Why The Mass Exodus From Joomla?

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a significant trend in the content management system (CMS) landscape: businesses and organizations are increasingly migrating away from Joomla. What was once a leading open-source CMS now sees a steady decline in market share, while platforms like WordPress continue to grow. Let’s examine the key factors driving this mass exodus and what it means for website owners still using Joomla.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Recent statistics reveal a concerning trend for Joomla. While it once commanded over 12% of the CMS market, its share has steadily declined to less than 3% today. Meanwhile, WordPress has expanded to power over 43% of all websites globally. This shift isn’t happening by chance – it reflects fundamental changes in web development priorities and user expectations.

Technical Debt and Modernization Challenges

Legacy Architecture Struggles

Joomla’s core architecture, despite updates, still relies on foundations established in the early 2000s. This creates increasing technical debt as developers attempt to integrate modern web technologies with Joomla’s aging codebase. Many businesses report that maintaining Joomla sites requires specialized knowledge that’s becoming harder to find as fewer developers focus on the platform.

Security Concerns Mount

The security landscape has changed dramatically since Joomla’s heyday. While the Joomla team works diligently on security patches, the extension ecosystem presents significant vulnerabilities. Many third-party extensions receive infrequent updates or have been abandoned entirely, creating security risks that careful site owners can’t ignore.

User Experience Expectations Have Evolved

The Demand for Intuitive Interfaces

Today’s website owners expect intuitive, visual editing experiences. Joomla’s administrative interface, despite improvements, still presents a steeper learning curve than competitors. This complexity becomes particularly problematic for businesses with multiple content contributors or those seeking to reduce their dependence on technical specialists.

Mobile-First Development

Modern websites must excel on mobile devices. While Joomla offers responsive templates, creating truly exceptional mobile experiences often requires extensive customization. Competing platforms have embraced mobile-first development more comprehensively, making them more attractive for forward-thinking businesses.

The Extension Ecosystem Challenge

The health of a CMS depends largely on its plugin/extension ecosystem. Joomla’s extension marketplace has seen declining development activity, with fewer new extensions and slower update cycles for existing ones. This creates a challenging environment where businesses struggle to find modern solutions for e-commerce, marketing automation, and other critical functions.

Developer Talent Pool Shrinking

As more developers focus their skills on WordPress, React, and other growing technologies, the pool of available Joomla talent continues to shrink. This creates a challenging situation where businesses face increasing costs to maintain their Joomla sites or struggle to find qualified help at all.

Migration Paths Are Becoming Clearer

Perhaps the most significant factor enabling the exodus is the improving migration pathways. Tools and services specifically designed to help businesses transition from Joomla to WordPress and other platforms have matured, reducing the cost and complexity of migration. This lowers the barrier to switching, making it easier for businesses to take the leap.

What This Means for Current Joomla Users

If you’re still running a Joomla website, these trends don’t necessarily mean you need to migrate immediately. However, they do suggest that planning for eventual transition is prudent. The costs and challenges of maintaining a Joomla site will likely increase over time, while the benefits of modern platforms become more compelling.

The exodus from Joomla represents not just dissatisfaction with a single platform, but a broader shift in how businesses approach their digital presence. Today’s organizations prioritize flexibility, ease of use, and future-proofing – areas where newer platforms often provide stronger solutions.

For those considering their options beyond Joomla, our detailed comparisons of WordPress builders, themes, and migration strategies offer a starting point for planning your transition to a more sustainable platform.