What is Umbraco?

Umbraco is an open-source content management built on Microsoft’s .NET framework using ASP.NET and written in C#. It’s highly flexible, secure, and scalable. It’s known as ‘the friendly CMS’ that allows the ability to freely publish content with an easy-to-use interface.

What’s new to Umbraco 9?

Umbraco 9 has had a variety of improvements to the Content Management System, from the continuous security fixes, bug fixes in the system to even new features. But the latest roll-out released was that Umbraco is now fully on .NET 5 and ASP.NET Core. This allows developers to take full advantage of the improvements and performance enhancements from Microsoft’s ASP.NET Core.

What’s the difference between .NET and .NET Core?

.NET Framework is used to create Windows Desktop Applications and Server based Applications whereas .NET Core is used to create server applications that run on Windows, Linux and Mac and which allows for better cross-platform abilities e.g. integrations without the use of Plugin based applications “Move over Wordpress”.

Why Choose Umbraco over WordPress?

We’ve done various articles about why Umbraco is better than Wordpress throughout our time but let it’s break it down again.

Customisability

WordPress is an online publishing platform, where as Umbraco is a Content Management System. Over the years’, WordPress has developed to become a renown Content Management, simply because it’s built on the PHP Language which has a wider user-base to the Microsoft backed software.

Umbraco is a fully customisable structure where each page that has been designed reflects to the uniqueness in its own way. WordPress has a massive number of templates available with limitations for customisation options due to the licence use, therefore you commonly see Websites looking very similar due to licencing restrictions for the template creator.

Security

WordPress is primarily for small companies that are not able to employ a developer to maintain their website. Not only that, if the setup user who has deployed the WordPress platform has little technical knowledge can result in a vast vulnerability from the use of template and plugin files. WordPress is also renowned for its security breaches, read about one here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38930428

Umbraco on the other hand is one of the most secure content management systems available on the market because of the flexibility of the framework used and being backed by Microsoft’s technology.

Flexibility

Plugins enable functionality within a CMS which wasn’t included in the core installation. Plugins are intended for less technical users, which range in scope from simple functions like an image gallery to more complex features such as collating information submitted via a contact form.

Both content management platforms have a large range of plugins that can be installed, however many WordPress plugins, especially ones for simple and essential functions are not FREE. Not only that, but WordPress plugins also need to be constantly updated to remain secure otherwise has security vulnerabilities.

Customer Base

As previously mentioned, WordPress was initially designed as a blogging platform. This reflected in their client base with some big names sites still using today. They do not, however, use WordPress for the entire site only for the blog section.

Umbraco on the other hand, is used by some of the biggest companies in the world. Just to name a few:

• Microsoft
• Peugeot
• Heinz
• Costa Coffee

To conclude the above, both sites are good at where they were created for but remember they were created for different purposes. WordPress is a blogging platform that can have non-blog pages, while Umbraco is a CMS (Content Management System) for building custom websites.

In simpler terms, let’s use our famous breakdown:

If you had £100k, would you buy a Ferrari or a Tractor?

What exactly do you want to do?

Do you want to do the Cannonball Run or plough a field?

Each has its own merits - just don’t try to pull a plough with a Ferrari…