--- 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" --- # Joomla Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 16, 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 621 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) Rating Breakdown 4.2 +− Features4.1 Value for Money4.3 Ease of Use3.7 Customer Service3.8 Rating Breakdown 4.2 Features4.1 Value for Money4.3 Ease of Use3.7 Customer Service3.8 ## Joomla Reviewers Verdict Updated September 2026 AI summary - Joomla is a practical choice for teams or organizations managing content-driven websites, blogs, or small business sites that need flexibility. - Its main advantage is strong content management tools and a supportive community that makes solving issues and expanding functionality more accessible. - Joomla helps teams efficiently create, update, and customize websites without deep coding expertise, saving time on day-to-day site management. - Some key downsides are a steeper learning curve for beginners, occasional integration challenges, and template customization that may require technical effort. - It fits best for those needing adaptable, community-supported sites, but may not suit buyers seeking the simplest setup or extensive out-of-the-box integrations. ## 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 (621) VS. [4.4 (154)](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 (619) Ease Of Use 3.9 (10,734) Value For Money 4.3 (447) Value For Money 3.9 (8,535) Customer Service 3.8 (417) Customer Service 4.1 (7,689) ## Joomla alternatives [4.6 (310)](https://www.capterra.com/p/176854/Flipsnack/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Wix](https://www.capterra.com/p/169007/Wix/) [4.4 (10,787)](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 (14,998)](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 (437)](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/) [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 and managing professional, scalable websites without heavy custom coding or outsourcing. It centralizes content editing, template-based design, multilingual publishing, access control, and extension-driven features for stores, portals, and community sites. Small business owners, web developers, IT teams, and content editors benefit most. Answer based on 393 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Joomla? Joomla is most used by business owners, CEOs, and directors who need a flexible platform to manage company websites and digital presence. Developers, web designers, and technical teams use it to build, customize, and maintain sites, while project managers and consultants support content updates, client implementations, and ongoing web operations. Answer based on 604 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Joomla built for? Joomla is a content management system built mainly for small businesses, which make up 76% of reviewers, with the strongest presence in Information Technology and Services at 16%. It also serves midsize businesses at 13% and enterprises at 11%, with common adoption in Computer Software at 13% and Marketing and Advertising at 8%. Answer based on 621 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Joomla? Joomla includes core content management tools like a WYSIWYG editor, article publishing, and website management, plus differentiators such as access controls and multilingual support. Reviewers also highlight customizable templates, extension-based integrations, and eCommerce options for building blogs, business sites, portals, and online stores. Answer based on 235 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Joomla integrate with? Joomla integrates with Google Maps and Google Analytics 360, with reviewer mentions also pointing to Fabrik and Pagekit. Official catalog data adds Ecwid, Moolah, and Spreadshop. These integrations span mapping, analytics, web application building, and ecommerce, covering the main third-party connections referenced for Joomla. Answer based on 156 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Joomla? Joomla offers video training, and reviewers also mention extensive community tutorials, forums, and documentation. Content editors and users with some CMS experience often get started quickly, while admins, developers, and nontechnical beginners usually need more time to learn the backend, extensions, and customization, especially for larger or more complex sites. 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, a FAQ/forum, and a knowledge base. Users often rely on the forum and documentation, describing the community as active and helpful for troubleshooting. Support quality feels uneven, though: some mention responsive help, while others report limited direct assistance and slower guidance on complex or beginner issues. Answer based on 116 reviews Security ### How does Joomla handle data security and access control? Joomla uses built-in access controls to restrict or grant permissions for users and administrators, plus ACL management and two-factor authentication. Reviewers also highlight regular security patches, auto updates, vetted extensions, and a robust core. Some note security depends on staying updated, and outdated or poorly built extensions can introduce vulnerabilities. Answer based on 80 reviews Templates ### How good are Joomla templates for building a website? Joomla offers flexible templates that help businesses, developers, and beginners launch websites quickly and customize design without starting from scratch. Many users like the range of free and paid options, modular layouts, and extension support, though some template edits still require code changes and careful vendor selection. Answer based on 133 reviews ## Who uses Joomla? