Joomla
Joomla · New York, New York, United States · founded 2005
What it is
Joomla! is a free, open-source content management system for publishing and managing websites. It is built on an MVC web application framework that can also be used independently. Multiple users can create, edit, archive, publish, and distribute content with different permission levels, while an Access Control List manages users, groups, and permissions. The CMS includes editorial workflows, custom content types, multilingual content, a media library, and SEO tools. Publishing features include article management, scheduled publishing, content versioning, metadata, keywords, and search-engine-friendly URLs. Joomla! is used for corporate and small business sites, intranets, publications, e-commerce, government and community websites, and personal homepages. Its Extensions Directory offers thousands of extensions, most available free under the GPL, and the download site has more than 70 accredited language packages. Joomla! lists built-in two-factor authentication and offers a community forum, online documentation, an issue tracker, and contextual in-app help. A free website is also available through launch.joomla.org without requiring users to install the CMS.
For and against
For
- Supports editorial workflows and custom content types.
- Access Control List manages users, groups, and permissions.
- Includes scheduled publishing and content versioning.
- More than 70 accredited language packages are offered.
- Free hosted website option requires no CMS installation.
Against
- A downloaded CMS requires users to install it themselves.
- No free trial is listed.
The verdict
Joomla! combines site publishing, user permissions, multilingual content, and extensibility in a free CMS. Users can choose a hosted website option or download the software for their own installation.
Who it suits
Joomla! suits organizations and individuals publishing websites with multiple contributors, permissions, or multilingual content. The launch.joomla.org option is relevant to people who want a free website without installing the CMS themselves.
Plans and prices
Joomla! CMS
100% free CMS download · GPL-licensed software
Read 5 Oct 2026 · downloads.joomla.org
On the record
- Access control
- Joomla! includes an Access Control List for managing site users, groups, and their permissions.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Accessibility
- The Joomla 6 feature page says its default templates align with WCAG 2.2 AA and include skip links and accessibility tools.6.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Content management
- The CMS supports multiple users with different permission levels to manage, create, edit, archive, publish, and distribute website content.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Custom user roles
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Editorial workflows
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Extensibility
- The Joomla Extensions Directory offers thousands of extensions, most available free under the GPL license.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Hosting option
- Joomla! offers a fully functional free website through launch.joomla.org without requiring users to install the CMS themselves.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The download site offers more than 70 accredited Joomla! language packages.downloads.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Platform type
- hybridjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Requirements
- The downloads site provides a technical requirements page for running a Joomla! website.downloads.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- Joomla! lists built-in two-factor authentication and says its volunteer Security Strike Team handles security issues; the security feed directs users to upgrade to 5.4.9 or 6.1.4 for listed vulnerabilities.developer.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- SEO and publishing
- Core features include metadata and keywords, SEF URLs, scheduled publishing, article management, and content versioning.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yesjoomla.org · read 22 Sep 2026
- Support
- Joomla! provides an official community forum, online documentation, an issue tracker, and an in-app contextual help system.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- Joomla! is used for corporate sites, intranets, small business sites, publications, e-commerce, government and community websites, and personal homepages.joomla.org · read 5 Oct 2026
