Drupal and Joomla Updates in 2025: What's New and Why It Matters

In the ever-evolving world of open-source content management systems (CMS), Drupal and Joomla remain powerful contenders, each catering to distinct audiences with unique needs. As we move through 2025, both platforms have rolled out significant updates, introducing new features, enhanced security, and improved usability. This blog post dives into the latest developments for Drupal and Joomla, exploring how these updates position them in the competitive CMS landscape and what they mean for developers, businesses, and site owners.

Drupal Updates in 2025: Powering Enterprise-Level Flexibility

Drupal is renowned for its robust architecture, scalability, and top-tier security, making it a go-to choice for complex, high-traffic websites like those of government agencies, universities, and large enterprises. In 2025, Drupal continues to solidify its position with updates that enhance its flexibility, developer experience, and security protocols.

Key Drupal Updates

1. Drupal 11 and Long-Term Support (LTS) for Drupal 10

   • Drupal 11 Release: Drupal 11, released in 2024, continues to receive feature updates, with patch releases and security fixes scheduled throughout 2025. The latest minor release, Drupal 11.2.0, includes improvements in content management workflows and enhanced API support for seamless integrations.

   • Drupal 10 LTS: Drupal 10 will receive security coverage until December 2026, when Drupal 12 is expected to launch. Maintenance minors are released every six months, incorporating bug fixes, API additions for forward compatibility, and dependency updates. This predictable release cycle aids organizations in planning upgrades.

   • Drupal 7 End of Life: Security support for Drupal 7 ended on January 5, 2025, urging users to migrate to Drupal 10 or 11. Commercial support is available through certified Drupal 7 End of Life Support Partners for those unable to upgrade immediately.

2. Recipe APIs for Simplified Site Building
   Drupal introduced Recipe APIs in 2025, enabling developers to create complex site structures using pre-packaged features. These APIs streamline the process of building custom content types, views, and permissions, reducing development time for intricate projects. This update is particularly beneficial for enterprise users who need tailored solutions without extensive coding.

3. AI Integration with Drupal AI Initiative
   The Drupal AI Initiative, announced in 2025, focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into the Drupal ecosystem. The release of Drupal AI 1.2.0-alpha2 in August 2025 brought stability fixes and new AI-driven features, such as automated content tagging and enhanced search capabilities. This initiative positions Drupal as a forward-thinking CMS for organizations looking to leverage AI for content management and user engagement.

4. Security Enhancements
   Drupal’s security team remains proactive, with frequent updates addressing vulnerabilities. In 2025, security releases for Drupal 10 and 11 fixed critical issues like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Access Bypass vulnerabilities (e.g., SA-CORE-2025-001, SA-CORE-2025-002). Sites are urged to update immediately to maintain robust security. Drupal’s reputation as one of the most secure CMS platforms is reinforced by its transparent vulnerability reporting and rapid patching.

5. Improved Multilingual Support
   Drupal’s multilingual capabilities have been enhanced through updated modules, offering seamless content translation and localization for global websites. This makes Drupal a preferred choice for enterprises operating in multiple regions.

Why These Updates Matter

Drupal’s 2025 updates cater to its core audience: developers and organizations managing complex, high-traffic sites. The Recipe APIs and AI integration reduce development overhead, while the predictable release cycle and LTS support provide stability for long-term planning. However, the end of Drupal 7 support is a critical reminder for legacy users to migrate to avoid security risks. Drupal’s focus on security and scalability continues to make it a top choice for enterprise-grade projects, though its steeper learning curve may deter beginners without technical expertise.

Joomla Updates in 2025: User-Friendly Innovation

Joomla, known for its balance between ease of use and advanced functionality, targets small to medium-sized businesses, community platforms, and content-heavy sites. In 2025, Joomla has introduced updates that enhance its user experience, security, and out-of-the-box features, making it a compelling alternative to WordPress and Drupal.

Key Joomla Updates

1. Dark Mode Interface
   Joomla introduced a brand-new Dark Mode in 2025, which syncs automatically with a user’s device settings. This feature improves accessibility and comfort for administrators working on late-night web design or content updates, enhancing Joomla’s user-friendly reputation.

