Kerstin JA3 months ago
Klare Kommunikation, hohe Empathie und eine tolle Unterstützung bei Fragen und Unwissenheit. Ich kann seine Arbeit absolut empfehlen und bin sehr zufrieden mit dem Ergebnis meiner Webseite. Danke!
Switching from Drupal to WordPress: Comparison & Safe Migration
Drupal is powerful—but often too complex for day-to-day use. I'll migrate your website to WordPress so your team can maintain it without needing a developer.
The Trigger
Common Drupal Pain Points
Nothing works without developers
Even small changes in Drupal often have to go through an agency or developer—which takes time and money. With WordPress, your team can manage content and pages on its own.
Major Upgrades with Breaks
Upgrading to a new major version of Drupal is notorious: modules and themes have to be adapted or replaced, and the upgrade often feels like building a whole new site from scratch. WordPress, on the other hand, updates itself continuously.
Too much of a system for the task
Drupal was built for complex portals—for a corporate website, the backend is often simply overkill. Editors struggle with structures they’ll never need.
The Decision
Drupal vs. WordPress: A Comparison
Drupal and WordPress are both mature open-source systems—but they’re designed for different purposes. Drupal excels at handling complex portals with many roles and workflows. For a traditional corporate website, it’s usually overkill: What takes just one click in WordPress often requires a developer in Drupal.
| Drupal | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Complex backend, developer-heavy | Can be maintained independently after a brief training session |
| Updates | Major upgrades often require dedicated migration projects | Continuous updates, minimal effort |
| Service Provider Market | Specialists Are Scarce and Expensive | Large—no dependence on individuals |
| Extensions | Modules often require developer assistance | Huge plugin ecosystem plus custom development |
| Ongoing Costs | Plan for regular developer hours | Manageable maintenance |
To be fair: Large portals with finely granular permissions, complex workflows, and their own development teams are still well-served by Drupal. For everyone else, switching to WordPress is usually the more cost-effective solution—at the latest when the next major upgrade is due.
Scope of Services
What's Involved in Switching from Drupal to WordPress
Content Migration from Drupal
Content, taxonomies, media, and users are imported from Drupal in a structured manner—including a comparison with the original.
URL Structure & 301 Redirects
Every Drupal URL will be assigned a redirect destination in the new structure—this minimizes ranking risks and preserves your backlinks, as tracked via Search Console.
Redesign with Elementor
Your design will be faithfully recreated in WordPress—or the migration will serve as a relaunch with a modernized look.
Implementing Features in WordPress
Views, forms, multilingual support, and user roles are reimplemented using proven WordPress solutions—as streamlined as your website truly needs them to be.
Editor Training & Support
Your team will learn how to manage the new website during a brief training session—finally, without having to go through a developer. Afterward, I’ll be available for ongoing support or to answer any specific questions.
And many other features available upon request
Today, we can meet almost any website need based on your specific needs and requirements. Just ask us.
From Drupal to WordPress
How Drupal structures are mapped
Drupal’s data model can be cleanly replicated in WordPress—without content losing its structure.
Content TypesBecome Custom Post Types in WordPress.
FieldsCreated as structured fields using ACF.
TaxonomiesVocabularies and terms become WordPress taxonomies.
ViewsLists and overviews are rebuilt as dynamic views.
WebformForms are recreated, GDPR-compliant and with spam protection.
Roles and PermissionsTransferred to WordPress user roles.
I review individual custom modules during the initial assessment.
The Path
Here's How to Switch from Drupal to WordPress
- AssessmentWeek 1I’ll review your Drupal website—content types, modules, URL structure—and determine what can be carried over and what would be better addressed with a new solution.
- Proposal & QuoteWeek 1–2You will receive a binding quote that clearly outlines the scope of work, the timeline, and an estimated start and end date for each work package.
- Development & DesignWeek 2–6The new WordPress website is built in a protected environment—your design and templates are replicated individually in WordPress, while your Drupal site continues to run unchanged.
- Content & RedirectsWeek 5–7Your content is fully migrated and reviewed, and every old URL receives its 301 redirect.
- Launch & TrainingWeek 6–8Switchover on the date of your choice, training for your team, and follow-up review of the rankings.
From Drupal to WordPress
How Drupal structures are mapped
Drupal’s data model can be cleanly replicated in WordPress—without content losing its structure.
The Investment
How much does it cost to migrate from Drupal to WordPress?
Switching from Drupal to WordPress is not technically just a migration, but a complete rebuild: I’ll transfer all the content to WordPress—but the design and templates will need to be recreated from scratch, since Drupal themes cannot be transferred on a 1:1 basis. Pricing is therefore calculated on a case-by-case basis depending on the scope—with a binding range estimate for each work package rather than a flat fee with no clear parameters.
Because the design, structure, and content are already available as a template, you’ll save significantly compared to a completely new website—the time-consuming conceptual phase is largely eliminated, and the redesign is based on the existing model. The cost overview provides a guide to the price range (a new website starts at €2,490 net).
It’s often worth taking advantage of the transition to refresh the design or carry out a redesign: Since the site is being rebuilt anyway, modernizing it at the same time costs significantly less than a separate relaunch at a later date. You’ll receive the exact scope after the free assessment.
Web Design Examples: Here's What Your New Website Could Look Like
What My Clients Say
Let's talk about your switch to Drupal
As part of the free assessment, I’ll review your Drupal website and provide you with an honest evaluation of whether and how the switch would be worthwhile for you—with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Switching from Drupal to WordPress
Drupal or WordPress—which is the better choice today?
Drupal remains a strong choice for complex portals with many roles and workflows. For a traditional corporate website, WordPress is usually the better choice: it’s easier to maintain, more cost-effective to operate, and offers a much larger selection of plugins and service providers.
Can all content be imported from Drupal?
Yes—content, taxonomies, media, and users are migrated in a structured manner and verified against the original. Specific Drupal modules do not always have a direct 1:1 counterpart; in such cases, their functionality is reimplemented using proven WordPress solutions—often in a more streamlined way than before.
What will happen to our Google rankings?
Google generally re-evaluates a migrated website—fluctuations can never be completely ruled out. However, by setting up 301 redirects for every old Drupal URL, carrying over metadata, and monitoring the process through Google Search Console, I minimize the risk and make adjustments as needed after the site goes live.
How long does it take to migrate from Drupal to WordPress?
Depending on the scope, this typically takes 3 to 8 weeks. Your existing Drupal website will continue to run without interruption—the switch will not take place until the new WordPress site has been fully tested.
How much does it cost to switch from Drupal to WordPress?
Starting at €1,500 net for small websites with up to about ten pages, €2,500 to €5,000 for medium-sized websites with 10 to 30 pages and SEO migration; extensive installations with many content types, multilingual support, or special features cost more. A migration involves rebuilding the site in WordPress. Since the design, structure, and content already exist, you’ll save money compared to building a completely new website; it’s often worth taking advantage of the migration to give the site a design refresh. You’ll receive a detailed breakdown—a binding range estimate—after the free assessment.
When is it better to stick with Drupal?
If your website is a complex portal with finely granular permissions and workflows, and you have in-house development expertise or a reliable partner—then Drupal remains a solid foundation. The switch is particularly worthwhile for corporate websites where the complexity costs more than it’s worth.