Drupal vs Netlify CMS: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Drupal and Netlify CMS. Both Drupal and Netlify CMS are content management systems, but they have distinct features and functionalities that set them apart.

1. Content Organization and Structure: Drupal offers a highly flexible and scalable content organization system. It allows users to create custom content types and define their own fields, enabling them to have precise control over their content structure. On the other hand, Netlify CMS has a simpler content organization system with predefined field types. It is suitable for smaller projects that do not require complex content structures.

2. Hosting and Deployment: Drupal requires a separate hosting environment, and users need to set up their own hosting services or choose from Drupal-specific hosting providers. It requires manual deployment and configuration. In contrast, Netlify CMS is a headless CMS that is tightly integrated with Netlify hosting. It offers seamless continuous deployment and hosting functionalities, making it easy to set up and deploy websites.

3. User Interface and Ease of Use: Drupal has a powerful but complex admin interface, which may require some technical knowledge and training to fully utilize its features. Netlify CMS, on the other hand, offers a simpler and more user-friendly interface. Its intuitive UI allows non-technical users to easily manage and edit content without needing extensive technical knowledge.

4. Developer Flexibility and Customization: Drupal provides extensive customization options for developers. It has a robust module ecosystem, allowing developers to extend and modify the CMS's functionalities. It is highly suitable for complex and large-scale projects with specific customization needs. In contrast, Netlify CMS has a more limited customization scope. While it allows users to define custom collections and fields, it is not as flexible or extensible as Drupal.

5. Supported Technologies: Drupal is written in PHP and relies on a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) for its backend infrastructure. It has been around for a long time and has a large community of developers. Netlify CMS, on the other hand, is built using modern JavaScript technologies and supports static site generators like Gatsby, Hugo, and Jekyll. It leverages the JAMstack architecture for fast and secure websites.

6. Community and Support: Drupal has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its continuous development. It has extensive documentation, support forums, and a vast library of contributed modules. Netlify CMS, although newer, also has an active community and provides support through its documentation, GitHub repository, and community forums.

In summary, Drupal is a feature-rich and highly customizable CMS suited for complex projects, while Netlify CMS offers a simpler, more user-friendly approach with integrated hosting and deployment capabilities, making it a suitable choice for smaller projects with a focus on developer experience.