As of September 2026, the latest stable Joomla is 6.1.3 and the latest stable WordPress is 7.1 “Mary Lou.” Neither release makes the other obsolete. WordPress 7.1 deepens the block editor, Site Editor, collaboration, and automation APIs. Joomla 6.1.x continues the modern 6.x line with security fixes, a smoother path from Joomla 5.4, and a product story aimed at multilingual and ACL-heavy sites. Pick by architecture and team, not by version number alone.
The old “Joomla 5 vs WordPress 6” framing is outdated. Joomla shipped 6.0 with 5.4 as an LTS bridge in October 2025, then moved the current stable line to 6.1.x (6.1.3 security and bugfix, 18 August 2026). WordPress shipped 7.1 on 19 August 2026 (announcement). Joomla 6.2 is next on the Joomla roadmap.
For a broader non-version comparison, see Joomla vs WordPress. This article stays on what the latest cores actually give you.
What you will learn
- What is current on each platform right now
- Where WordPress 7.1 advances the editor and collaboration story
- Where Joomla 6.1.x advances upgrade path, ACL, and multilingual estates
- A fair feature table for 2026 projects
- When to choose each stack (equal criteria)
Infyways builds both: Joomla development · WordPress services.
Current versions at a glance
| Platform | Latest stable (Sep 2026) | Also relevant | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joomla | 6.1.3 | 5.4.8 LTS bridge; 6.2 in beta toward ~13 Oct 2026 GA | downloads.joomla.org |
| WordPress | 7.1 (“Mary Lou”) | 6.9.x still maintained for sites not yet on 7.x | wordpress.org/news |
Market context (not a quality score): W3Techs still shows WordPress far ahead on public install share. Fit still decides the project.
Quick verdict (both get a fair win)
| Project need | Lean WordPress 7.1 | Lean Joomla 6.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing site / blog / content team used to blocks | Strong default | Capable; steeper editor learning curve |
| Site Editor, responsive block styles, Notes collaboration | Clear win in core UX | Different admin model (articles, modules, templates) |
| Native multilingual + ACL without a plugin maze | Plugins / custom roles | Core strength |
| Plugin density (commerce, SEO, forms, CRM) | Clear win | Smaller catalog; specialists matter more |
| Upgrade from prior major with compatibility bridge | Continuous minor culture | 5.4 → 6.x upgrade path with BC plugin |
| Portal / association / multi-section information architecture | Doable with custom post types | Often cleaner in core concepts |
| Hiring freelancers globally | Easier | Harder; depth when you find specialists |
What is new in WordPress 7.1
WordPress 7.1 focuses on how editors and builders work day to day (release post):
- Admin bar across the full admin experience, so tools stay reachable while writing or designing
- Responsive styling in the Site Editor (Global Styles and block settings) without custom CSS for many layouts
- Media editor upgrades: freeform and aspect-ratio crop, flip, rotation, metadata in one flow
- Notes anywhere in content (not only block-level), with rich text and @mentions for collaboration
- New blocks such as Playlist and Tabs, plus Icon block API improvements
- Continued work on Abilities API foundations for integrations and automation (including AI-related tooling patterns introduced across recent majors)
What that means in practice: WordPress keeps compounding the block/Site Editor product. If your team lives in Gutenberg and wants design control in core, 7.1 is the current tip of that spear.
What still sits outside core: fine-grained multilingual and complex ACL usually remain plugin territory. Security and performance still depend on hosting and plugin hygiene.
What is current in Joomla 6.1.x
Joomla’s latest stable line is 6.1.3, a security and bugfix release on the modern 6.x codebase (announcement). Pair that with what 6.0 already established:
- Modern PHP-era core after the 6.0 architectural jump
- Automatic core updates (introduced with 5.4 / 6.0) for safer patch cadence
- Behaviour – Backward Compatibility 6 plugin to ease many 5.x → 6.x upgrades
- Native multilingual and ACL as first-class models
- Custom fields, tags, nested categories for structured content without K2
- Active release train toward Joomla 6.2 (editor UX, language fallback chain, clearer security update flags in beta notes)
What that means in practice: Joomla 6.1 is the version you should be on (or targeting) for new Joomla work in late 2026, unless a vendor still requires 5.4 LTS. The “comeback” is release discipline and upgrade confidence, not market-share dominance. See Joomla vs WordPress.
