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ExpressionEngine vs WordPress

ExpressionEngine vs WordPress

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You need a website, but you are not sure what content management system will work best for your business. Perhaps you want a blog or an e-commerce shop, or maybe you need something more specialist like a database in your website so your requirements aren't standard. If you need something that is easy to use and will grow with your business, then here are two content management systems to compare: ExpressionEngine and WordPress.

To put it simply, a content management system (CMS) is a programme for managing content. Users can create web pages and easily add, remove or edit content without coding. It's generally user-friendly and usually comes with features that make content management easy.

ExpressionEngine is versatile and highly adaptable. It's a robust solution for developers who want a content management system with a structured framework. WordPress, on the other hand, was originally created as a blogging platform but has become a popular open-source CMS. It is fairly user-friendly with a massive resource of themes and plugins for designers.

Let's delve a little deeper into comparing ExpressionEngine versus WordPress.

What is ExpressionEngine?

ExpressionEngine is a powerful CMS that is built on PHP and makes use of MySQL. It has built-in features and functionality that come standard with the core build. When building websites that are large and complex, and rely on relationships or content sharing, ExpressionEngine can do just about anything you need.

ExpressionEngine is perfect for a website that relies on structured data, as it has custom fields and content relationships built into its core. As it is modular, there is no rigid content structure, which makes it very flexible. Basically, the ExpressionEngine CMS website is easier to build and maintain, giving you greater control without restricting you to a rigid content structure.

What is WordPress?

WordPress (WP) is a CMS that is good for managing blogs. It has evolved over time and has become a more robust CMS that can be used to manage anything from WordPress websites to e-commerce websites. Anyone who has built a WordPress website knows that there are basic themes that are free; however, to get real functionality out of the website, you need a lot of plugins.

Web designers who work with WP sites have a plethora of templates and themes to choose from. The WordPress community is quite large, as WordPress powers the majority of blog sites on the internet. You can incorporate additional features with add-ons (plugins) to create a website that goes beyond a mere blog site.

While WordPress may be the shinier option due to its popularity, it does require a lot of plugins that come as standard with ExpressionEngine.

ExpressionEngine vs WordPress Comparison

Scalability
WordPress powers blog sites and larger websites. With prudent management, WordPress can be fairly scalable. By carefully balancing the use of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and caching, a WordPress website can manage a fair amount of traffic. However, it's not optimally designed to maintain decent performance with massive traffic flow.

ExpressionEngine makes building a website easy with its modular structure. It is unrivalled in flexibility and scalability, which makes it ideal for a website that will potentially grow. ExpressionEngine is a dynamic CMS that was built to handle high-traffic and growing websites. Whether for content or products, ExpressionEngine allows your website to grow with your business.

Ease of Use
WordPress has features suitable for new users. A wide range of pre-developed templates and its easy-to-operate interface make it quick to learn the WordPress basics. You don't need to know coding or web design because one of the popular features of this CMS is that there are thousands of templates readily available. You can start with a base and add features as you go.

ExpressionEngine requires a steeper learning curve and may not be as easy to use initially. However, seasoned web designers and developers will find it to be an intuitive CMS with huge flexibility. The custom fields and relationship hierarchy make ExpressionEngine easier when it comes to handling complex projects.

Customisation and Add-Ons
WordPress is very customisable. There are third-party add-ons that make WordPress an attractive option for beginners. With a WP site, you can choose different fonts, colours and themes to make your website attractive. There are many third-party apps that can do almost everything. From social media plugins to contact forms, you can plug away. Just be wary of plug-in conflicts and ensure regular updates for all add-ons.

When it comes to customisation, there is no comparison between ExpressionEngine and WordPress. When building an ExpressionEngine site, users have full control over the nitty-gritty details that make their site unique on the web. You can design your web pages to your precise specifications with minimal add-ons. 

Security
Website security is incredibly important. Hackers are constantly trying to steal information and take advantage of any breach in your website’s security. A few examples of protection are SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), TLS (Transport Layer Security) and Captchas.

Your WP website will require special plugins to ensure protection from malicious attacks. You will have to incorporate the add-ons to ensure your website can remain safe and secure.

ExpressionEngine comes with pre-packed security for features such as your login form, making your login page a lot safer. Overall, ExpressionEngine is renowned for its high-security standards.

Pricing
Your budget will also play a part in determining which CMS platform to choose.

WordPress websites start at $0. The free option, however, requires a 10% transaction fee for payments. You can opt for a personal website for $48 per year or the premium option for $96 per year. A business website with cloud storage costs $300 per year, while an online store costs $540 per year. Big corporations may choose the enterprise option, which is $25,000 per year.

ExpressionEngine has a different pricing structure. The core version is free, which is perfect for a small business or a single user (one user with access to the control panel). To purchase the Pro version, you would need a licence that is valid for a year. This costs $249 for the initial licence. Each additional year costs $49.

Which is Best For You?

Ultimately, every project is unique, and your requirements will vary depending on why your business needs a new website in the first place. Thus, it is best to weigh up the options as to which CMS is best for you.

WordPress is great for anyone starting out or creating a blog. It has a simple and user-friendly interface for less-experienced web designers and bloggers. It is also perfectly suited for small- to medium-sized template websites.

ExpressionEngine, however, is well-suited for larger and more complex projects or if you want to have complete control over the finer details. Its adaptability and scalability mean your site can grow as your business grows.

You don't have to worry about learning anything new, though, when considering opting for ExpressionEngine. Ryde is a web design agency that specialises in building ExpressionEngine CMS websites. Contact us for more information and guidance on ExpressionEngine vs WordPress and for all your website design and development requirements.

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