If you’re building a website, you’ll probably use a CMS (content management system). WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are the three biggest open-source options. All three run well on a Linux VPS, but they’re built for different use cases and skill levels.
WordPress
WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world. It’s easy to learn, has thousands of themes and plugins, and you can build almost anything with it: blogs, business sites, portfolios, and even e-commerce stores (with WooCommerce). If you’re new to building websites, WordPress is the best starting point.
The trade-off is that WordPress is the biggest target for attackers. Keep WordPress, your theme, and all plugins updated. On a VPS, you have full control over security: you can configure your firewall, install fail2ban, and run your own SSL certificates.
Joomla
Joomla is more complex than WordPress but more flexible for business and e-commerce sites. It has a steeper learning curve, but if you’re building something more structured than a blog (a membership site, a product catalog, a business portal), Joomla handles it well.
Like WordPress, Joomla needs regular updates. It has a smaller plugin ecosystem, so you may need a developer for custom functionality.
Drupal
Drupal is the most powerful and most complex of the three. It’s built for developers and organizations that need highly customized sites with complex content structures, workflows, and permissions. Government agencies, universities, and large enterprises often use Drupal.
If you’re not comfortable with server configuration and web development, Drupal has a steep learning curve. But for experienced developers, it offers the most control.
Hosting any CMS on a VPS
All three CMS platforms run on a Linux VPS with Apache or Nginx, PHP, and MySQL or MariaDB. A VPS gives you full root access, so you can tune PHP settings, configure caching (like Varnish or Redis), and install whatever your CMS needs.
For a small to medium site, a VPS with 2-4 GB RAM is usually enough. For high-traffic sites, consider separating the database onto its own virtual server for better performance. For very high traffic, a dedicated server provides maximum resources.
We offer automated cPanel installation on Linux VPS, which makes managing WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal even easier. Deploy a VPS or contact us for help choosing the right setup.