Joomla is one of the older content management systems still in active use. Launched in 2005, it predates many of the platforms that now dominate. It has maintained a devoted following through the years even as WordPress captured most of the CMS market share.
For users curious about alternatives to WordPress, Joomla is worth understanding. It has legitimate strengths that make it fit some situations better than more popular alternatives. It also has real limitations that explain why WordPress overtook it in popularity.
This piece covers what Joomla is, how it works, and when it might make sense to consider for your project.
What Joomla Actually Is
The platform explained.
Open Source CMS
Joomla is free open-source software. Like WordPress, you install it on your own hosting. You customize with templates and extensions. You handle maintenance yourself.
Content Focused
Joomla is primarily a content management system. Blogs, publications, corporate sites, community sites, membership sites. Wherever content organization matters.
Different Architecture
Joomla’s architecture differs from WordPress. Categories work differently. Menu system is more sophisticated. Access control is more granular.
These differences matter for specific use cases.
Active Development
Joomla continues to be developed. Regular releases with new features and security updates.
Market Position
Third or fourth most popular CMS globally. Smaller than WordPress but larger than many alternatives.
How Joomla Differs From WordPress
The comparisons.
Content Organization
Joomla uses categories and articles. Categories can nest to any depth. Articles can belong to only one category (with tags for cross-categorization).
WordPress uses posts and pages. Posts have categories and tags. Similar concept but implemented differently.
Menu Management
Joomla’s menu system is significantly more sophisticated than WordPress’s. Menu items can display different content types with different templates.
Powerful for complex sites but more complex to configure.
Extensions
Joomla uses components, modules, and plugins. Each serves different purposes.
Components: main functionality. Like WordPress plugins that add major features.
Modules: display elements. Like widgets in WordPress.
Plugins: modify how other things work. Similar to WordPress plugins but for specific behavior modifications.
Access Control
Joomla has more granular built-in access control than WordPress. Different content can be restricted to different user groups. Multiple levels of permission.
Multi-Language
Joomla supports multi-language sites natively. WordPress requires plugins for multi-language.
For international sites, this is a Joomla advantage.
Joomla Strengths
Where it excels.
Sophisticated Content Management
The category system, menu system, and content organization support complex sites better than WordPress in some cases.
Built-in Multi-Language
Native multi-language support. Manage translations within the platform.
Granular Access Control
Multiple user groups with different permissions. Different content restricted appropriately.
Useful for membership sites and community sites.
Flexibility Without Plugins
More capability built in. Less plugin dependency than WordPress.
Community Sites
Joomla has been popular for community sites and social platforms. Built-in features support these use cases.
Multi-Site Management
Some multi-site scenarios work well with Joomla’s architecture.
Free
Open source. No licensing fees. Just hosting and any premium extensions.
Joomla Weaknesses
The limitations.
Smaller Ecosystem Than WordPress
Fewer templates, extensions, and community resources. Not the massive ecosystem WordPress has.
Steeper Learning Curve
More complex than WordPress. New users find it harder to learn.
Fewer Developers
Finding Joomla developers is harder than finding WordPress developers. Pool is smaller.
Less Popular
Reduced market share means fewer resources, tutorials, and third-party services.
Some Backward Compatibility Issues
Version upgrades have historically been more disruptive than WordPress updates.
Aesthetic Impressions
Some perceive Joomla sites as looking dated. Modern Joomla with good templates can look current, but the perception exists.
When Joomla Fits Better Than WordPress
Specific situations.
Multi-Language Sites
If multi-language is a primary requirement, Joomla’s native support is a real advantage.
Community Sites
Sites with sophisticated community features. User groups, restricted areas, member interactions.
Complex Content Hierarchies
Sites with deeply nested content organization that Joomla’s category system handles well.
Sites Needing Granular Access Control
Where different content needs different access rules. Joomla handles this natively.
Corporate Intranets
Some corporate sites benefit from Joomla’s access control and content organization.
Educational Sites
Sites for schools and universities sometimes fit Joomla’s structure well.
When WordPress Fits Better Than Joomla
Most common situations.
Content-Focused Sites
Blogs, publications, most business sites. WordPress’s ecosystem and simplicity serve better.
E-commerce
WooCommerce is significantly more capable than Joomla e-commerce options.
Design-Focused Sites
The theme ecosystem for WordPress is much larger. More design options.
Simple Business Sites
WordPress is easier to set up and use for standard business sites.
Sites Needing Many Plugins
WordPress’s plugin ecosystem is much larger. More options for specific needs.
Sites Where Support Availability Matters
Finding WordPress help (developers, tutorials, community) is easier.
Getting Started With Joomla
The basic setup.
Choose Hosting
Standard PHP hosting works for Joomla. Many hosts offer one-click Joomla installation.
Install Joomla
Download from joomla.org and install on your hosting, or use one-click installation.
Complete Setup Wizard
The installation wizard walks you through basic configuration. Site name, admin account, database.
Log In to Admin
Access the admin panel. Different from WordPress admin but organized logically.
Choose a Template
Install and activate a template. Both free and premium options exist.
Configure Basic Settings
Site title, meta description, and other global settings.
Add Content
Create articles. Organize into categories. Configure menus.
Publish
Make content visible to visitors.
Joomla Templates
The design layer.
Where to Find Them
Joomla’s template ecosystem is smaller than WordPress’s but has options. RocketTheme, JoomShaper, YOOtheme, and various other developers provide templates.
Free vs Premium
Both available. Premium templates typically offer more features and better design.
