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): loading speed.
FID/INP (First Input Delay/Interaction to Next Paint): responsiveness.
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): 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 percentage of websites passing CWV:
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:
Technical debt: WordPress started as a blogging tool, and backward-compatibility workarounds have slowed innovation.
Plugin bloat: Many sites depend on multiple plugins, which can increase load times and CLS issues.
Slower release cycle: WordPress has moved to annual releases, prioritizing stability but delaying fixes.
Even so, WordPress still ranks well in Google Search thanks to its SEO ecosystem—but user experience and conversions suffer if Core Web Vitals are poor.
Does CMS Choice Impact SEO Rankings?
Here’s the surprising part: despite WordPress scoring lowest in CWV, WordPress sites still rank competitively in Google.
This suggests CMS choice isn’t a direct ranking factor.
Instead:
Performance matters most for user engagement and conversions.
CMS platforms like Duda and Wix are engineered for speed and handle technical debt better than WordPress.
How to Improve Your Core Web Vitals (Any CMS)
If you’re stuck with slow CWV scores, here’s how to fix them:
Optimize images & video (use WebP/AVIF).
Use a fast hosting provider (like Kinsta or Cloudflare).
Minimize plugins (WordPress users especially).
Reduce CLS by reserving space for ads, banners, and embeds.
Track progress with Google Analytics Web Vitals or Chrome’s Web Vitals extension.
Key Takeaways
Duda is the 2025 Core Web Vitals champion (84.96% pass rate).
WordPress ranks last (44.34%), showing limited improvement month to month.
Joomla showed the biggest growth, but still sits near the bottom.
CMS choice doesn’t directly impact SEO rankings—but better CWV = better UX & conversions.
If performance is your top priority, Duda and Wix are currently the top CMS options.
But if you’re tied to WordPress, you’ll need to work harder on site speed and optimization.
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, 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 plugins, and slower release cycles.
Do Core Web Vitals affect SEO rankings?
Yes, but indirectly.
They’re part of Google’s ranking signals, mainly influencing user experience and engagement.
How can I fix poor Core Web Vitals on WordPress?
Optimize images, limit plugins, use fast hosting, reserve ad space, and test with Chrome Web Vitals tools.