Platform Comparison

Joomla vs. WordPress: Different Code, Same War

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You run WordPress. Your client runs Joomla. Your partner runs both.

Recent Developments

  • Joomla’s market share continues to decline as WordPress consolidates dominance, reflecting a shift in community and developer support[2][8].
  • WordPress’s ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, with new plugins and themes released regularly, maintaining its position as the most popular CMS[1][3].
  • Joomla maintains a niche for complex content management needs, especially where multiple themes per site or advanced version control is required[5].

Different platforms. Different code. Different ecosystems.

But the same war.

Malware does not care if you use WordPress or Joomla. Hackers do not discriminate. Performance issues affect both. Security vulnerabilities exist in both.

This is why we support both platforms. Because the threats are the same, even if the code is different.

The Platform Divide

WordPress and Joomla are different:

WordPress

  • 43% of all websites
  • Massive plugin library with 60,000+ plugins
  • Simpler for beginners
  • More third-party themes
  • Larger community

Joomla

  • 2.5% of all websites
  • More complex, more powerful
  • Better for enterprise sites
  • Stronger user management
  • More flexible architecture

Different platforms. Different strengths. Different use cases.

But the same threats.

The Common Threats

Here are the threats that affect both platforms:

1. Security Vulnerabilities

WordPress: 7,966 vulnerabilities discovered in 2024 (mostly in plugins)

Joomla: Regular security releases, but extensions have vulnerabilities too

Both platforms face:

  • SQL injection attacks
  • XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerabilities
  • Authentication bypass attempts
  • File upload exploits
  • Code execution vulnerabilities

The threat is the same. The code is different.

2. Malware Infections

Malware does not care about your platform:

  • Backdoors: Hidden access points work on both
  • SEO spam: Injected content affects both
  • Phishing: Redirects work on both
  • Data theft: Database breaches affect both
  • Cryptocurrency mining: Resource theft works on both

Whether you use WordPress or Joomla, malware is malware. The infection method might be different, but the result is the same.

3. Performance Issues

Both platforms can be slow:

  • Unoptimized images: Affects both platforms
  • Too many extensions: Plugins (WordPress) or extensions (Joomla)
  • No caching: Both need caching for performance
  • Slow hosting: Affects both equally
  • Database bloat: Both use databases that need optimization

Slow is slow, regardless of platform.

4. Update Management

Both platforms need regular updates:

  • Core updates: WordPress core and Joomla core
  • Extension updates: Plugins (WordPress) or extensions (Joomla)
  • Security patches: Critical for both
  • Compatibility testing: Needed for both

The update process is different, but the need is the same.

Why We Support Both

Most maintenance companies specialize in one platform. They say:

  • "We only do WordPress"
  • "Joomla is too complex"
  • "We cannot support both"

We support both because:

1. The Threats Are the Same

Malware, hackers, performance issues, security vulnerabilities—these affect both platforms. The defense strategies are similar, even if the implementation is different.

2. Many Businesses Use Both

We have clients who run:

  • WordPress for their main site
  • Joomla for their client portal
  • Both for different divisions
  • Both for different purposes

They do not want to hire two maintenance companies. They want one company that handles everything.

3. The Skills Transfer

Security principles are the same:

  • Input validation
  • Output escaping
  • Authentication and authorization
  • File permissions
  • Database security

The code is different, but the concepts are the same. Our team understands both.

4. We Are Platform-Agnostic

We do not care which platform you use. We care about:

  • Keeping your site secure
  • Keeping your site fast
  • Keeping your site online
  • Keeping you stress-free

The platform is just a tool. The goal is the same.

How We Maintain Both

Our maintenance process adapts to the platform:

WordPress Maintenance

  • WordPress core updates
  • Plugin updates (tested first)
  • Theme updates
  • WordPress-specific security scanning
  • WordPress-specific firewall rules

Joomla Maintenance

  • Joomla core updates
  • Extension updates (tested first)
  • Template updates
  • Joomla-specific security scanning
  • Joomla-specific firewall rules

The process is similar. The tools are platform-specific. The result is the same: secure, fast, reliable sites.

The Common Solutions

Many solutions work for both platforms:

Security

  • Firewalls (platform-specific rules)
  • Malware scanning (platform-aware)
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Strong password policies
  • Regular security audits

Performance

  • Caching (platform-specific implementations)
  • CDN (works for both)
  • Image optimization (works for both)
  • Database optimization (works for both)
  • Code minification (works for both)

Backups

  • Daily backups (platform-specific tools)
  • Off-site storage (works for both)
  • Encrypted backups (works for both)
  • Tested restores (works for both)

The tools might be different, but the solutions are the same.

The Verdict

WordPress and Joomla are different platforms. Different code. Different ecosystems.

But they face the same threats:

  • Malware
  • Hackers
  • Performance issues
  • Security vulnerabilities
  • Update management

The war is the same. The weapons are different.

We support both platforms because:

  • The threats are the same
  • Many businesses use both
  • The skills transfer
  • We are platform-agnostic

Do not let platform differences divide you. Focus on what matters: security, performance, reliability.

Stop fighting over CMS. Start fighting for security.

Whether you use WordPress, Joomla, or both—we can help. The war is the same. We fight it on all fronts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Joomla more secure than WordPress?

Neither platform is inherently more secure than the other. Both WordPress and Joomla face similar security threats, including SQL injection attacks, XSS vulnerabilities, and malware infections. Security depends on proper configuration, regular updates, strong passwords, and vigilant maintenance rather than the platform itself. Both platforms require security best practices, including firewalls, malware scanning, and regular security audits to protect against threats.

Is Joomla still relevant in 2025?

Yes, Joomla remains relevant in 2025, especially for enterprise sites and complex websites requiring advanced user management and flexible architecture. While WordPress dominates with 43% of all websites, Joomla's 2.5% market share represents millions of active sites. Joomla's strength lies in its more powerful and flexible architecture, making it ideal for businesses that need sophisticated user management, complex content structures, and enterprise-level features. The platform continues to receive regular security updates and has an active development community.

Why is Joomla better than WordPress?

Joomla is not necessarily "better" than WordPress—it depends on your needs. Joomla excels in areas like enterprise-level user management, more flexible content architecture, and built-in multilingual support. It's better suited for complex websites that require sophisticated user roles, advanced content organization, and enterprise features. However, WordPress is often better for beginners, offers a larger plugin ecosystem (60,000+ plugins), and has a simpler learning curve. The choice depends on your specific requirements, technical expertise, and website complexity.

What are the disadvantages of Joomla?

Joomla's main disadvantages include a steeper learning curve compared to WordPress, a smaller extension library (fewer third-party extensions than WordPress's 60,000+ plugins), a smaller community and fewer resources for beginners, and more complex setup and configuration requirements. Additionally, finding Joomla-specific developers and support can be more challenging than finding WordPress experts. However, for users who need Joomla's advanced features and flexibility, these disadvantages are often outweighed by the platform's strengths.

The Verdict

You can fight this battle alone, or you can hire the operators*. Don't leave your business defenseless.

Secure Your Site Now

Author

Dumitru Butucel

Dumitru Butucel

Web Developer • WordPress Security Pro • SEO Specialist
Almost 2 decades experience • 4,000+ projects • 3,000+ sites secured

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