--- title: "Joomla Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Joomla Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Web Content Management products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/161648/Joomla/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-28" --- # Joomla Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 28, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Joomla ## What is Joomla? CMS designed to help both novice users and expert developers to build websites and applications. ## What is Joomla used for? [Website Builder](https://www.capterra.com/website-builder-software/)[Content Management](https://www.capterra.com/content-management-software/)[Digital Asset Management](https://www.capterra.com/digital-asset-management-software/) Recognitions Shortlist Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 619 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 78% Neutral 17% Negative 5% Pros & cons Versatile website creation tool Comprehensive feature set Challenging update process Lagging behind competitors Starting price $199 Per User, Per Month Free trial not available Includes Free Version Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... - Content Management / 2025 Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Joomla?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/joomla/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Joomla 4.2 (622) VS. [4.4 (158)](https://www.capterra.com/p/142300/Adobe-Experience-Manager/reviews/) Starting Price $199 Per User Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 3.7 (620) Ease Of Use 3.9 (10,766) Value For Money 4.3 (448) Value For Money 3.9 (8,565) Customer Service 3.8 (418) Customer Service 4.1 (7,716) ## Joomla alternatives [Wix](https://www.capterra.com/p/169007/Wix/) [4.4 (10,819)](https://www.capterra.com/p/169007/Wix/reviews/) Starting price $17.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 88% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/169007/Wix/) [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) [4.6 (15,002)](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/reviews/) Starting price $9.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Highest Rated [ClickSites](https://www.capterra.com/p/10024383/ClickSites/) [4.9 (441)](https://www.capterra.com/p/10024383/ClickSites/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 99% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/10024383/ClickSites/) [Divi](https://www.capterra.com/p/201958/Divi/) [4.8 (1,159)](https://www.capterra.com/p/201958/Divi/reviews/) Starting price $89.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/201958/Divi/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/161648/Joomla/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Joomla Overview ### What problems does Joomla solve? Joomla solves the challenge of building, organizing, and updating content-heavy websites without creating every feature from scratch. Templates, modules, extensions, multilingual tools, and role-based publishing help web teams manage portals, business sites, intranets, news pages, and online stores. Developers, content editors, agencies, schools, nonprofits, and public-sector teams benefit most. Answer based on 435 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Joomla? Joomla is most used by business owners, executives, and directors who manage company websites and digital publishing. Web developers, software engineers, designers, and freelancers build and maintain customized sites, templates, and extensions. Project managers and IT teams coordinate content updates, technical administration, and multi-user website delivery. Answer based on 604 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Joomla built for? Joomla is a content management system for content creators, primarily serving small businesses, which account for 76% of reviewers, led by Information Technology and Services at 16%. It also supports midsize businesses (13%) and enterprises (11%), with common adoption in Computer Software (13%) and Marketing and Advertising (8%). Answer based on 621 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Joomla? Joomla includes website management and content management for creating, organizing, and publishing site content. Its core WYSIWYG editor supports text editing and real-time updates, while pre-built and customizable templates control site design. Granular access controls and permissions manage user access, and version control supports restoring or deploying content versions. Answer based on 54 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Joomla integrate with? Joomla integrates with Google Maps for location and contact-page mapping, a capability frequently cited by reviewers. Its official integration catalog also includes Ecwid for ecommerce, Google Analytics 360 for analytics, Moolah for payments, and Spreadshop for merchandise storefronts, covering mapping, commerce, reporting, payments, and online sales. Answer based on 154 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Joomla? Joomla is moderately difficult to onboard, with video training available for teams learning its CMS structure and workflows. Reviewers say experienced developers and users familiar with website administration adapt after initial setup, while beginners, nontechnical content editors, and teams moving from simpler CMS platforms often need more time, documentation, and occasional coding support. Answer based on 113 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Joomla offer, and how do users rate the experience? Joomla offers email/help desk support, FAQ/forum resources, and a knowledge base. Users often find the active community, documentation, and forums helpful for resolving common issues, with some reporting quick answers. However, others describe limited direct support, slower help for complex problems, and a steep learning curve for beginners. Answer based on 116 reviews