Joomla alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Joomla: smaller ecosystem and talent pool than WordPress, and admin interface takes time to learn. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Joomla, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. WordPress currently ranks first.

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The best Joomla alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Joomla alternative for most people

WordPress

Much bigger plugin and theme market and more hosts that optimise for it.

Best Joomla alternative for a free option

Drupal

Deeper content modelling and permissions for larger, more complex sites.

Best Joomla alternative for open source

Concrete CMS

Open-source PHP CMS with in-page editing that non-technical editors pick up fast.

Best Joomla alternative for self-hosting

ProcessWire

Lean open-source PHP CMS with a clean API for developers who want full control.

Best Joomla alternative for iPhone and Android

WordPress

Much bigger plugin and theme market and more hosts that optimise for it.

Best Joomla alternative for working in the browser

Grav

Flat-file PHP CMS that drops the database for simpler sites.

Joomla alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Joomla?

WordPress ranks first right now. Much bigger plugin and theme market and more hosts that optimise for it. Drupal and Concrete CMS follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Joomla?

Yes. WordPress (open source), Drupal (open source), Concrete CMS (open source) and ProcessWire (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Joomla?

Yes: WordPress, Drupal, Concrete CMS and ProcessWire, plus 1 more in the list above. WordPress, Drupal and Concrete CMS can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Joomla?

The complaints we hear most: smaller ecosystem and talent pool than WordPress; admin interface takes time to learn; fewer modern, well-maintained templates.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Joomla, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.