5 Key Factors in Choosing Between Drupal and SharePoint for Your Government Website

In our study on how population affects CMS choices, we found that both Drupal and SharePoint gain more ground the bigger the city or county. This is understandable as both platforms are considered enterprise-level, which we've found to be more attractive (or at least, more used) to large government entities.

We find it important to see how open-source vs proprietary platforms stack up against each other. Seeing that Drupal and SharePoint both have users in government gave us the perfect opportunity to create this comparison.

Related comparisons:

• Adobe Experience Manager vs Drupal for Government →
• Drupal vs Revize for Government: A Comprehensive Guide →

This time, we've identified 5 key factors to consider for your government website's success, from customization flexibility to long-term cost-effectiveness.

Whether you're already considering a CMS migration or still evaluating your current CMS, understanding these crucial elements will empower you to make an informed decision that aligns with your agency's goals and citizen needs.

Factor 1: You want to scale your website on a reasonable budget

Your government website is serving the needs of a booming population and it's getting cost-restrictive to build new sections in your website. Although you do have the budget for it, you know the costs associated with your website will exceed that at some point.

This is where Drupal shines. As an open-source platform, Drupal allows you to scale without the burden of increasing licensing fees. You can add new features, expand your content, and serve more users without watching your budget spiral out of control.

SharePoint, while robust, ties your growth to its licensing model—meaning your costs could climb as your needs expand.

Factor 2: Your IT team craves the freedom to innovate

Let's face it—your IT folks are creative problem-solvers at heart. They don't want to be boxed in by a platform's limitations.

Drupal's open-source nature is like handing them a blank canvas with an endless supply of paints. Need a custom API for that unique government service? No problem. Want to integrate with that cutting-edge citizen engagement tool? Drupal's got your back.

SharePoint, while powerful within the Microsoft ecosystem, can feel like painting by numbers for teams that want to push the envelope.

Factor 3: You're aiming for Fort Knox-level security (without the Fort Knox price tag)

Government websites are prime targets for cyber mischief (that's why you need to vet your vendor). Both Drupal and SharePoint take security seriously, but their approaches differ.

Drupal leverages the power of its global community—thousands of eyes scrutinizing code and patching vulnerabilities at lightning speed. It's like having an army of security experts on your side, and it doesn't cost you extra.

SharePoint's security is robust, backed by Microsoft's resources. But remember, you're paying for that corporate muscle with your licensing fees.

Factor 4: Your content is as diverse as your constituents

From public meeting minutes to emergency alerts, your website juggles a wild variety of content types.

Drupal's flexible content management is like having a Swiss army knife for your digital content. Create custom content types, build complex taxonomies, and design intuitive workflows that match your government's content governance practice.

SharePoint excels at document management but may require more workarounds for diverse, public-facing content needs.

Factor 5: You want a platform that grows with tomorrow's tech

As cliche as it may sound, the digital landscape is evolving at lightning speed, and your website needs to keep pace.

Drupal's open-source community is like a technology think tank, constantly pushing the boundaries and integrating emerging tech. AI-powered chatbots? Augmented reality for urban planning? With Drupal, you're limited only by your imagination (and maybe your budget for an external vendor).

SharePoint innovations, while steady, are tied to Microsoft's roadmap—which may or may not align with your government's future vision.

The choice between Drupal and SharePoint isn't just about features

It's about finding the platform that aligns with your government's digital ambitions, budget realities, and citizen needs. While both have their strengths, Drupal's flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and innovation potential make it a compelling choice for forward-thinking government agencies.

Want a deeper dive into how Drupal and SharePoint stack up for government websites? Check out our comprehensive comparison. ??

Looking to see what's new and next for your CMS?

That's what Promet Source is all about. Our team has successfully migrated hundreds of State and local governments from proprietary systems to open-source platforms, and we'd love to support you on your website migration.

Consult with our experts for free →