The short answer
Choose WordPress when familiar publishing, a broad ecosystem and faster access to common site features dominate. Choose Drupal when complex structured content, granular permissions and workflow architecture justify a more specialist implementation.
Choose from requirements, not reputation. Test content modeling, one publishing workflow, preview, extension needs, performance and an upgrade in a small proof of concept.
Platform facts
Strengths and tradeoffs
WordPress
Why choose it: Largest ecosystem and familiar editorial workflow.
Watch for: Plugin governance, updates and performance need discipline.
Drupal
Why choose it: Powerful modeling, workflows and access control.
Watch for: Higher implementation and maintenance skill requirement.
Decision checklist
- Define authors, roles and approval steps.
- Model the most complex content and relationships.
- List required integrations and accountable maintainers.
- Estimate build plus three years of operations.
- Test exports and preserve URL ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is Drupal harder than WordPress?
Drupal commonly requires more specialist planning and implementation, especially for content architecture. The relevant question is whether that complexity solves requirements your project actually has.