Backdrop CMS

Backdrop CMS is a fork of Drupal 7 that provides a powerful, technical architecture for small to mid-sized organizations. Entering 2026, it has solidified its position as the primary 'lifeboat' for legacy Drupal 7 installations that cannot justify the high cost and complexity of a migration to Drupal 11+. Technically, it retains the hook-based architecture of Drupal 7 but incorporates a modern Configuration Management Initiative (CMI) that stores site settings in JSON files rather than the database, enabling seamless version control and deployment pipelines. The platform features a built-in Layout Manager that replaces the complex Panels module, providing a native, drag-and-drop interface for structuring pages. By focusing on performance and backwards compatibility, Backdrop CMS allows developers to leverage existing PHP and Drupal expertise while benefiting from modern features like a mobile-first UI and a simplified core codebase. In the 2026 market, it stands as a counter-movement to the enterprise-heavy 'headless' trend, offering a robust, all-in-one monolith that prioritizes lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and rapid development cycles for mission-driven organizations and educational institutions.