Drupal vs. Ghost: Which CMS is Better?

Choosing the right Content Management System (CMS) is essential for businesses and individuals looking to create and manage content efficiently. Two widely used CMS platforms, Drupal and Ghost, cater to different use cases. While Drupal is known for its high customization and scalability, Ghost focuses on simplicity and speed for blogging and publishing. In this blog, we’ll compare Drupal vs. Ghost based on flexibility, performance, SEO, customization, and cost to help you determine the right choice for your website.

1. Understanding Drupal and Ghost

What is Drupal?

Drupal is a powerful open-source CMS designed for complex websites, enterprise applications, and multi-user platforms. It offers advanced content structuring, security, and customization, making it ideal for large-scale websites and businesses.

What is Ghost?

Ghost is a lightweight CMS built for blogging and content publishing. It is designed for simplicity and speed, providing a distraction-free writing experience with built-in SEO and monetization features.

2. Key Differences Between Drupal and Ghost

Customization & Flexibility

• Drupal: Offers extensive customization with thousands of modules, themes, and integrations, making it ideal for enterprise websites and complex applications.
• Ghost: Provides a minimalist, streamlined experience, primarily focused on publishing, with limited customization options.

Performance & Speed

• Drupal: Highly scalable but may require caching and optimization for improved performance.
• Ghost: Built on Node.js, making it significantly faster and lightweight out of the box.

SEO & Content Management

• Drupal: Includes advanced content structuring, taxonomy, and SEO modules like Yoast SEO.
• Ghost: Features built-in SEO optimization, AMP support, and native newsletter tools for content creators.

Security & Maintenance

• Drupal: Known for its enterprise-level security, used by government and financial institutions.
• Ghost: Secure and lightweight but relies on managed hosting for security updates.

Cost Comparison

• Drupal: Free to use but requires development, hosting, and maintenance costs.
• Ghost: Requires a subscription for managed hosting or self-hosted options with additional setup.

3. When to Choose Drupal Over Ghost

Drupal is the best choice if:

• You need highly customizable and scalable content management.
• Your business requires advanced security and content structuring.
• You plan to build a multi-user platform or enterprise-level website.

4. When to Choose Ghost Over Drupal

Ghost is a better option if:

• You need a lightweight and fast CMS for publishing.
• You focus primarily on blogging, newsletters, and monetization.
• You prefer a simpler, user-friendly experience with built-in SEO.

5. Final Verdict: Drupal or Ghost?

If you need flexibility, scalability, and advanced features, Drupal is the superior choice. However, if your focus is on content publishing with speed and simplicity, Ghost is the better option.

Looking for expert Drupal development services? Drupalify can help you build a powerful and scalable CMS tailored to your needs. Contact us today to get started!