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Joomla security is strongest when you treat the CMS as a full stack: core access control, server configuration, updates, monitoring, and incident response. Joomla is still one of the most defensible open-source CMS platforms for serious sites because ACL, user groups, and many security controls live in core instead of a pile of plugins. WordPress can be secured too. It usually needs more third-party layers to reach the same baseline.

July and August 2026 proved the other half of that sentence. Popular add-ons such as JCE and SP Page Builder were the main takeover path, not Joomla’s architecture. If your site is already hacked, or you want it hardened without depending on one security extension, that is the work Infyways does: cleanup, hardening, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance.

What you will learn

• Why Joomla’s core security model still compares well with WordPress
• Why infection counts are not the same thing as “WordPress is weaker core”
• How to harden Joomla with hosting, ACL, updates, and process, not only a plugin
• What the July and August 2026 JCE, SP Page Builder, and core CVEs actually mean
• When to call for hack recovery versus a planned security upgrade

Why Joomla is still a strong security CMS versus WordPress

Joomla did not become “insecure” in 2026. The summer CVEs hit extensions that sit on top of Joomla, the same way WordPress incidents cluster in plugins and themes. The difference is how much security you get before you install anything extra.

Security need	Joomla core	Typical WordPress setup
User groups and permissions	Enterprise-style ACL in core (view, create, edit, publish, admin by group)	Simple roles in core; granular ACL usually needs plugins
Admin vs public split	Separate /administrator application, easier to restrict by IP or VPN	Shared front/back patterns; lockdown is plugin or server work
Multilingual and access by language	Native multilingual plus ACL on menus and modules	Usually a plugin stack
Extension surface	Fewer must-have plugins for ACL, multilingual, and routing	Large plugin economy, which is also the main attack surface
Who gets attacked most	Smaller install base, fewer commodity mass exploits	Largest CMS share, so the default target for automated bots

That last row needs an honest citation. In Sucuri’s 2023 Hacked Website and Malware Threat Report, WordPress accounted for 95.5% of CMS infections in their cleanup data. Joomla was 1.7%. Sucuri is clear this tracks popularity and their customer mix, not a lab score of core code. Still, the operational fact remains: WordPress is the default target. Joomla’s smaller, more ACL-heavy footprint is an advantage if you actually maintain it.

The same report found 39.1% of infected CMS apps were outdated, 49.21% had at least one backdoor, and 13.97% had a vulnerable plugin or theme at cleanup. Those numbers are the real lesson. Security is a maintenance system. Joomla gives you better native controls. It does not forgive abandoned page builders.

Secure Joomla without betting everything on one extension

A firewall or “security” extension can help. It is not a substitute for hosting, permissions, and patch discipline. This is the stack we use when a client wants the site secured, not just a new plugin invoice.

Server and PHP

• Current PHP that Joomla 5 or 6 actually supports
• TLS everywhere, SSH keys not shared passwords, isolated hosting accounts
• Disable PHP execution in images, media, and tmp
• Restrict /administrator by IP, VPN, or HTTP auth where the business allows it

Joomla core controls

• MFA on every Super User and Manager
• Least-privilege ACL: editors should not be Super Users
• Global Configuration: strong session settings, HTTPS, sensible error reporting off on live
• Hide unused components, modules, and templates instead of leaving demo code online

Updates as a process

• Core on the current security line (Joomla 5.4.x or 6.1.x in 2026)
• Editors and page builders on a weekly check, not a yearly project
• Staging first for major upgrades, then production
• Off-site backups you have restored at least once

Infyways can run that as a one-off harden, a Joomla upgrade, or ongoing Joomla support and maintenance. If the site is already compromised, start with cleanup, then hardening. A plugin on a backdoored site only hides the problem.

July and August 2026: what actually broke

Use this section as a patch briefing, not as proof that Joomla “lost.” The pattern is familiar: commodity extensions with public endpoints, then automated scanning.

