Hello
@javier
It sounds like you're looking for a robust CMS that offers the flexibility and functionality you're used to in Drupal 7 without going the Shopify or WordPress route. With the changes in the Drupal ecosystem, a migration to another platform is a big decision. Here are a few solid alternatives to consider, especially if you want to maintain control over your site's customization and scalability:
1. Backdrop CMS
Why Consider It?
- Fork of Drupal 7: Backdrop CMS is a direct fork of Drupal 7, designed to be familiar to Drupal 7 users while offering modern features.
- Easier Upgrade Path: Migrating from Drupal 7 to Backdrop is more straightforward than jumping to Drupal 9 or 10.
- Community-Driven: It's maintained by a smaller but dedicated community aiming to keep it lean and user-friendly.
- Lower Resource Requirements: It's a bit lighter than modern Drupal versions, so it may be easier to host and manage.
Downside: Backdrop's ecosystem is smaller than Drupal's, but this is mitigated by the fact that it's largely compatible with older Drupal modules.
2. Craft CMS
Why Consider It?
- Developer-Friendly: It offers flexibility and powerful templating via Twig (similar to Drupal).
- Customizable: It's designed for custom content modeling, giving you control over how your content is structured.
- Scalability: Like Drupal, it supports complex websites and is great for developers who need more customization.
- Active Community & Strong Commercial Support: Though smaller than WordPress or Drupal, the community is active, and the Pro version offers dedicated support.
Downside: Craft CMS is licensed software, so there's a cost for the Pro version, which includes more advanced features.
3. Joomla
Why Consider It?
- Familiar Ecosystem: Joomla is often compared to Drupal, with flexibility for building complex websites.
- Extensibility: It offers a wide range of extensions and templates, much like Drupal's modules.
- Advanced User Management: Great for sites with complex user roles or permissions.
Downside: While Joomla is powerful, it's less developer-friendly compared to Drupal. The learning curve can be steep, but it may feel familiar to a Drupal 7 user.
4. Grav CMS
Why Consider It?
- Flat-File CMS: Unlike Drupal, Grav does not rely on a database, which can make it faster and simpler to manage.
- Lightweight & Fast: It's ideal for those who want simplicity without sacrificing flexibility or performance.
- Customizable: It supports custom content types and has a modular structure, making it great for developers.
Downside: Grav isn't as feature-rich as Drupal or Craft CMS out of the box, so it may require more customization or third-party plugins for larger projects.
5. Typo3
Why Consider It?
- Enterprise-Level CMS: Typo3 is highly scalable and used for complex, multi-language, and multi-site setups.
- Extensibility: Like Drupal, Typo3 is modular and has a vast extension library.
- Strong User Permissions: It's designed with advanced user permissions and workflows, making it suitable for large organizations.
Downside: It has a steeper learning curve than Drupal, and its setup can be quite complex. Typo3 may be overkill for smaller projects.
6. Statamic
Why Consider It?
- Hybrid CMS: Statamic offers both flat-file storage (like Grav) and the option to use a database if needed.
- Customizable: It's highly flexible, allowing for custom fields, taxonomies, and content types.
- Active Community: Strong support for developers and active community add-ons make it versatile.
Downside: Statamic is paid software (for the Pro version), and it's not as widely adopted as other CMS options.
7. Strapi (Headless CMS)
Why Consider It?
- Headless Flexibility: If you want to move towards a decoupled architecture, Strapi is a great choice as a headless CMS.
- API-First: It delivers content through APIs, allowing you to use the front-end technology of your choice (e.g., React, Vue.js, etc.).
- Open-Source: Strapi is open-source and offers a large ecosystem of plugins.
Downside: A headless CMS requires more development effort since you'll need to build and manage the front end separately.
8. Plone
Why Consider It?
- Enterprise-Grade Security: Plone is known for its security and is commonly used by government organizations.
- Powerful Workflow Features: It excels in complex workflows and content moderation.
- Python-Based: If you are familiar with Python, Plone may be a good fit. It is also highly customizable.
Downside: Plone has a steeper learning curve and may require a larger time investment in setup and customization.
Key Considerations
- Content Structure & Flexibility: If you have a lot of custom content types and fields, you'll want a CMS that can handle complex data models like Craft, Typo3, or Backdrop.
- Developer Involvement: If you have strong development resources, headless CMS options like Strapi or Grav could offer flexibility. If you want something easier to manage with minimal development, look at Joomla or Craft CMS.
- Scalability & Future-Proofing: If you're anticipating growth or complexity, Typo3 and Plone may be better suited for long-term scalability and security needs.
Hope this help