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 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 (614) 4.1 Based on 614 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.3 (447) Free Version Basic $199.00 Per User, Value for money 4.3 (447) 4.3 Based on 447 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 (417) 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 (417) 3.8 Based on 417 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.2 Based on 621 reviews Filter by rating 5(267) 4(220) 3(103) 2(24) 1(7) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent BR Bradley R. IT Director Information Technology and Services ### "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 4, 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. Alternatives considered [Laravel ecommerce](https://www.capterra.com/p/146357/Laravel-ecommerce/) Reasons for choosing Joomla Great CMS and tons of external modules and support for those modules. Widely developed. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Pierre K. CTO Information Technology and Services ### "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 August 20, 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. Alternatives considered [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Reasons for choosing Joomla Joomla allows more room to configure your web applications to your liking. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. FB Florian B. Co-gérant Computer Software ### "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 June 28, 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. Switched from [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) La simplicité de administration et l'ergonomie. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JS Joseph S. Developer Information Technology and Services ### "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 11, 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. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Sofia B. Senior Tester Engineer Computer & Network Security ### "SEO-friendly CMS" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 February 6, 2025 Pros Simple CMS yet flexible and with many community plugins. Very useful for simple websites or blogs. Its rich text editor has many accessibility features that help authors to create SEO-friendly articles. Cons Integration can sometimes be difficult, specially if you try to use old or unsupported plugins, then you'd need PHP expertise on board. In general, having coding experience helps. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. KP Kathryn P. Owner Consumer Goods ### "Joomla has a great wide range of capabilities and features" 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 10/10 January 27, 2025 Once you become more familiar with the user interface it became easier to create the functions needed for my website. Pros Joomla is robust in it’s flexibility for a wide range of uses for developing even complex websites. If you are looking for a wide range of capabilities this is great software choice. Cons Using Joomla requires having a stronger background in knowing how to modify the site’s structure and development so there is a little more of a learning curve. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JD Justin D. Webmaster Building Materials ### "Good but difficult to fully utilize" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 December 6, 2024 We had a good experience with Joomla, but only due to our staff having prior knowledge of Joomla as a base. Pros Modern and capable software with lots of flexibility for small business owners and larger businesses alike. Cons Requires moderate technical knowledge to get started and maintain. Alternatives considered [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Reasons for choosing Joomla We tried Wordpress but went with Joomla for about five years. Now that we are on Wordpress, we couldn’t be happier. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. CS Curt S. Owner Marketing and Advertising ### "Joomla Review" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 December 5, 2024 My overall experience with Joomla has been very positive. Pros The layout and workflow is easy to use. Notifications for updates are excellent. Cons The additional vendors are not always up to date. Switched from [Drupal](https://www.capterra.com/p/119594/Drupal/) Joomla is better supported with more vendors. Alternatives considered [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Reasons for choosing Joomla More favorable recommendations and quick try of the software was not favorable. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TH Thom H. Retired Guy building website for fun Computer Software ### "Getting long in the tooth" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 4/10 November 27, 2024 I've used Joomla for several projects over multiple years. At this point, I use it out of familiarity rather than preference. It's too complex to be suited to building a small business website. Perhaps it's a best fit for a publication of some sort. Today, there are so many quicker and simpler ways to build most website needs, I feel like it might be a bit of a dinosaur. Pros PHP based. Large community of users. Reputation for security. Cons Wild west of plug-in vendors. Lack of built-in page creation model. Painful transition from 3.x Switched from [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Site owners had fear about using wordpress. (irrational fear, imho.) Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RF Robert F. Website Adminiatrator Non-Profit Organization Management ### "Learning Curve" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 30, 2024 I personally enjoyed it but found other open-source software easier to update, although with less bells and whistles. Pros Everything one would need in a neatly organized package. No need for any additional "plug-ins" needed from other 3rd party Cons It is a steep learning curve. We used it for 5 years, but being open source, updates required a complete re-write of the website. Alternatives considered [WordPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/131687/WordPress/) Reasons for choosing Joomla WordPress was not as prevalent as it is today, we eventually went to WordPress a few years ago. Joomla was just too heavy. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/161648/Joomla/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. 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