Product	What happened	Safe version
JCE editor	CVE-2026-48907 unauthenticated RCE via profile import, CVSS 10.0, CISA KEV from 16 June 2026	2.9.99.6 or later
SP Page Builder	CVE-2026-48908 unauthenticated takeover (KEV), then July SQLi and mail-relay CVEs, then 12 August file-inclusion RCE	6.8.0 (covers the full summer chain)
Joomla core	12 XSS and access-control fixes on 7 July 2026	5.4.7 or 6.1.2

JCE CVE-2026-48907

JCE is a widely used editor, not Joomla core. CVE-2026-48907 let unauthenticated visitors create profiles and upload PHP. Fixed in 2.9.99.5, with 2.9.99.6 recommended. If this was unpatched on a live site, assume a backdoor until you prove otherwise.

SP Page Builder through 12 August 2026

Do not stop at 6.6.2 or 6.7.1. June’s CVE-2026-48908 was a no-login takeover. 27 July’s 6.7.1 closed unauthenticated SQL injection and a mail-relay issue documented by mySites.guru. 12 August’s 6.8.0 closed CVE-2026-67285 (PHP file inclusion) and CVE-2026-67286 (file write).

Joomla 5.4.7 and 6.1.2

The 7 July 2026 core release patched XSS and incorrect access control in media, contact, MFA, templates, installer, workflow, modules, privacy, and fields webservices. Apply it. It is still a smaller class of risk than unauthenticated editor and page-builder RCE.

If the site is already hacked

Patching a KEV-class RCE after weeks online is not a cleanup. Typical Joomla compromise leftovers are extra Super Users, PHP in tmp or image folders, modified templates, and poisoned .htaccess. Infyways handles that as incident work: isolate, take forensic copies, remove malware, rotate credentials, patch, then harden. See how we repair a hacked Joomla website if you need the recovery path.

What Infyways actually delivers

• Hacked site recovery: malware removal, backdoor hunt, Google Safe Browsing / host blacklist help
• Security hardening: server rules, ACL, MFA, admin lockdown, PHP-in-uploads blocks, backup design
• Extension and core upgrades: JCE, SP Page Builder, and Joomla 5/6 on a staging copy first
• Retainer maintenance: updates, monitoring, and a human response when the next CVE drops

We will install a reputable security extension when it fits. We will not pretend it replaces hosting controls, ACL, or a clean codebase. If you want a quote, use the contact form on this site and tell us whether you need emergency cleanup or a planned harden.

Key takeaways

1. Joomla’s core ACL and admin split still give it a security architecture WordPress usually buys as plugins.
2. Sucuri’s infection mix is mostly WordPress because WordPress is everywhere. Maintenance still decides who gets hacked.
3. Summer 2026 takeovers were JCE and SP Page Builder. Update those, then core.
4. Real Joomla security is server, ACL, updates, backups, and response, not one extension.
5. Hacked sites need cleanup first. Hardening a backdoor in place fails.

Frequently asked questions

Is Joomla more secure than WordPress in 2026?

Joomla’s core ACL, separate administrator app, and smaller install base are genuine advantages. WordPress is attacked more because it is the default CMS. Either platform fails if editors, page builders, or plugins stay unpatched.

Can I secure Joomla without a third-party security extension?

Yes. Start with current PHP and Joomla, MFA, least-privilege ACL, no PHP in upload folders, restricted administrator access, backups, and a patch process. A security extension can add WAF or scanning. It should not be the only control.

What were the main Joomla security issues in July and August 2026?

JCE CVE-2026-48907 (unauthenticated RCE), SP Page Builder’s June to August chain ending in 6.8.0, and Joomla 5.4.7 / 6.1.2 core XSS and access-control fixes from 7 July 2026.

Which SP Page Builder and JCE versions should I run?

JCE 2.9.99.6 or later, and SP Page Builder 6.8.0. Older “almost patched” builds still leave summer 2026 holes open.

We were hacked. Should we migrate to WordPress?

Usually no. Migration does not remove a backdoor and it throws away Joomla ACL you already paid for. Clean the site, patch, harden, then decide. Infyways can do the recovery without forcing a CMS change.

Conclusion

Joomla remains a strong security CMS when you use the controls it already ships: ACL, a real administrator app, and a smaller, more intentional extension set. The July and August 2026 headlines were about unpatched JCE and SP Page Builder, plus a normal core security release. Keep Joomla, patch the stack, and harden the server. If you need that done as a project, from hacked-site cleanup to a maintenance retainer, Infyways is built for that work.

Joomla at 21 is still a production-ready open-source CMS for multilingual, ACL-heavy, and enterprise-style websites, even though its overall market share is smaller than WordPress. The platform’s best days ahead depend less on chasing blog-market share and more on developer confidence, smoother upgrades, and core strengths that still outpace many competitors.