What still needs care: extension readiness, smaller freelancer pool, and K2-era sites that must migrate content before leaving Joomla 3 (K2 not working fix).
Side-by-side: latest cores
| Topic | WordPress 7.1 | Joomla 6.1.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Editing model | Blocks + Site Editor first | Articles, modules, plugins, templates |
| Design in core | Responsive styles, media editor, new blocks | Template styles, child templates, overrides |
| Collaboration | Notes, @mentions in content | Workflow depends on roles/ACL and extensions |
| Multilingual | Plugins | Native |
| Permissions | Roles + plugins for fine grain | Native ACL |
| Extensions | Massive plugin/theme market | Selective extension market |
| eCommerce | WooCommerce ecosystem | VirtueMart and others |
| Updates | Dashboard updates; frequent minors | Installer / auto updates; 6.x + 5.4.x patches |
| Headless / APIs | REST, GraphQL ecosystem, Abilities API direction | Web Services API on modern Joomla |
| Best “latest” reason to pick it | Editor and design velocity | Structured, multilingual, ACL estates on a modern core |
Developer and agency notes
WordPress 7.1
- Plan theme and plugin testing for Site Editor and media workflow changes
- Treat Abilities API / automation hooks as forward-looking for integrations
- Keep a staging site; block themes and classic themes both still exist in the wild
Joomla 6.1
- Prefer 6.1.3 over lingering on unpatched 6.0.x or early 6.1 builds
- If you are on 5.4.8, schedule a staged move to 6.1 while bugfix support for 5.4 winds down around the 6.2 GA window
- Audit templates and extensions before production upgrade (Joomla upgrade)
When to choose WordPress 7.1
- Your editors already think in blocks and pages
- You need the plugin density WordPress is famous for
- Commerce leans WooCommerce
- Hiring and hosting options must be easy worldwide
- Collaboration Notes and Site Editor responsive controls match how you build
When to choose Joomla 6.1
- Multilingual is a core requirement
- ACL and multi-group publishing are non-negotiable
- The site is portal-like or multi-section by design
- You are modernizing an existing Joomla estate (5.4 → 6.1) instead of rewriting
- You want native structure without assembling five plugins for basics
Key takeaways
- Latest today: Joomla 6.1.3 vs WordPress 7.1. The slug still says 5 vs 6; the products have moved on.
- WordPress 7.1 wins on editor, design controls, and ecosystem gravity.
- Joomla 6.1 wins on native multilingual, ACL, and a clearer modern Joomla upgrade story.
- Neither “beats” the other universally. Match the CMS to the content model.
- Infyways supports both stacks end to end.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest Joomla version?
Joomla 6.1.3 is the current stable download as of late August 2026. Confirm on downloads.joomla.org. Joomla 5.4.8 remains the parallel 5.x security/bugfix line.
What is the latest WordPress version?
WordPress 7.1 (“Mary Lou”), released 19 August 2026. See the official announcement.
Is Joomla 5 still relevant vs WordPress 7?
Joomla 5.4 is still a supported bridge for many sites, but new Joomla work should target 6.1.x. Comparing “Joomla 5 vs WordPress 6” alone is no longer current.
Is Joomla 6 better than WordPress 7?
Not universally. Joomla 6.1 is better for native multilingual and ACL. WordPress 7.1 is better for block editing velocity and plugin choice. Use requirements, not brand loyalty.
Should I upgrade WordPress 6.x sites to 7.1?
Yes on staging first, then production, after theme/plugin checks. Follow WordPress release notes for 7.1-specific editor and media changes.
Should I upgrade Joomla 5.4 to 6.1?
Usually yes when extensions are ready. Test with the compatibility plugin, then harden toward native 6.x. See Joomla upgrade services.
Where can Infyways help?
Joomla development, WordPress services, CMS development, and the equal-weight overview Joomla vs WordPress.




































