HTTP Archive Report on CMS Performance in Core Web Vitals
HTTP Archive, associated with the well-known archive site, released real-world statistics indicating which content management system (CMS) achieved the best Core Web Vitals scores. The findings revealed a clear winner; however, performance was varied across all systems.
The Challenge
The HTTP Archive compared WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Squarespace, and Wix—chosen based on their popularity.
Understanding Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals comprises three metrics intended to gauge the page-level user experience by measuring how long it takes for different page elements to become interactive and visually stable.
The Three Core Web Vitals Metrics
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Measures when the main content is downloaded, visible, and useful for the user.
- First Input Delay (FID) – Measures the time between the user interacting with an element (like a link) and the site responding.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures the visual stability of the page, specifically how long elements on the page take to become stable and reliable for interaction.
Mobile vs. Desktop Performance
Typically, desktop performance scores surpassed mobile performance scores. This disparity could be attributed to the differences in device capabilities and internet network speeds. However, mobile Core Web Vital Scores are becoming increasingly crucial as most web users access sites via mobile devices. Starting May 2021, Google will preferentially use these scores when computing ranking benefits for sites that meet Core Web Vitals thresholds.
Real-World Performance
These scores are based on actual visits by users on the Google Chrome browser, divided into desktop and mobile categories. Desktop sites generally scored higher, but mobile scores are more indicative of a site’s real-world performance.
Scores Breakdown
Scores are percentages reflecting the proportion of websites within each CMS that scored well for each metric.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
LCP determines when a webpage becomes visible and useful. Drupal led the rankings but only 47% of Drupal’s mobile websites provided a good user experience in terms of LCP.
LCP Scores:
- Drupal – 47%
- Joomla – 38%
- WordPress – 25%
- Squarespace – 12%
- Wix – 9%
First Input Delay (FID)
FID measures the responsiveness of a webpage. Squarespace topped the list with 91% of sites passing the FID test.
FID Rankings:
- Squarespace – 91%
- WordPress – 88%
- Drupal – 76%
- Joomla – 71%
- Wix – 46%
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS measures the visual stability of a webpage. Drupal again emerged as the winner, with Wix narrowly beating WordPress for third place.
CLS Rankings:
- Drupal – 70%
- Joomla – 63%
- Wix – 59%
- WordPress – 57%
- Squarespace – 44%
Despite some CMSs performing well, HTTP Archive noted that only 59% of mobile sites using a top CMS presented a good user experience for CLS.
Conclusion
Drupal led in two categories, while Wix consistently found itself at the bottom. WordPress and Joomla hovered in the middle. All five CMS performed well for First Input Delay but showed poorer results for Largest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift. Given that Core Web Vitals will become a ranking factor for Google, these metrics matter significantly.
However, improving these scores often requires changes at the CMS level, which are beyond the capabilities of the average user.
Further Reading
- HTTP Archive Chrome User Experience Report
- Core Web Vitals and their impact