Joomla turned 21 in 2026. I have used it since the Mambo days, and at Infyways we still ship Joomla extensions used worldwide. Looking only at market share, it is easy to say Joomla “lost.” Looking at architecture, security, and real project fit, that conclusion is incomplete.

What you will learn

• Why Joomla’s decline was mostly confidence and migration friction, not weak technology
• Which core capabilities still make Joomla a strong CMS choice in 2026
• How Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6 change the upgrade story
• When to choose Joomla instead of trying to copy WordPress
• What must improve for the next decade of Joomla growth

Joomla market share vs WordPress in 2026

According to W3Techs, Joomla currently powers about 1.2% of all websites and roughly 1.7% of sites that use a known CMS. WordPress powers over 43% of all websites and nearly 62% of the CMS market.

Signal	Joomla	WordPress
Share of all websites	~1.2%	~43%+
Share of known CMS market	~1.7%	~62%
Core multilingual	Native	Usually plugin-based
Granular ACL	Built into core	Often plugin-dependent
Best-fit use cases	Complex, multilingual, permission-heavy sites	Publishing speed and mass adoption

Bottom line: market share measures popularity. It does not measure whether Joomla is still the better tool for a university portal, government site, membership platform, or multi-language enterprise build.

Joomla never lost because of technology

The most common misconception is that Joomla declined because it could not keep up technically. I disagree. Modern Joomla is one of the strongest releases the project has ever shipped.

• Native multilingual support
• Enterprise-grade Access Control Lists (ACL)
• Custom Fields for structured content entities
• Template overrides for full front-end control
• Web Services / API endpoints for headless and hybrid builds
• Modern PHP architecture, cleaner code, and a strong security posture

Many of these capabilities existed in Joomla before they became table stakes elsewhere. Technology was never the core weakness.

The real challenge was confidence

The harder problem was investment confidence. Major releases modernized the platform, but they also created painful migrations, broken extensions, template rewrites, and changing APIs.

Businesses delayed upgrades. Developers spent months on compatibility instead of new products. Agencies hesitated before recommending Joomla for long-term roadmaps. Some extension authors moved ecosystems or stopped shipping altogether.

That uncertainty, not a lack of features, slowed Joomla’s commercial momentum.

The biggest loss was developers, not just users

A CMS is only as strong as the ecosystem around it: extension developers, template creators, agencies, hosts, educators, and community contributors. When developers stop building, users eventually stop arriving. That developer attrition was Joomla’s deepest challenge over the last decade.

What Joomla still gets right in 2026

Joomla still wins on flexibility, security, scalability, and developer freedom. Unlike platforms that outsource essential capability to plugins, Joomla keeps many advanced features in core.

• Multilingual: still among the best native CMS implementations
• Permissions: ACL depth most competitors still struggle to match cleanly
• Architecture: enough freedom to build complex applications, not only brochure sites
• Trust: a long security track record with businesses, education, and public-sector projects

As cybersecurity and data ownership become non-negotiable, those strengths matter more, not less.

Why Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6 matter

On 14 October 2025, the Joomla project released Joomla 6.0 and Joomla 5.4. Joomla 5.4 acts as a bridge release. Joomla 6 is the new major line, with performance, security, and developer improvements plus smoother update tooling, including automatic core updates and a Backward Compatibility 6 behaviour plugin to reduce upgrade risk.

This is the confidence signal the ecosystem needed: fewer cliff-edge upgrades, clearer migration paths, and a roadmap that treats long-term maintainability as a product feature. Official support planning for the 6.x line extends through the late 2020s on the Joomla roadmap.

Why I still build with Joomla

People ask why I keep investing after two decades. Because the product still solves hard problems well. At Infyways we keep releasing and maintaining Joomla products, and we stay active on the Joomla Extensions Directory. If we did not believe Joomla had a future, we would not keep putting time and capital into that ecosystem.

For teams also optimizing content for AI search answers, pair this CMS strategy with our practical guide to GEO for Joomla.

Joomla does not need to become WordPress

Comparing Joomla only to WordPress misses the point. WordPress won by making publishing extremely simple. Joomla won by giving developers and organizations deep flexibility. That identity should stay.

