Website performance has become one of the most critical factors in digital success. Google’s Core Web Vitals (CWV)—which measure loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability—directly influence how users experience a site. While content and backlinks remain essential for ranking, performance signals are now impossible to ignore.
When it comes to CMS platforms, not all systems are created equal. A recent industry analysis compared popular CMS options like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Joomla, Drupal, and Duda to see which platforms deliver the best Core Web Vitals. The results may surprise you.
This article explores how different CMS platforms perform against each other, why WordPress—despite its dominance—lags behind, and what website owners can do to optimize performance.
Understanding Core Web Vitals
Before comparing CMS platforms, it’s important to understand the three pillars of Core Web Vitals:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures how quickly the main content loads. Ideally under 2.5 seconds.
- First Input Delay (FID): Tracks responsiveness—how soon users can interact. Should be under 100 milliseconds.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Evaluates visual stability—how much the layout shifts as elements load. Target score is under 0.1.
Google uses these metrics to gauge real-world user experience. A site that loads slowly, reacts sluggishly, or shifts around as ads/images load frustrates visitors and risks losing them.
The Data Sources Behind the Comparison
The CMS performance study was built on two reliable datasets:
- Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX): Real-world user data from millions of Chrome sessions.
- HTTP Archive: Technical lab data showing how websites are built and structured.
Together, these datasets offer a balanced view of both real performance and technical characteristics.
CMS Performance Rankings: July Findings
The results revealed major differences in how CMS platforms perform in terms of CWV. Here’s how they stacked up:
| CMS Platform | % of Sites Passing Core Web Vitals |
|---|---|
| Duda | 84.96% |
| Wix | 73.37% |
| Squarespace | 68.93% |
| Drupal | 60.54% |
| Joomla | 54.78% |
| WordPress | 44.34% |
Key Notes:
- Duda leads by a wide margin, showing exceptional optimization.
- WordPress, despite being the most popular CMS globally, falls to the bottom with less than half of its sites passing CWV.
- Joomla showed the largest month-over-month improvement (+3.23%), while WordPress improved the least (+0.90%).
Why WordPress Lags Behind
Despite powering over 40% of the web, WordPress struggles with Core Web Vitals. There are several reasons:
1. Technical Debt
WordPress has grown over nearly two decades, maintaining backward compatibility. This leads to a heavy codebase that isn’t always optimized for speed.
2. Plugin Bloat
Many WordPress sites rely on numerous plugins. While they add functionality, they often introduce extra scripts, styles, and database queries—slowing performance.
3. Theme Variability
Unlike closed platforms such as Wix or Squarespace, WordPress relies on third-party themes. Poorly coded themes can severely harm CWV scores.
4. Slower Innovation Pace
Because WordPress is open-source with a huge ecosystem, introducing new performance features takes longer compared to platforms with centralized development.
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Why Other CMS Platforms Perform Better
Duda
Duda consistently ranks highest, with nearly 85% of sites passing CWV. This success is due to its controlled ecosystem, optimized infrastructure, and limited reliance on third-party add-ons.
Wix
Once criticized for being slow, Wix has made remarkable progress. Its 73% pass rate highlights significant investments in performance optimization.
Squarespace
Squarespace balances design flexibility with solid technical performance, placing it in the upper tier.
Drupal & Joomla
While older than Wix or Duda, these platforms show competitive performance thanks to community-driven improvements. Joomla, in particular, had the fastest month-to-month growth.
The WordPress Paradox: Still Winning in Search
Despite its weaker CWV scores, WordPress sites continue to dominate Google search results. Why?
- Content Quality & Quantity: WordPress powers the majority of blogs and content-heavy sites, giving it a content edge.
- SEO Tools & Plugins: With plugins like Yoast and Rank Math, WordPress websites are SEO-friendly.
- Backlink Authority: Many established brands use WordPress, building strong authority.
This shows that while CWV is important, it is one of many ranking factors. However, poor user experience can hurt engagement, conversions, and long-term visibility.
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How WordPress Site Owners Can Improve Core Web Vitals
For those using WordPress, switching CMS is not always realistic. The good news: with the right strategies, WordPress performance can significantly improve.
Actionable Steps:
- Choose a Lightweight Theme
- Use performance-focused themes like GeneratePress, Astra, or Kadence.
- Minimize Plugins
- Audit plugins regularly and remove unnecessary ones.
- Use a Quality Hosting Provider
- Opt for managed WordPress hosting that supports caching, CDNs, and optimized servers.
- Implement Caching
- Plugins like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache can dramatically improve load times.
- Optimize Images
- Use next-gen formats (WebP/AVIF) and lazy loading.
- Minify & Combine Assets
- Reduce JavaScript and CSS bloat with optimization tools.
- Monitor Performance
- Regularly test using PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, and WebPageTest.
Should You Switch CMS Platforms?
Whether to stay on WordPress or switch depends on priorities:
- Stay on WordPress if:
- You value flexibility, plugins, and a large community.
- You’re willing to invest in optimization and hosting.
- Consider Switching if:
- Performance is mission-critical (e.g., eCommerce or SaaS).
- You prefer a managed, streamlined solution with less technical overhead.
Future Outlook for Core Web Vitals
Every CMS platform has been making improvements month by month. WordPress may lag today, but its massive community ensures continuous updates.
The competition among CMS providers is ultimately positive—driving better standards for speed, stability, and usability across the web.
Conclusion
The battle of CMS platforms reveals a clear divide: platforms like Duda, Wix, and Squarespace dominate Core Web Vitals, while WordPress lags behind. Yet WordPress remains the most widely used CMS due to its flexibility, content ecosystem, and SEO strength.
For website owners, the key takeaway is this: your CMS matters, but optimization matters more. Even on WordPress, with the right hosting, theme, and performance tweaks, you can achieve excellent Core Web Vitals scores.
As the internet grows increasingly competitive, focusing on performance is no longer optional—it is essential for user satisfaction, engagement, and business success.