Security ### How does Joomla handle data security and access control? Joomla uses two-factor authentication, built-in tools to restrict and grant user and administrator access, and access control lists that limit content changes to authorized users. Regular security patches and updates help address vulnerabilities. Reviewers caution that outdated installations and poorly maintained or unreliable extensions can expose sites to hacking, code injection, or compatibility issues. Answer based on 80 reviews Templates ### How easy is it to customize website templates? Joomla provides a broad choice of templates for launching and customizing business websites, stores, and content sites. Small business owners and web developers value ready-made layouts, module positions, and third-party options. However, deeper template changes can require CSS or HTML knowledge, and template quality, support, and costs vary by provider. Answer based on 133 reviews ## Who uses Joomla? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 5 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## Pros and Cons Versatile website creation tool 91% positive reviews out of 186 Most users report website creation is flexible, supporting both simple and complex sites with professional results. Solai W. Content Writer and Web Designer, 2 - 10 employees. "The platform provides everything you need to create a professional website with minimal effort." Challenging update process 65% negative reviews out of 52 Most reviewers indicate updates are difficult, unintuitive, and can cause issues or require manual intervention. Comprehensive feature set 91% positive reviews out of 44 Most reviewers describe features as abundant, versatile, and essential for managing diverse website requirements. Anonymous User Chief Architect, 201 - 500 employees. "It's freely available, with many features available for you to setup and create your own Content Management System." Lagging behind competitors 65% negative reviews out of 31 Most reviewers find Joomla less popular, with fewer plugins, a smaller community, and more complexity than alternatives. Flexible open source platform 100% positive reviews out of 39 Reviewers appreciate open source, free access, community support, and the ability to customize extensively. Version compatibility difficulties 71% negative reviews out of 31 Most reviewers describe frequent compatibility issues, problematic upgrades, and outdated elements causing maintenance headaches. ## Features AI summary Based on 11,757 Web Content Management reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of website builder software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Design Management** (**49%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Website Management** (**56%**) - **Real Time Editing** (**46%**) Joomla supports all three features that reviewers rate most highly: **Design Management**, **Website Management**, and **Real Time Editing**. Together, these capabilities help businesses maintain site structure, update content as needed, and make changes instantly, allowing teams to manage websites more efficiently and keep digital experiences current. Design Management 3.4 (7) 100.00% of 7 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Collaborate on creating a product by sharing and adjusting designs through a shared portal Real Time Editing 4.3 (81) 53.09% of 81 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Preview and make real-time changes in the web content Customizable Branding 3.7 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding Customizable Templates 4.0 (70) 50.00% of 70 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Access Controls/Permissions 4.2 (111) 59.46% of 111 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems Website Management 4.4 (110) 60.00% of 110 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Built-in website builder or integration with third-party site Joomla 42 features ### All Features - Access Controls/Permissions: Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Asset Library: Storage, organization, sharing with tagging/metadata - Asset Sharing: Share access to files and assets with individuals - Campaign Management: Create a collection of marketing actions to complete specific goals and plan and analyze campaign results - Collaboration Tools: Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together - Commenting/Notes: Leave comments and notes on documents for others to view - Content Management: Handles digital content throughout its lifecycle, from creation and storage to distribution and archiving - Content Publishing Options: Facilitates online authoring and publishing of the content - Customizable Branding: Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding - Customizable Fields: Customize data fields to support various needs and use cases - Customizable Forms: Customize contracts and forms to collect specific information - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Data Import/Export: Import and export data to and from software applications - Design Management: Collaborate on creating a product by sharing and adjusting designs through a shared portal - Document Classification: Assign categories, labels, tags, or attributes to documents for organization, search and storage - Document Management: Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location - Drag & Drop: Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components - eCommerce Management: Has a built-in eCommerce system or integrates with third-party systems to manage online sale of products - File Management: Create, save, and store files - Full Text Search: Search for specific words or phrases within a document or database - Landing Pages/Web Forms: Create landing pages or online forms designed to capture new leads and prospects - Metadata Management: Collect and maintain structured information that describes data or content - Multi-Language: Manage and support