Instead of chasing raw market share, Joomla should keep improving what already makes it exceptional, while making onboarding, upgrades, and sustainable extension businesses easier.

Key takeaways

1. Joomla’s smaller market share does not mean the CMS is obsolete for complex builds.
2. Core multilingual, ACL, Custom Fields, and Web Services remain durable advantages.
3. Developer confidence and upgrade predictability matter more than feature checklists.
4. Joomla 5.4 → 6.0 is a meaningful trust rebuild for agencies and extension authors.
5. Joomla should double down on its identity, not imitate WordPress.

Frequently asked questions

Is Joomla still worth using in 2026?

Yes, when you need native multilingual, deep ACL, structured content, or a flexible architecture for complex sites. It is not always the fastest path for a simple brochure blog, but it remains a strong CMS for demanding projects.

Did Joomla lose to WordPress because of bad technology?

No. Joomla’s harder problem was confidence: migration pain, extension compatibility risk, and uncertain long-term investment signals. The core technology stayed competitive.

What is new in Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6?

Joomla 5.4 and 6.0 shipped together on 14 October 2025. 5.4 is the bridge release; 6.0 is the new major line with automatic core updates and compatibility tooling designed to reduce upgrade friction.

Who should choose Joomla over WordPress?

Teams building multilingual portals, permission-heavy applications, government or education sites, or custom systems that benefit from core ACL and overrides, rather than assembling the same stack from many plugins.

What must Joomla improve next?

Easier learning paths, predictable upgrades, healthier extension economics, and clearer messaging about the project types where Joomla is objectively stronger.

Conclusion

Joomla’s next chapter will not be written by market-share charts alone. It will be written by developers who keep building, businesses that keep investing, and a community that treats security, ownership, and flexibility as first-class product values. I am still building extensions, still contributing on the JED, and still recommending Joomla when it is the right fit, not from nostalgia, but because the platform still has enormous potential.

Here’s to the next 21 years of Joomla.

If you’ve tried integrating MailerLite with Joomla, you already know the problem.

There’s no solid, dedicated module.

Most people end up doing one of these:

• Using embed forms from MailerLite
• Writing custom API code
• Installing outdated or unsupported extensions

None of these feel right.

Embeds look out of place.
Custom code takes time.
And exposing API keys in the browser is risky.

So I built a proper solution.

👉 https://joomlax.com/mailerlite-newsletter.html

A clean, secure, AJAX-based MailerLite newsletter module for Joomla.

The Problem with Existing MailerLite Integrations

Let’s be honest.

Most integrations are not built for real Joomla workflows.

Here’s what usually goes wrong:

• API keys exposed in frontend scripts
• No control over design
• Poor mobile layout
• No proper module positioning
• Hard to maintain across Joomla updates

If you’re running Joomla 4, 5, or planning for 6, this becomes a bigger issue.

You need something native.

Something that works the Joomla way.

---

The Solution: MailerLite Newsletter Module (AJAX-Based)

This module is built specifically for Joomla.

No hacks. No workarounds.

Just install, configure, and publish.

👉 Live Demo: https://demo.joomlax.com/demo/utilities/mailerlite-newsletter
👉 Documentation: https://joomlax.com/documentation/mailerlite-newsletter

---

Why This Module Is Different

1. Your API Key Stays Secure

Most solutions expose your API key in JavaScript.

This one doesn’t.

Everything runs server-side using Joomla’s AJAX system.

• No API key in browser
• No leaks in DevTools
• Clean and secure integration

Your credentials stay where they belong.

On your server.

---

2. Works Like a Native Joomla Module

This is not a plugin hack.

It behaves exactly like a Joomla module:

• Assign to any module position
• Show on selected menu items
• Create multiple instances

Just like you expect.

---

3. Fully Customizable Design

You control everything.

• Heading and intro text
• Button label and icons
• Success and error messages
• Colors, spacing, typography

Horizontal or vertical layout.

It adapts to your design. Not the other way around.

---

4. Built for Modern Joomla (4, 5 & 6)

No legacy code.

No compatibility issues.

This module is designed for current and future Joomla versions.

So you don’t have to worry about migrations later.

---

5. Multilingual Ready

Running a multilingual site?

No problem.

• Create separate modules per language
• Translate content easily
• Use Joomla language files

Works perfectly with standard Joomla workflows.

