If you’re wondering which CMS performs best for Google’s Core Web Vitals in 2025, the latest report shows Duda leads the pack, while WordPress ranks last.
According to the July 2025 Core Web Vitals Technology Report by the open-source HTTPArchive, six major CMS platforms—including WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Drupal, Joomla, and Duda—were ranked by real user performance data.
What Are Core Web Vitals and Why Do They Matter?
Core Web Vitals (CWV) are Google’s performance metrics that track how fast, stable, and responsive your website feels. The three key metrics are:
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Measures loading speed.
- FID/INP (Interaction to Next Paint): Measures responsiveness.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Measures visual stability.
Sites with good CWV keep users engaged, boost conversions, and reduce bounce rates. Google uses them as part of its ranking signals.
CMS Rankings: July 2025 Report
Here’s how the top content management systems stacked up by the percentage of websites passing all Core Web Vitals:
- Duda — 84.96% ✅ (Best performance)
- Wix — 73.37%
- Squarespace — 68.93%
- Drupal — 60.54%
- Joomla — 54.78%
- WordPress — 44.34% ❌ (Lowest performance)
Growth From June to July
- Joomla: +3.23% (Largest gain)
- Wix: +2.61%
- Drupal: +1.47%
- Duda: +1.33%
- Squarespace: +1.27%
- WordPress: +0.90% (Smallest gain)
Why WordPress Lags Behind
Despite powering over 40% of the web, WordPress scored lowest in July’s CWV rankings. Key reasons include:
- Technical debt: Backward-compatibility workarounds have slowed core innovation.
- Plugin bloat: Reliance on multiple plugins increases load times and layout shifts.
- Slower release cycle: Annual releases prioritize stability but delay performance fixes.
Even so, WordPress still ranks well in Google Search thanks to its massive SEO ecosystem—but user experience and conversions can suffer if CWV is ignored.
Does CMS Choice Impact SEO Rankings?
Surprisingly, despite lower scores, WordPress sites still rank competitively. This suggests CMS choice isn’t a direct ranking factor itself. Instead, platforms like Duda and Wix are engineered for speed out of the box, handling technical optimization better for the average user.
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How to Improve Your Core Web Vitals (Any CMS)
- Optimize images & video: Use modern formats like WebP or AVIF.
- Use a fast hosting provider: Quality managed hosting or CDNs (Cloudflare) make a huge difference.
- Minimize plugins: Especially on WordPress, audit and remove unnecessary scripts.
- Reduce CLS: Explicitly reserve space for ads and embedded media.
- Track progress: Use Google PageSpeed Insights or the Web Vitals extension.
Key Takeaways
- Duda is the 2025 CWV champion with an 84.96% pass rate.
- WordPress ranks last (44.34%), showing the smallest monthly improvement.
- Joomla showed the biggest growth, even though it remains near the bottom.
- CMS choice isn’t a direct SEO factor, but better CWV = better UX & conversions.
If performance is your top priority, Duda and Wix are currently the top CMS options. However, if you are tied to WordPress, you must work harder on technical optimization to stay competitive.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
What are the Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are Google’s performance metrics measuring site speed, responsiveness, and visual stability (LCP, INP, and CLS).
Which CMS has the best Core Web Vitals in 2025?
Duda leads with 84.96% of sites passing CWV, followed by Wix and Squarespace.
Why is WordPress slow on Core Web Vitals?
WordPress struggles due to technical debt, heavy reliance on third-party plugins, and slower core release cycles.
Do Core Web Vitals affect SEO rankings?
Yes, but indirectly. They are part of Google’s ranking signals, primarily influencing user engagement and overall page experience.
How can I fix poor Core Web Vitals on WordPress?
Optimize images, limit active plugins, use high-performance hosting, and use tools like Chrome’s Web Vitals extension to monitor shifts.