2. Task Scheduler and API Enhancements
   Joomla’s built-in Task Scheduler allows users to configure recurring tasks, such as cron jobs, with minimal effort. The “Basic Fields” section simplifies scheduling, while the “Task Parameters” and “Advanced” tabs offer fine-tuned control for prioritizing tasks. Additionally, Joomla’s updated APIs enable automation of content creation, updates, and deletions, with seamless integration with external systems for data synchronization. These features make Joomla a powerful choice for automating workflows.

3. Improved eCommerce Extensions
   Joomla has reorganized its eCommerce extensions into smaller, more manageable categories, improving accessibility compared to Drupal’s extensive module library. While Joomla emphasizes security for these extensions, users are advised to verify update histories and apply patches regularly to prevent vulnerabilities.

4. Security and Performance
   Joomla has strengthened its core security features, including two-factor authentication and regular maintenance updates. While Joomla has historically experienced more vulnerabilities than Drupal, its 2025 updates focus on closing these gaps with proactive patching and robust user permissions for membership-based sites. Performance-wise, Joomla performs well for mid-sized businesses but may require optimization (e.g., caching, CDN) for high-traffic scenarios.

5. Multilingual Capabilities
   Joomla’s built-in multilingual support remains a standout feature, allowing seamless management of translations without relying on third-party extensions, unlike WordPress. This makes Joomla an excellent choice for websites targeting diverse, multilingual audiences.

Why These Updates Matter

Joomla’s 2025 updates position it as a versatile, user-friendly CMS that bridges the gap between WordPress’s simplicity and Drupal’s complexity. The Dark Mode and Task Scheduler enhance the administrator experience, while improved eCommerce extensions and APIs cater to businesses seeking streamlined operations. Joomla’s focus on multilingual support and affordability makes it ideal for small to medium-sized projects, though it may not match Drupal’s scalability for enterprise-level needs.

Drupal vs. Joomla: A 2025 Comparison

Both Drupal and Joomla have made significant strides in 2025, but they cater to different use cases:

• Ease of Use: Joomla’s intuitive interface and Dark Mode make it more accessible for beginners and non-technical users. Drupal’s steeper learning curve requires technical expertise, particularly for customizations.

• Customization: Drupal’s Recipe APIs and 52,000+ modules offer unparalleled flexibility for complex projects. Joomla provides robust customization through templates and extensions but is less developer-intensive.

• Security: Drupal leads with its proactive security team and frequent updates, while Joomla’s built-in security is strong but requires diligent maintenance to match Drupal’s standards.

• Scalability: Drupal excels for large-scale, high-traffic sites, while Joomla is better suited for mid-sized projects.

• Cost: Joomla is generally more budget-friendly, with lower development and maintenance costs. Drupal’s advanced features often require hiring specialized developers, increasing costs.

Migration Considerations: Joomla to Drupal

For users considering a switch from Joomla to Drupal, 2025 updates make the transition appealing for those needing greater scalability and security. Drupal’s flexibility and robust security make it a strong upgrade for growing businesses. However, migration involves challenges like content transfer, SEO preservation, and adapting to Drupal’s technical demands. Best practices include:

• Backing up Joomla sites completely.

• Choosing Drupal 10 or 11 for the latest features.

• Setting up 301 redirects to maintain SEO rankings.

• Training teams on Drupal’s interface to ensure a smooth transition.

Conclusion

In 2025, Drupal and Joomla continue to evolve, each carving out its niche in the CMS market. Drupal’s Recipe APIs, AI integration, and robust security updates make it a powerhouse for complex, enterprise-level projects. Joomla’s Dark Mode, Task Scheduler, and multilingual support enhance its appeal for user-friendly, mid-sized websites. Choosing between them depends on your project’s scale, technical expertise, and budget. For large, complex sites, Drupal is the superior choice; for smaller, content-driven projects, Joomla offers a cost-effective, intuitive solution.

Stay updated by visiting Drupal.org for Drupal’s release notes and Joomla.org for the latest Joomla announcements. Whether you’re a developer, business owner, or content manager, these updates ensure that both CMS platforms remain competitive and relevant in 2025.