multiple languages - Online Store Builder: Includes functionalities for creating custom eCommerce websites - Pre-built Templates: Pre-defined templates within a library for common cases such as contracts, websites, emails, and more - Real Time Editing: Preview and make real-time changes in the web content - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Search/Filter: Search and filter data across systems to locate required information by entering keywords or certain criteria - Shopping Cart: Checkout of online store - Social Media Integration: Integrate with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. - Text Editing: Edit text as needed - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - User Management: Manage user accounts, profiles, roles, permissions, and other details across applications, devices or networks - Version Control: Track revisions and updates made to files and navigate between different versions - Video Support: Supports various video file formats - Website Analytics: Track and analyze information regarding website visitors - Website Management: Built-in website builder or integration with third-party site - WYSIWYG Editor: What You See Is What You Get is a no-code tool that allows users to create and edit content using a visual interface --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.1 (615) 4.1 Based on 615 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.3 (448) Free Version Basic $199.00 Per User, Value for money 4.3 (448) 4.3 Based on 448 reviews ## Integrations [ Google Analytics 360](https://www.capterra.com/p/177042/Google-Analytics/)[ Google Maps](https://www.capterra.com/p/227511/Google-Maps/)[ Ecwid](https://www.capterra.com/p/143648/Ecwid/)[ Moolah](https://www.capterra.com/p/151267/Moolah/)[ Spreadshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/227570/Spreadshop/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 3.8 (418) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 3.8 (418) 3.8 Based on 418 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.1 Based on 619 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(264) 4(221) 3(103) 2(24) 1(7) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful TC Technology Consultant Technology Consultant Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "We got the client portal up and running in just two days, and we didn't even need to hire an extra developer to do it." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 October 26, 2026 I don't usually write reviews, but this platform keeps pulling us out of tight spots. When a client needs something functional fast and our team is already stretched thin, Joomla delivers without requiring a specialist on staff. It's kept Alright Tech competitive on projects we'd otherwise have to pass on or overspend. Pros Last Tuesday I spun up a member portal for a client who needed role-based access yesterday. The extension ecosystem saved me from having to write all the auth logic from scratch, which was a huge help. I used template overrides to match their branding without fighting the core files. For a small shop like ours, not reinventing the wheel is really the only way to get projects done on schedule. Cons The admin panel feels like it hasn't been redesigned since 2012. Finding the right setting sometimes means clicking through three nested menus. Minor annoyance when you're moving fast, nothing that stops you from getting work done. BR Brad R. IT Director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Joomla 6 so much better than prior version" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 May 6, 2026 Pros We use Joomla across both internal and external sites, and it’s been a very solid platform for that. What stands out most is the flexibility—you can build pretty much anything you need without fighting the system. The extension ecosystem is a big plus. There’s usually a third-party solution available for what we need, and it’s easy to plug in functionality without reinventing the wheel. That’s saved us a lot of development time over the years. It’s also modular in a way that works well for an IT team. You can structure things cleanly, scale sites as needed, and maintain consistency across multiple environments without a lot of overhead. Cons The biggest drawback is that it can be a bit heavier to manage compared to simpler CMS platforms. There’s a learning curve, especially for non-technical users, and even basic changes can require some familiarity with how Joomla structures things. Extension quality can also vary. While the ecosystem is a strength, not all third-party plugins are maintained equally, so you have to be selective and stay on top of updates to avoid issues. Upgrades between major versions have improved, but they can still require planning and testing, especially if you rely on multiple extensions. It’s not a “set it and forget it” platform—you need to actively manage it to keep everything running smoothly. CT CTO CTO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Fastracking the Web Development process" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 December 4, 2025 I ran a web hosting company for over 10 years and have created hundreds of websites using Joomla's framework. Pros Joomla allows the web development process to be jumpstarted by using recycleable framework that can be customized to suit your needs. Cons Having to debug module, plugins, and add-ons for issues after updating Joomla to a new version. Checking over all the web applications resources for vulnerabilities. CO Co-gérant Co-gérant Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Joomla, un produit français" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 November 27, 2025 Pros J’apprécie que ce soit un produit français. Ainsi que la facilité de mise à jour du produit et le nombre de plugins. Cons Comparé à WordPress, Joomla peut être plus complexe à prendre en main, surtout pour les débutants. L’interface backend est parfois jugée moins ergonomique, avec des menus et options qui peuvent prêter à confusion. DE Developer Developer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Old but strong. A basic of development." 