---

MailerLite Forms vs This Joomla Module

At first glance, you might think:

“MailerLite already gives me a form. Why do I need this?”

Fair question.

Let’s break it down.

MailerLite Embedded Forms

MailerLite’s default forms are:

• JavaScript-based
• Submitted without page reload (AJAX-like)
• Easy to copy and paste

Sounds good.

But here’s where things fall short:

• Runs entirely in the browser
• Limited control over layout inside Joomla
• Styling can clash with your template
• Harder to manage across multiple module positions

It works.

But it doesn’t feel native to Joomla.

---

This Module (Server-Side AJAX Approach)

This module takes a different approach.

• AJAX on the frontend
• Processing handled on the server via Joomla
• API token never exposed
• Full control over design and placement

So you get:

• Better security
• Cleaner integration
• More flexibility

And most importantly…

It behaves like a real Joomla module.

---

Quick Comparison

MailerLite Embed:

• Frontend-driven
• Limited customization
• Not Joomla-native

This Module:

• Server-side secure processing
• Fully customizable
• Built for Joomla workflows

---

The Bottom Line

MailerLite forms are fine for quick setups.

But if you’re building a serious Joomla website…

You need something more controlled.
More secure.
And easier to manage.

That’s exactly what this module delivers.

---

How to Install and Set It Up

This is where things get simple.

Step 1: Download the Module

Go here:
👉 https://joomlax.com/mailerlite-newsletter.html#download

Download the ZIP file.

---

Step 2: Install in Joomla

• Go to System → Install → Extensions
• Upload the ZIP file
• Wait for success message

Done.

---

Step 3: Create the Module

• Go to System → Manage → Site Modules
• Click New
• Select MailerLite Newsletter

Now assign:

• Module position
• Menu items

---

Step 4: Connect MailerLite

You’ll need two things.

API Token:

• Go to MailerLite dashboard
• Navigate to Integrations → Developer API
• Copy your API token

Group ID:

• Go to Subscribers → Groups
• Open your group
• Copy the numeric ID

Paste both into the module settings.

That’s it.

---

Step 5: Customize the Form

Now make it yours.

• Add heading and description
• Set placeholders
• Update button text
• Style colors and layout

Preview it.

Adjust it.

Publish it.

---

What Happens After Setup

Once live:

• Visitors enter name and email
• Form submits via AJAX
• Data is sent securely to MailerLite
• Subscriber is added to your group

No page reload.

No messy redirects.

Just smooth user experience.

---

Who Is This For

This module is perfect if you:

• Use Joomla and MailerLite
• Want a clean newsletter signup
• Care about security
• Don’t want to write custom code
• Build websites for clients

It’s especially useful for agencies standardizing their workflow.

---

Why I Built This

I couldn’t find a proper solution.

Every project needed the same thing.

A simple and secure MailerLite integration for Joomla.

So instead of repeating the same workaround again and again…

I turned it into a reusable module.

---

Try It Yourself

👉 Product Page: https://joomlax.com/mailerlite-newsletter.html
👉 Demo: https://demo.joomlax.com/demo/utilities/mailerlite-newsletter
👉 Documentation: https://joomlax.com/documentation/mailerlite-newsletter
👉 MailerLite Newsletter Joomla Extensions Directory – https://extensions.joomla.org/extension/login-popup-pro/

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Final Thoughts

MailerLite is powerful.

Joomla is powerful.

But without the right bridge, things get messy.

This module fixes that.

Simple setup.
Secure integration.
Clean design.

That’s how it should have been from the start.

If you upgraded from Joomla 3, you’ve probably run into this issue.

Your login popup stopped working.

No warning.
No support.
No clear replacement.

And suddenly, your website’s login experience is broken.

Let’s fix that.

What Happened to Login Popup by ExtStore?

The popular extension Login Popup by ExtStore was widely used across Joomla 3 websites.

It helped you:

• Show login forms in a popup
• Improve user experience
• Avoid redirecting users to a separate login page

But now, it’s no longer available.

The listing on the Joomla Extensions Directory has been unpublished.

Reason: PE1 error and no ongoing support.

Most importantly, it does not support Joomla 4, 5, or 6.

Why This Became a Big Problem

When users migrated to newer Joomla versions, things broke.

