ProcessWire vs. WordPress

With the two content management systems ProcessWire and WordPress, we can offer a wide range of options. Both systems complement each other perfectly. ProcessWire is custom-programmed precisely for your project, while with WordPress, we combine ready-made templates and third-party plugins.

A brief comparison from our perspective.

Author: Carl Erling

Summary

WordPress, the universal CMS (with themes or page builders), for:

• Websites where each page can be individually designed using defined elements and can be changed independently by design teams.
• Projects for which commercial and free templates (themes), design elements and plug-ins are sufficient.
• Clients with a limited budget for individual web development.
• Classic blogs.

ProcessWire, the specialized system, for:

• High demands on excellent programmability, optimized data management and speed.
• Frontend with sparse code (no page builder, precise control of HTML code).
• High priority given to the security of the overall system.
• Special requests for function and design, even if these require a certain amount of programming.
• Larger teams of editors with changing employees who benefit from short training times and good control of all entries.

WordPress (with PageBuilder)

Websites without programming effort possible

1. Distribution: WordPress is the most widely used CMS system in the world. An estimated 20% of all websites run with this CMS and it is also used by the TBA for certain tasks.
2. Rapid design with low development effort: Thanks to a variety of ready-made templates and modules, designers, editors, and SEO teams can easily create new content without the need for a programmer. Marketing variant tests (A/B tests) can be carried out without any problems, which saves time and money.
3. Documentation: The wide distribution ensures extensive literature and numerous online resources that provide quick answers to almost any question.
4. Versatility: With the combination of quality themes and matching modules, new pages can be set up quickly and in a versatile manner. The large number of ready-made modules and templates enables a rapid expansion of WordPress.
5. Blog: Originally designed as a blog system, WordPress already offers a perfectly integrated blog for company news in its basic version, which is often only available as an add-on module with other CMS systems.
6. Large community: Due to its widespread use, there is a huge community that can help with problems.
7. Continuous further development: regular updates and a large number of extensions. Inexpensive service contracts with the TBA offer support for this.
8. E-commerce: WordPress is also well suited for online stores thanks to plug-ins such as WooCommerce.
9. SEO-friendliness: Many SEO plug-ins available to facilitate optimization for search engines.

ProcessWire

Simple programming, full flexibility

For developers:

1. Flexibility: ProcessWire is programmed exactly as the concept and desired layout dictate. The use of complex third-party templates that dictate the design framework is not necessary. ProcessWire is not only a CMS, but also a modern and elegant PHP framework that enables the programming of customized elements.
2. Fast: The lean program design and clear database structure enable fast-loading websites without superfluous code. A modern caching system ensures additional speed.
3. Security: As far as is known, ProcessWire has never been successfully hacked. (However, 100% protection never exists on the Internet.)
4. International: Perfectly masters real multilingualism in the front end and out-of-the-box.
5. Scalability: Very large systems with a lot of data and multiple domains can also be implemented without any problems. Practical examples impressively prove this.
6. Good programmability: The well-thought-out and adaptable system behind ProcessWire facilitates programming in teams and shortens development times. It is easy to adapt and maintain.
7. Data management: ProcessWire allows you to define any number of content areas with different properties, making it easier to plan and control the end result.
8. Content output: Software-supported data processing is one of the great strengths of ProcessWire. Menus and content can be programmed and adapted down to the smallest detail.
9. Documentation: After a short training period, many aspects of ProcessWire are self-explanatory. An active and helpful internet forum offers expert answers to almost all questions.
10. Performance: High speed thanks to lean code and efficient database queries.
11. Customizable backend user interface: The admin interface can be adapted precisely to the needs of the user.
12. Modularity: Flexible system for extending functionality with modules.
13. Advanced API: Powerful API for developers to create complex functions and integrations.

For designers and customers:

1. Design freedom: Independence from prefabricated design templates and add-ons. The designer has full control over all aspects of the layout. The simple template system enables precise design solutions.
2. International: Multilingual websites are easy to manage.
3. Rights assignment: Rights can be set very precisely, even for individual fields. This protects against incorrect entries and is particularly helpful in teams with changing or untrained employees.
4. Perfect administration: The admin area can be tailored precisely to the needs of editors, making it easier to manage even complex content.
5. Easy to maintain: Low maintenance costs. Even though ProcessWire is considered a very secure CMS, it is advisable to keep the software, modules, and templates up to date and to create regular backups. Affordable service contracts with TBA offer support for this.