Prices for premium: $30-$100 typically.
Template Frameworks
Some templates are built on frameworks that provide additional capabilities. Helix, T3, and others.
Customization
Templates provide customization options through their settings. Advanced customization requires code work.
Joomla Extensions
Extending functionality.
Where to Find Them
Joomla Extensions Directory (JED) is the official source. Filter by type, category, and other criteria.
Popular Extensions
Various extensions for common needs. Contact forms, gallery, membership, e-commerce, SEO.
Fewer Choices Than WordPress
Whatever extension type you need, fewer options than WordPress typically. Sometimes this is fine. Sometimes it means fewer specialized options.
Verifying Quality
Same as WordPress plugins. Check reviews, update frequency, and developer reputation.
Joomla for E-commerce
Selling online.
Available Options
VirtueMart is the traditional Joomla e-commerce option. HikaShop is another popular choice. J2Store integrates with Joomla content.
Compared to WooCommerce
Less mature and less feature-rich than WooCommerce. Smaller ecosystem of add-ons.
For serious e-commerce, WordPress with WooCommerce or Shopify usually fits better.
When Joomla E-commerce Works
Simpler stores where the platform’s other advantages matter. Existing Joomla sites adding e-commerce.
Learning Joomla
Getting productive.
Joomla Documentation
Official documentation at docs.joomla.org. Somewhat organized but can be dated.
Community Resources
Forums, YouTube tutorials, various learning sites. Less voluminous than WordPress resources.
Time to Proficiency
Basic proficiency in weeks. Deep understanding takes months. The learning curve is steeper than WordPress.
Joomla Days
Joomla community events happen regularly. Good for connecting with other users.
Common Joomla Mistakes
Users stumble in predictable ways.
Trying to Use It Like WordPress
Joomla organizes content differently. Fighting the differences causes friction. Learning the Joomla way is more productive.
Choosing Wrong Extensions
Some extensions are abandoned or low quality. Verify before committing.
Not Understanding the Menu System
Joomla’s menu system is powerful but complex. Not understanding it produces confusing sites.
Ignoring Access Control
Not using Joomla’s access control capabilities means missing one of its strengths.
Weak Templates
Choosing free templates with poor design when premium options serve better.
Not Backing Up
Same discipline needed as WordPress. Backups matter.
Skipping Security Updates
Joomla security updates need attention same as WordPress.
Migration Considerations
Moving to or from Joomla.
To Joomla From WordPress
Content can migrate. Various tools help. Design rebuilds.
Common but not always necessary.
From Joomla to WordPress
More common direction. Content migration tools exist. Design rebuilds.
Businesses often migrate away from Joomla when they hit its limitations or when WordPress fits better.
The State of Joomla Today
Current situation.
Continued Development
Joomla 5.x is the current major version. Development continues. Security updates released regularly.
Smaller But Devoted Community
Not growing significantly but not declining rapidly either. Devoted user base.
Specific Niches
Joomla continues to serve specific niches well. Multi-language sites, community sites, sites with complex content organization.
Long-Term Viability
The platform is not going away soon. Ongoing development suggests continued support.
For long-term projects, viability is not a major concern.
Closing Thoughts on Choosing Joomla
Joomla is a legitimate choice for specific situations. It has real strengths that make it fit some projects better than more popular alternatives. It also has real limitations that explain why WordPress dominates the market.
For most standard websites, WordPress serves better. The larger ecosystem, easier learning curve, and better support availability make WordPress the safer default choice for most projects.
For specific situations where Joomla’s strengths matter significantly, it can be the right choice. Multi-language sites. Community sites with complex access control. Sites with deep content hierarchies.
For businesses evaluating platforms, honestly assessing whether Joomla’s strengths align with your specific needs helps determine fit. If the strengths do not particularly matter for your project, WordPress usually fits better.
For businesses currently on Joomla that are working well, focus on making the site succeed rather than considering migration. Successful Joomla sites do not need to migrate just because WordPress is more popular.
For businesses currently on Joomla that are hitting limitations, evaluating alternatives makes sense. Sometimes migration is the right answer. Sometimes finding better Joomla approaches works.
For new sites considering Joomla, be honest about your reasons. Choosing based on wanting something different from WordPress is not sufficient. Choosing because Joomla’s specific strengths matter for your project is legitimate.
The learning curve is steeper than WordPress. Budget the time to learn it properly. Trying to use Joomla without proper learning produces frustration.
The developer market is smaller. Finding help costs more and takes longer. Factor this into project planning.
The ecosystem is smaller. Some needs that would have WordPress plugin solutions may not have equivalent Joomla extensions.
For projects that fit Joomla’s strengths, these limitations may be worth accepting. For projects that do not particularly need Joomla’s strengths, the limitations tilt the choice toward WordPress.
Joomla continues to exist because it serves its users well. Not as many users as WordPress, but real users with real needs. The platform is stable, actively developed, and viable long-term.
For businesses evaluating alongside WordPress, remember that popularity does not equal universal fit. WordPress is more popular but not universally better. Joomla has its place. Understanding when that place is your place matters more than following the popular choice.
Take the time to evaluate honestly. If Joomla’s strengths align with your needs, use it and take advantage of what it offers. If not, other platforms probably serve you better. The right platform is the one that fits your specific project, not the one everyone else uses. Make the choice that fits your specific situation, then build well on whichever platform you choose. The platform is the tool. Your project is what matters. Choose the tool that best serves your project, whether that is Joomla or something else.
