Drupal vs. Adobe Experience Manager: Platforms Comparison

Drupal is an open-source system that allows for creating flexible web solutions – classic websites, sales platforms, or applications. Thanks to extensive configuration options, you can build almost any project with perfectly matched functions.

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a commercial content and digital experience management solution that offers tools for content personalization and data analysis. AEM is used by large corporations and enterprises that need advanced content management functions.

Drupal

Drupal is free of charge, however, the implementation costs may include:

1. System implementation and configuration – might result from hiring Drupal specialists to help install, configure, and customize the platform according to the project’s needs.
2. Design and development – depending on the project’s complexity, there can be additional costs associated with designing the user interface, creating custom features, and developing modules tailored to specific requirements.

Adobe Experience Manager

AEM is a commercial software offered by Adobe and requires licensing fees which may be significant, especially for small- and medium-sized businesses. Adobe offers various licensing plans, depending on the features and the platform’s scope. These plans include one-time fees or monthly/yearly subscriptions.

In addition to licensing fees, AEM cost includes implementation, configuration, and customization as in the Drupal case.

Drupal offers relatively good performance, especially for small- and medium-sized websites. Its architecture allows for fast request handling and page rendering. However, performance may vary depending on the server configuration and code complexity.

Drupal’s support for modules and extensions means it can be adapted to various uses and business scenarios. For larger projects, more advanced infrastructure management may be necessary to maintain performance.

AEM, built on the Java platform, provides high performance, especially for complex web applications. Its architecture is optimized to handle large amounts of data and concurrent queries. However, when it comes to the Drupal vs. AEM comparison, the latter may require more effort and resources.

Drupal relies mainly on the community, which develops and shares solutions or documentation. Users and developers share their knowledge and materials online. In addition, some companies and consultants offer Drupal support services.

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) offers paid technical support from Adobe. This option is beneficial for companies that need a quick response and support from the manufacturer. Services include phone support, access to an online support platform, regular updates, and troubleshooting assistance.

Drupal has a unique approach to security. The code base is publicly available, allowing a large community of developers and security experts to review, modify, and improve the code. This collaborative approach has several advantages:

• security advisory system – Drupal has a dedicated team that regularly publishes security reports. They inform users about potential security holes and provide patches or updates to fix them. Their tasks and procedures are also well-documented and publicly available,
• regular updates – regular core and module updates not only introduce new features but also fix any security flaws,
• built-in security features – Drupal has several built-in security features, such as brute-force attack detection, database encryption, and field validation,
• user permissions – Drupal allows administrators to define roles with specific permissions, ensuring users have access to the features they need.

Adobe ensures security by integrating security practices into software development, operational processes, and tools. They emphasize that their early development phase is the key to ensuring application security. That is why the company provides users with a list of best practices.

Here are their most important security features:

• data encryption – HTTPS TLS version 1.2 or higher is used to encrypt all content during transfer. It protects and keeps your uploaded content private until it’s published,
• user authentication – AEM supports integration with existing enterprise identity management systems, including LDAP- and SAML-compliant systems, SSO systems, social integration via OAuth, and custom integrations,
• Adobe security program – Adobe’s security program consists of five excellence centers, each focusing on different security aspects. These centers include application security, operational security, enterprise security, regulatory compliance, and incident response.

The choice between AEM or Drupal depends on your organization’s needs, budget, and strategy. Drupal offers flexibility, scalability, and low costs, while Adobe EM provides various features and integrations with other Adobe products. Before deciding whether to choose Drupal or AEM, it’s worth analyzing your business needs and comparing the features and costs of both platforms.