After months of toiling away, your business is finally up and running. The obvious next step is to build a website. If you’ve already approached a website development company, we’re sure they would have mentioned a bunch of different technologies for you to choose from in your website development journey. You could either go for content management systems like WordPress or frameworks like Laravel. But which option is the right one for your business?
Though there is ample information on WordPress and Laravel, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of jargon used for a not so tech-savvy. PHP framework, plug-in architecture, template systems…what does all of this even mean?
In this article, let’s break things down to provide a simple comparison between Laravel and WordPress – two of the most common website building technologies today. Let’s dive in.
Learning about Laravel
PHP is a programming language that is extremely popular among website developers. In a study conducted by Web Technology Surveys, 77.6% of all the surveyed websites were PHP-based. Laravel is one of the most widely-used PHP frameworks because it easily meets the requirements of a quality website. Some of its advantages include –
- Executes common functions like authentication, routing, session management or caching
- Enables integration of mail systems, which means that your website can send out emails and texts over local or cloud-based servers
- Allows developers to run tests on not just the whole website, but one function at a time too
- Highly scalable with a fast engine
What about WordPress?
WordPress initially started as a blogging platform, but eventually evolved into a full-blown content management system. It is also written in PHP and is considered one of the most uncomplicated website builders. WordPress powers both the back-end of the website (this is where you can log in to add or edit new content) and the front-end (the visible part that your visitors see on the web). A few benefits associated with using WordPress are –
- Easy to use, even for people without technical knowledge
- Several new features can be added through WordPress plug-ins
- WordPress themes are highly customizable
- Ranks high on search engine results page
Laravel Vs. WordPress
Although both Laravel and WordPress are great tools for website building, you need to carefully analyze the pros and cons of each before you choose between the two. Laravel tends to be a little more expensive than WordPress in terms of development costs. However, if you intend to scale up, it will save you money and time. For example, if you’re planning to set up an online shop, you’ll have to keep adding products to your website. In such cases, Laravel is your best bet.
Even in terms of website speed, Laravel works better because WordPress takes quite a bit of time to load extra plug-ins. The security of your whole website depends on plug-ins when you use WordPress. On the other hand, Laravel has in-built security features like authentication, protection against cross-site scripting (XSS), minimizing cross-site request forgery (CSRF) etc.
To make the right decision, think about the requirements of your business. WordPress will work like a charm if you’re setting up a content-driven business like a blog, portfolio, or news portal. However, if you’re looking to set up a large e-commerce website or membership-based platform, you should go with Laravel.
Are you thinking about setting up an online shop or even a simple website for brand awareness? The team at DreamWeb India has got you covered. Our talented web developers are always looking for a great project to sink their teeth into. Reach out to us today for a no-obligation consultation.