Although it managed to outlive two of its successors, Drupal 7 was officially retired last week after reaching the grand old age of 14. As a result, it will no longer receive security updates or official support, leaving many businesses vulnerable to security breaches, outdated functionality, and compliance risks.
At first glance this news might seem insignificant, however, with over 39% of Drupal’s 675,000 users still relying on the seventh version – far outnumbering those using newer iterations such as Drupal 10 or 11 – it presents a substantial challenge for enterprises. The platform’s architecture has changed so drastically in recent years that upgrading is likely to take as much effort as adopting a new CMS altogether, so for large-scale brands and publishers, now is the time to explore solutions that align better with their evolving needs.
WordPress as an alternative
For many enterprises stuck on Drupal 7, making the move to WordPress is an appealing alternative, offering a combination of simplicity, scalability, and cost-efficiency that caters to diverse workflows and organisational needs.
In addition to a streamlined setup that sees hundreds of WordPress sites launched everyday – a stark contrast to the complexities of Drupal – WordPress’s intuitive interface significantly reduces the learning curve, even for users with little to no coding knowledge. This means that organisations with large teams and varying levels of experience can confidently adopt the platform, dramatically reducing onboarding times.
Significantly for brands depending on Drupal, another key advantage of WordPress is that it’s known for its continuous updates that avoid ‘hard stops’ between versions. Unlike Drupal, which can require substantial effort to upgrade from one version to the next, WordPress’s incremental updates minimise downtime and disruption. This also reduces operational risks associated with platform version releases and offers crucial stability for brands that rely on their web presence for income and lead generation.
When it comes to enhancing functionality, WordPress offers an unparalleled ecosystem of plugins – including over 59,000 free options – that enable businesses to extend their sites in countless ways. Although Drupal’s modules are robust and feature-rich, WordPress’s plugin marketplace offers an unmatched array of choices as well as all-important ease of implementation.
Scalability is another key factor when choosing WordPress. Both platforms can handle high-traffic sites and complex structures, but WordPress stands out for its user-friendly simplicity. This makes it a more accessible option for enterprises involving larger teams in site management, offering a lower barrier to entry that enables staff across departments to contribute effectively without requiring extensive training.
Finally, cost considerations can’t be overlooked, particularly in the current economic climate. Enterprises still using Drupal 7 are likely facing rising maintenance costs, particularly as support for the platform has now ceased. In contrast, WordPress offers a lower total cost of ownership, with a vibrant community, abundant resources, and reduced dependency on specialised developers. This affordability, coupled with its flexibility, makes WordPress a strategic choice for businesses looking to invest in a reliable and scalable CMS that can meet their specific needs.
Migrating from Drupal to WordPress
Transitioning from Drupal 7 to WordPress can be a relatively straightforward process thanks to tools such as FG Drupal to WordPress, however when moving from any system to another, careful planning is essential. A detailed strategy ensures that all types of content, modules, and must-have functionalities are accounted for, including any third-party integrations or new features needed in the WordPress environment.
Once a comprehensive strategy is in place, one of the first and most vital steps in the migration process involves assessing and auditing existing content. All Drupal content must be mapped to Gutenberg blocks in WordPress to match the design of the new site, and any content that’s no longer needed can be flagged for exclusion during this stage. The Drupal site structure must also be translated into logical WordPress post types and taxonomies, as this provides the foundation for the development of an effective migration script.
At Big Bite, we build a custom import tool for almost every migration we carry out, which begins life as a prototype during an initial discovery phase. This approach ensures a seamless transition with maximum flexibility and control, enabling us to address any content issues uncovered during early audits and ensure that content is correctly formatted for WordPress’s block editor, future-proofing it for ongoing platform updates. Migration scripts are typically executed using the WordPress CLI, automating the transfer of recurring content types such as news articles or branded content. These scripts also map Drupal data to WordPress taxonomies and post types while converting existing markup into block-based content compatible with WordPress.
Accessing Drupal content can be done via its API or through direct database exports, depending on the data structure and feasibility, however from our own extensive experience, we know that using the API offers the advantage of testing new content migrations efficiently without manual imports. For one-off or custom pieces of content that don’t stick to a repeated structure, the better approach is to recreate the pages manually within the Gutenberg editor, as this actually saves time while ensuring a consistent result.
As with all website migrations, URL structures should be matched wherever possible to maintain SEO performance, and if changes are unavoidable, a detailed redirect plan must be put in place to avoid dropping off search engine result pages. We recommend server-level redirects to minimise impact and preserve user experience.
Above all, partnering with an experienced agency such as Big Bite is key to a successful migration. Our team’s deep understanding of both Drupal and WordPress ensures a smooth transition, from initial discovery to custom development, resulting in a future-proof WordPress site that not only aligns with your operational goals but also delivers a seamless, scalable, and user-friendly digital experience.
Ready to make the move from Drupal to WordPress? Get in touch with our team today to kickstart your migration journey.