Here’s what started happening:

• Login popup stopped appearing
• JavaScript errors showed up
• CSS conflicts with templates
• Some sites even displayed blank pages

And there was no proper alternative that behaved the same way.

The Real Reason It Broke

This is not just about compatibility.

Joomla 4 and above introduced major changes:

• Namespaced PHP
• Modern APIs
• New extension architecture
• Different asset handling

Old extensions built for Joomla 3 cannot work without a full rewrite.

That’s exactly what happened here.

My Experience Fixing This

I’ve migrated multiple Joomla websites using this plugin.

Every time, the same issue came up.

Clients wanted the same popup login experience.

But no extension could match it properly.

So instead of trying to patch outdated code, I rebuilt it from scratch.

Introducing Login Popup Pro

Here’s the solution:

Login Popup Pro

This is not just an update.

It’s a complete rewrite built specifically for Joomla 4, 5, and 6.

And it keeps everything users loved about the original plugin.

Try the Live Demo

See it in action:

https://demo.joomlax.com/demo/popup-and-iframes/login-popup-pro

What Makes Login Popup Pro Better?

Built for Modern Joomla

No hacks or legacy code.

It uses:

• CMSPlugin architecture
• Factory, LayoutHelper, HTMLHelper
• Namespaced structure

This makes it faster, cleaner, and more stable.

Clean Asset Structure

No more dependency issues.

All assets are properly organized:

• CSS
• JavaScript
• Images

Everything is loaded cleanly without conflicts.

Full Appearance Control

No need for custom CSS.

You can control:

• Colors
• Shadows
• Border radius
• Popup width
• Overlay styling

All through simple settings.

Improved User Experience

Small features that make a big difference:

• Auto-open with URL hash like #login or #logout
• ESC key to close popup
• Click outside to close
• Flexible placement for registration links

Scoped and Conflict-Free Code

Everything is properly namespaced:

• CSS classes use jx-lp-*
• JavaScript uses Jx.LoginPopup
• Language keys are isolated

This avoids conflicts with templates and other extensions.

Proper Documentation

Everything is clearly documented.

You get:

• Structured feature files
• Detailed documentation
• Easy setup instructions

Documentation link: https://joomlax.com/documentation/login-popup-pro

Important Links

Product Page
https://joomlax.com/login-popup-pro.html

Download
https://joomlax.com/login-popup-pro.html#download

Documentation
https://joomlax.com/documentation/login-popup-pro

Demo
https://demo.joomlax.com/demo/popup-and-iframes/login-popup-pro

Why Not Use Other Alternatives?

You might find a few plugins out there.

But most of them:

• Don’t match the original behavior
• Have limited customization
• Break in newer Joomla versions
• Are not actively maintained

This solution was built specifically for real migration issues.

Who Should Use This?

This is for you if:

• You upgraded from Joomla 3
• You used ExtStore Login Popup
• You want the same experience back
• You want more flexibility and control

Final Thoughts

Extensions may stop working.

But your website doesn’t have to.

If your login popup broke after upgrading Joomla, you now have a proper fix.

A modern, stable, and feature-rich replacement built for today’s Joomla.

The Problem: Static Website with No CMS

A client had a clean, fast static website.

Everything looked good.

But there was one missing piece.

They needed a blog.

Not just a simple page. A proper system where they could:

• Log in securely
• Add new articles
• Manage categories
• Update content anytime

Building a CMS from scratch would take time.

And honestly, it didn’t make sense.

So I looked for a smarter approach.

The Idea: Use Joomla as a Headless CMS

Instead of building something new, I used Joomla as the backend.

No frontend.

No templates.

Just content management.

Then I connected it to Next.js.

This gave me:

• A ready-to-use admin panel
• Secure authentication
• API access to content
• A fast frontend

The result was simple and powerful.

Final Architecture

Here’s what I built:

• Main website → clientsite.com using Next.js
• Blog section → /blog (dynamic)
• Joomla backend → joomla.clientsite.com

Joomla handles:

• Content creation
• Content storage
• API responses

Next.js handles:

• UI
• Routing
• Rendering

This separation makes everything cleaner.

Step 1: Install Joomla 6 on a Subdomain

Create a subdomain like:

• joomla.clientsite.com
• or api.clientsite.com

Install a clean Joomla 6 setup.