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 April 15, 2025 It was a great starting place from which to evolve to better options. Pros Joomla is basically the original block building cms Cons It is outdated and not very supported in general. Pedro L. CEO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Seems to have stoped in time" 4.0 February 26, 2024 Pros Up to 12 years ago I used Joomla a lot for many websites and back then it was very intuitive, easy to use and fairly complete, compared to what competitors offered Cons Nowadays this seems to have droped a lot in quality, functionality, simplicity, easy of use, etc. Other platforms have grown a lot better like WordPress, Prestashop among others, and Joomla simply seem to have lots the magic that once had QM QA Manager QA Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Joomla a tool for intermediate website management" 4.0 December 20, 2021 Joomla has helped us to rapidly create plain websites, informative websites in a real quick way. Joomla allows us to have blogs that are shareable and easy to use across collaborators This option offers flexibility and is user-friendly for those that are not experts in coding. Pros Joomla is a cool tool for beginners but also for intermediate users. What I liked more was. - The correct division of the elements available for manipulation (components, modules, templates) - The UI is good and allows you a friendly usability Cons Joomla could consider being more flexible when an upgrade is required. I understand there are some dependencies on the versions of external software like PHP or MySQL, but the support sometimes is not clear and has generated some users to leave Joomla and look for other opportunities. George Rex A. Co-founder & CAO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "A Tough CMS that Could Be Better" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 4/10 March 9, 2021 Joomla is yet another CMS for me though, even if it was more or less an exploration to find a better application within its category. Overall, it's a tough one and I will need a passionate mindset to dive deeper into this software. Pros Joomla is becoming very useful for e-commerce solutions, considering the powerful extensions that are being built for it these days. And of course, as it is an open-source application it makes it easy to customize and extend to one's need. Not to forget it's also free too. Cons Joomla didn't have much usability support compared to major players like WordPress and Drupal. Considering the fact that there were fewer extensions available to improve functionalities and most available ones were paid. So it wasn't a friendly application to explore then. Emeka O. Digital Marketing Trainer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "A Content Management System for building websites" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 January 13, 2020 I used Joomla to build my website. It was relatively easy to get started with. Joomla works with extensions and templates which allows them to be easily customisable. Joomla saved me the cost of having to outsource my website design to a website developer. Pros Joomla is a Content Management System (CMS) that can be used to build websites. The things I like about Joomla are: 1. Ability to build a website with no technical knowledge required: The first time I worked on Joomla, I didn't know how to write the programming languages on which Joomla was built, but I was still able to build a website with it using available Joomla templates and extensions. 2. Easy learning curve: I learnt everything I needed to get started with Joomla, and also built my first Joomla website in one day. There are available YouTube tutorials, and plog posts on the internet that can help one to get going with Joomla. 3. Free domain name and hosting: Joomla provides users the option of using Joomla customised domain names for their websites, and also provides them with free hosting. I leveraged Joomla's free domain name and free hosting to build my first Joomla website. 4. Easy to customise: Joomla is very easy to customise. Joomla works with templates and extensions. The templates helps someone to decide how his/her Joomla website will look like, while the extension helps someone to add some functionalities to his/her website. 5. Security: Joomla constantly updates their CMS to provide security patches, and also to keep it from the attack of viruses. This increases the level of confidence with Joomla. Cons Joomla is an awesome CMS, but that is not without its cons. The cons of Joomla are: 1. Despite the fact that Joomla is easy to learn, it's learning curve is more complex than that of other CMSs like WordPress, Wix, and Weebly. 2. Poor layout: For me, the outlook of a website designed with Joomla seems to be less elegant than that designed with other CMSs like WordPress and Wix. These are the two cons I can point out with Joomla. Ali K. Information Technology Adviser Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Flexible and SEO friendly Content Management System" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 February 16, 2021 I have been working with Joomla CMS for many years and it is one of the strongest and oldest free and open source CMS in the world and it is one of the best in terms of security, technology and simplicity and I’ve use Joomla for some website cases that have special features. Pros It's open source and free! It supported by volunteer community for many years and it's free forever. Cons Joomla template design could be more beautiful and with more features. In appearance, it has fewer molds than other competitors and should invest more in the appearance and design of the UI. 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