Drupal CMS vs Drupal — what is the difference?
The Drupal CMS announced by the Drupal Association has caused confusion — is it a separate product? Is old Drupal going away? No and no.
In late 2024 the Drupal Association introduced a new installation profile called Drupal CMS. This has raised questions — is it a new product, does it replace Drupal, do you have to choose between them?
The short answer: Drupal CMS is the same Drupal, pre-configured so that getting started is faster.
What is Drupal CMS
Drupal CMS is a Drupal installation profile — meaning it is a curated set of modules, configuration and default values that are already set up at the point of installation.
Drupal CMS includes out of the box:
- A modern visual content editor (Experience Builder)
- Pre-configured content types, taxonomy and media management
- A simplified administration interface
- AI-assisted content creation tools (in development)
All of this is possible with standard Drupal too — Drupal CMS simply sets it up from the start.
What is Drupal Core (standard Drupal)
Drupal Core is the platform itself — the engine, APIs, data model, user management, permissions system. Everything Drupal CMS uses comes from Drupal Core.
A standard Drupal installation comes with minimal configuration — the "Standard" or "Minimal" profile — and the developer builds on top of that based on what the project needs.
Which one is right for you
Drupal CMS works well when:
- You want a working content-managed website quickly, without significant development
- The site is content- and marketing-focused rather than functionality- or integration-heavy
- The team includes editors who want a straightforward interface
Standard Drupal works well when:
- Project requirements are complex — integrations, custom workflows, business logic
- You want full control over the architecture
- You are building a platform that will be developed over a long time
Most business-critical Drupal platforms — portals, information systems, complex websites — are built on standard Drupal Core rather than Drupal CMS. Drupal CMS is aimed more at websites that do not require much customisation.
Does one replace the other?
No. Drupal CMS is built on top of Drupal Core, not a separate branch. Both receive the same security updates, both evolve together with Drupal Core.
Drupal CMS is the Drupal Association's answer to the question "how do we make getting started with Drupal easier" — particularly compared to WordPress, where the initial setup has traditionally been quicker.
What this means for existing Drupal projects
Existing Drupal 10 and 11 projects do not need to change anything. Drupal CMS does not affect existing installations.
If you are deciding whether to start a new project with Drupal CMS or standard Drupal, the key question is: how much customisation does the project need? Simpler site — Drupal CMS. Complex platform — standard Drupal.
If unsure, ask us — we can help clarify the architectural choice before development starts.
Kaido Toomingas
WebPro Company OÜ
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