WordPress vs Umbraco – how to decide which is best for your business
We were recently contacted by a company that had been recommended Umbraco by another supplier. It's a recommendation we certainly understand – Umbraco is a powerful system, and we also develop solutions in this CMS ourselves. However, after identifying the company's specific needs, we recommended WordPress. Not because it's "better" in a general sense, but because – in this particular case – it was the right match for the company.
At itpilot we develop solutions in both WordPress and Umbraco. We do not prioritize one CMS over another, which is why we can provide impartial advice based on what creates the most value for you and best matches your needs.
If you are not familiar with the two CMSs, here is an overview of the similarities and differences. This will help you make a better informed decision if you are considering getting a website in one of these CMSs.
What do you really need?
Before choosing a CMS, you should clarify your needs and resources. It's tempting to think, "We just need a website," but the reality is often more complex.
Do you want to be able to update the site yourself on an ongoing basis, or do you work with a permanent agency that will handle updates? Should your site eventually be scalable to multiple languages, markets, or do you need integrations with CRM and ERP? Do you have technical knowledge in-house, or should the system be as user-friendly as possible?
It's not necessarily the most advanced system that's the right choice. It's the system that best fits your daily routine, your strategy, and your future plans.
Briefly about the two CMS
WordPress is the world's most widely used CMS – and for good reason. It's easy to use, quick to set up, and supported by a huge ecosystem of plugins, themes, and developers. It's especially well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses that want flexibility but don't necessarily have their own developers.
Umbraco is an open source CMS based on .NET technology. It is a strong choice for larger and more complex solutions where deep integrations, scalability and full flexibility are needed. It typically requires a stronger technical effort, but in return gives full control over everything from data structure to frontend.
Comparison: WordPress vs Umbraco
Here you will get an overview of the most important differences and similarities between WordPress and Umbraco - so you can assess which platform best matches your reality.
Please note: The functionality of both WordPress and Umbraco is constantly evolving. The assessments we share here are based on market practices and features as they appear in, among others, WordPress 6.x and Umbraco 10–13 LTS.
Usability: Who will use the system?
It is important that you consider who will work with the website on a daily basis. Will you be able to edit content yourself without relying on developers, or will you have technical skills in-house?
If you, as a business, want to be able to manage your website yourself, without having to involve developers for every small change, then WordPress will likely feel more intuitive. The visual editor makes it easy to create and change content, and there are countless guides if you need help.
Umbraco, on the other hand, requires a bit more training. Once the system is set up correctly, it is also easy to work with, but the underlying structure with content and separation between layout and content can quickly seem technical if you don't work with code on a daily basis.
However, it is worth mentioning that since version 10, Umbraco has significantly improved the editor experience, including a new Block Grid Editor and better preview tools. In the latest LTS versions (such as Umbraco 13), several features have also been added that make it easier for non-technical users to navigate the system.
Flexibility: How much customization is needed?
When choosing a CMS, it's not just about what the system can do as standard, but also about how easy it is to customize to your specific needs. Whether you need special features or integrations, the flexibility of the system is crucial to how much you can tailor your solution.
WordPress gives you access to thousands of plugins that can quickly expand the functionality of your website; everything from contact forms and booking to SEO and e-commerce. You get a lot for free, and that's an advantage if you want to get started quickly. But it also means that your solution will be composed to a greater extent of third-party modules that need to be maintained and monitored.
Umbraco doesn't have the same plugin market, but instead gives developers complete freedom to build exactly the functionality they need. This is ideal if your needs don't fit into a standard solution, or if you want full control over the system's architecture and performance.
Scalability: Will you grow with the platform?
If you already know that your website will eventually need to be expanded to include more languages, more markets, or have implemented integrations or other data types, you should think about scalability right from the start. This is where Umbraco has a clear strength. The system is built to grow with you without compromising performance or structure.
WordPress can also be scaled easily, but it requires more planning and technical optimization along the way. WordPress websites can be scaled easily – in fact, many large solutions are built in WordPress, but it typically takes a little more effort to get it to work at the enterprise level.