Then simplify it:

• Disable frontend modules
• Ignore templates
• Use it only for managing content

Think of it as a backend dashboard, not a website.

Step 2: Enable Joomla Web Services API

Joomla 4+ comes with built-in Web Services.

Go to Plugins and enable:

• Web Services – Content
• API Authentication

Once enabled, your API is live.

Example endpoint:

https://joomla.clientsite.com/api/index.php/v1/content/articles

Step 3: Generate Authentication Token

Joomla supports token-based authentication.

Steps:

• Go to Users
• Open your user profile
• Generate API token

Now every API request can be secured.

Example header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN

Step 4: Fetch Articles from Joomla API

Use the API to fetch content.

Example request:

GET https://joomla.clientsite.com/api/index.php/v1/content/articles

The response includes:

• Title
• Slug
• Content
• Categories
• Metadata

Everything needed to render a blog.

Step 5: Connect Next.js 16 (App Router)

In Next.js, I used App Router with native fetch.

Here’s a simple example:

export async function getArticles() {
  const res = await fetch(
    "https://joomla.clientsite.com/api/index.php/v1/content/articles",
    {
      headers: {
        Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN",
      },
      cache: "no-store",
    }
  );

  if (!res.ok) {
    throw new Error("Failed to fetch articles");
  }

  return res.json();
}

This pulls data directly from Joomla.

Step 6: Render Blog Page

Now create your blog listing page:

export default async function BlogPage() {
  const data = await getArticles();

  return (
    <div>
      {data.data.map((article) => (
        <div key={article.id}>
          <h2>{article.attributes.title}</h2>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Clean and simple.

Step 7: Create Dynamic Blog Pages

Use slugs from Joomla.

export async function generateStaticParams() {
  const data = await getArticles();

  return data.data.map((article) => ({
    slug: article.attributes.alias,
  }));
}

Now each article becomes:

/blog/my-article-slug

Fully dynamic.

Important: Avoid Duplicate Content

This step is critical.

Your Joomla backend is public.

So the same content exists in two places:

• Joomla URLs
• Next.js blog pages

This creates duplicate content.

Fix it:

Go to Joomla Global Configuration and set:

• Robots → noindex

This ensures only your Next.js site gets indexed.

Why I Didn’t Use WordPress

You might ask:

Why not use WordPress?

It has an API:

/wp-json/wp/v2/posts

And yes, it works.

But here’s the reality.

How WordPress Works in Headless Mode

By default:

• API is public
• No authentication required
• Anyone can access your content

Example:

https://example.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts

You get everything instantly.

The Limitations

Authentication is not strict by default

To secure it, you need:

• Application passwords
• JWT plugins
• OAuth setups

This adds complexity.

Plugin dependency

For real projects, you often need:

• ACF for custom fields
• Authentication plugins
• API extensions

More plugins means:

• More maintenance
• More risks

Less control over API behavior

Customizing APIs requires:

• Hooks
• Filters
• Custom coding

It’s flexible, but not clean.

Larger attack surface

Because of its popularity:

• More bots target it
• Plugin vulnerabilities are common
• APIs are often exposed

Why Joomla Worked Better

With Joomla, things were straightforward.

• API is structured
• Authentication is built-in
• No extra plugins needed
• Better control over access

It gave me:

• A secure backend
• Clean API integration
• Less maintenance

Performance Benefits

This setup is fast.

Because:

• Main site is static
• Blog is dynamic only where needed
• API calls are lightweight

This improves:

• Load speed
• SEO
• User experience

Pros of Using Joomla as Headless CMS

• No need to build CMS
• Secure admin panel
• Built-in API
• Easy for clients
• Works well with modern frameworks
• Scalable

Cons You Should Know

• Requires initial setup understanding
• API is less beginner-friendly
• Token handling required
• Joomla UI may feel heavy for small tasks

When You Should Use This Approach

Use it when:

• You have a static site
• You need dynamic blog content
• You want a secure backend
• You want to save development time

Avoid it when:

• You need full CMS-driven frontend
• You want everything in one system

Final Thoughts

This setup worked perfectly.

The client got:

• A fast website
• A simple backend
• Full control over content

And I avoided building a CMS from scratch.

Sometimes the smartest solution is not building more.

It’s choosing better tools.

If you’re working with Next.js and need a CMS, give Joomla headless a try.