally, there is an abundance of options with over 4,000 free themes to select from.
In terms of content creation, the Gutenberg editor is excellent. With its block-based editor, you may draft articles or pages in whatever format you like. Plus, it’s easy to use.
Once you have the hang of WordPress with the Gutenberg editor, you can quickly create high-quality content.
Outcomes
Both of them may be used to create attractive content, therefore this is a difficult topic to judge, although WordPress has more alternatives than Craft CMS.
All you can do in Craft CMS is use code.
You may pick themes in WordPress, add CSS code to tweak them, add plugins, and even use a page builder on another platform to create unique pages. It effectively does all of Craft’s functions and then some.
eCommerce
Online retailers have some of the most prevalent websites. Compared to blogs or news sites, these websites have more precise requirements and demand more resources. You thus require a platform that can provide you everything.
What’s more, you need one that can grow with your company.
WordPress and Craft CMS both provide users with an extensive array of eCommerce features.
Craft eCommerce CMS
In summary, there are two e-commerce options available for users of Craft CMS: Craft Commerce Lite & Pro. More information about the plans is provided in the Pricing section.
Pro is $999 per project, whereas Lite is $199 per project. It would be an understatement to suggest that these costs are high.
Profit margins may be eliminated even with the light plan if you choose to include a retail store on your site. Rather, Craft Commerce caters to larger retailers and is an excellent option for them.
Because it was developed by the same team as Craft CMS, Craft Commerce will work smoothly with it and grow to accommodate stores of any size. It includes a ton of built-in functionality that on other platforms would be regarded as add-ons.
Craft commerce is excellent if you can pay the cost.
WordPress e-commerce: winner
WooCommerce is a WordPress hidden weapon in the eCommerce space. With no additional cost, this free plugin turns your WordPress installation into an eCommerce-ready storefront.
Indeed, it powers more than 5 million retailers at the moment.
There is also a selection of paid and free add-ons. The transaction costs related to payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe are the only fees you will have to pay. As a result, you can begin an online cost for merely the inventory price.
Although WooCommerce is user-friendly, it does have a learning curve. There are hundreds of configuration choices, which may be a little intimidating. Fortunately, you don’t need to know how to code to understand it thanks to a wealth of resources.
Outcomes
This was again another difficult decision. Excellent eCommerce functionality is offered by Craft CMS, however, it costs a lot and necessitates technical expertise once again. In contrast, WordPress is free and very simple.
All things considered, WordPress is a superior choice for small to medium-sized businesses.
Costing
Let’s face it: whether you are a multibillionaire business or just getting started, price matters a lot. For new websites, it might be the most crucial consideration when selecting a content management system to construct.
However, there are other factors at work besides the starting price. Plugins and other extra tools may add up, so let’s see which one is less expensive to develop with.
Craft CMS Cost
There is a free version of Craft CMS, however, it only allows for one admin account. This is ideal for a lot of people because they will be handling things on their own. Nevertheless, this isn’t functional for any website that has several users.
Rather, you will need to buy an Enterprise or Pro package. Pro requires a $299 one-time purchase for each project, plus an extra $59 yearly subscription to keep getting updates. The enterprise plans differ according to the demands of the business.
And it only applies to common websites. The eCommerce features we covered in the last section come at an extra cost. Furthermore, since there is a limited market for plugins, the majority of handmade plugins will be expensive.
Building with Craft involves some significant up-front expenses overall.
Note that the licensing for Craft CMS and Craft Commerce are different. To use eCommerce, both must be purchased.
Pricing for WordPress: Winner
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system. The good news is that web hosting is inexpensive, which lowers the true cost of utilizing WordPress. WordPress is really the least expensive CMS to get web hosting for.
This is because WordPress is by far the most often used choice. Claiming that the present web hosting market was designed with WordPress would not be an exaggeration.
There are many alternatives accessible as a result.
The only additional expenses are for premium themes and plugins, not including web hosting. Although both are optional, many websites wind up utilizing some different, often expensive, plugins. These costs are often between $30 and $50, although they can go higher.
Outcomes
This is fairly simple: Craft CMS does not offer free alternatives for themes or plugins, but WordPress does. WordPress is also free to use. In addition, web hosting services are an additional expense that must be paid in addition to the CMS.
The less expensive building platform is WordPress.
Conclusion
Comparison of WordPress vs Craft CMS When considering this comparison from the standpoint of a novice, WordPress emerges as the clear victor. Users have more alternatives, the platform is less expensive, and it is simpler to use. It is the industry standard because it fulfills every need of most creators.
WordPress vs Craft CMS: Which platform is your favorite?
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