Security: How critical is your data?
Website security is also an important factor to consider. Whether you collect contact information, run e-commerce, or simply provide information about your services, your website is a digital business card that can be accessed by both customers and hackers.
A poorly secured site can lead to everything from data leaks, crashes, and search engine blacklisting to loss of reputation and customer trust. That's why it's important to choose a CMS platform that not only performs well, but also protects you from known threats.
WordPress is inherently secure, but because it is the world's most widely used CMS, it is also the most vulnerable to attacks. The vast majority of security vulnerabilities arise through third-party plugins or missing updates. However, with the right security plugins and routines, you can easily achieve a high level of security for WordPress.
Umbraco as a system has a smaller attack surface. This is partly because it is built from the ground up without dependency on external modules, and partly because it is based on Microsoft's .NET technology, which generally places high demands on security. Umbraco also allows for integration with enterprise solutions such as Active Directory and SSO, making it particularly attractive to organizations with strict access control and compliance requirements.
Design: Should the website be unique?
When you want to create a website that truly reflects your brand and visual identity, it's important to choose a platform that gives you freedom in design. Both WordPress and Umbraco allow you to build a solution from scratch, but the path to getting there is different, and this can have a big impact on both process, budget and flexibility..
With WordPress, it's easy to get started with a ready-made theme and customize it to your needs. This is effective if you want to get started quickly, but it can lead to technical debt if not handled properly. You also have the option to design your own theme and layout from scratch.
In Umbraco, you typically start with a completely blank canvas. This gives your designers and developers full freedom to create a solution that is 100% tailored to your identity and use cases, but it requires more time and resources.
SEO: How do you work with visibility?
Search engine visibility is an important factor for many businesses – and for good reason. Whether your website is to attract new customers, support sales or spread knowledge, SEO plays a central role.
WordPress is known for its SEO plugins like Yoast and RankMath, which make it easy for you to manage metadata, sitemaps, canonical tags, and more. It's user-friendly, and many marketing teams work completely independently with SEO in WordPress.
In Umbraco, SEO typically needs to be planned and built into the solution from the start. This provides great flexibility and makes it possible to adapt the SEO structure to even complex needs – for example, if you work with many languages, special page types or structured data.
However, with newer versions of Umbraco (from version 10 onwards, including 13 LTS), there has been a noticeable improvement in the editor experience and the SEO tools available out of the box. At the same time, there are now also editor-friendly packages such as SEOChecker or tools like ByteEditor that make it easier for non-technical users to work with SEO directly in the back office.
Economics: What does it cost in the long run?
Price is an important factor for many when choosing a platform. But it's not just the startup costs that need to be considered. It's also about what it costs to operate, maintain and further develop your solution over time.
WordPress is generally cheaper to get started with. Many themes and plugins are free or inexpensive, so you can get a lot of functionality for your money. However, you should be aware that plugins and third-party solutions often require ongoing updates and support, which can mean higher operating costs in the long run – especially if the system grows in complexity.
Conversely, Umbraco typically requires a larger initial investment because the solution is often built more from scratch and customized to your needs. However, it can give you a more stable and long-term platform that is often easier to maintain and develop in the long term.
So what should you choose?
The choice between WordPress and Umbraco isn't just about technology. It's just as much about your business, your workflows, and your goals.
If you want a flexible, user-friendly solution where you can get started quickly and handle most things yourself, then WordPress is a strong choice.
If, on the other hand, you have complex needs, integrations, high security requirements, and want a solution that can grow with your business, then Umbraco may be the best choice.
We help you make the right choice
At itpilot we develop solutions in both WordPress and Umbraco. We don't start with a template, but with your needs. It is important to us that you get the right solution for your company. That is why we also listen to your wishes and requirements, and help you find the solution that best matches your needs.
Are you unsure about what best suits your situation? We are ready to help. Contact us by phone at +45 87 25 07 87 or fill out the contact form – we will contact you as soon as possible.
