Download Drupal
Drupal can be downloaded and installed in several different forms, depending on how you plan to build and maintain your site. Some options are designed for modern, dependency-managed workflows (recommended for most professional projects), while others prioritize simplicity or specific use cases like demos, training, or preconfigured site builds.
On this page you’ll find the main Drupal download options:
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Drupal CMS:
A packaged Drupal experience aimed at getting you to a working site faster, often with a curated set of features and a smoother “starting point” than a minimal installation. It can be a good choice if you want a faster path to common CMS functionality without assembling everything manually.
Download Drupal CMS
You can also download Drupal CMS with composer:composer create-project drupal/cms - Download Drupal Core with Composer:
The most common and future-friendly way to start a new Drupal project. You create a fresh Drupal codebase using Composer, which manages Drupal core, contributed modules/themes, libraries, and updates in a consistent way. This approach is ideal for production websites, teams, and long-term maintenance.
composer create-project drupal/recommended-project my_site_name -
Download Drupal Core tarball (.tar.gz / .zip):
A downloadable archive of Drupal core files that you can upload to a server and install. This is the simplest “download-and-upload” option, but it does not provide the same dependency management benefits as Composer. It can be useful for quick evaluations, constrained environments, or learning, but Composer is usually preferred for ongoing projects.
Download Drupal Core archive -
Other Drupal Distributions (preconfigured builds):
Distributions are Drupal-based packages that bundle core with a preselected set of modules, configuration, and sometimes themes—typically tailored for a specific purpose (for example: intranets, publishing, community sites, or government portals). They can save setup time when your project matches the distribution’s goal, but may add constraints if you need heavy customization outside that model.
Find a Drupal Distribution