Drupal is an open-source content management system (CMS) that is free to use and distribute under the GNU General Public License. It was initially developed by Dries Buytaert in 2000 as a message board for students at the University of Antwerp. Buytaert officially released the software in January 2001.
While Drupal itself is free, companies and individuals offer commercial services related to Drupal development, support, hosting, and more. For example, Acquia, co-founded by Buytaert, provides enterprise hosting and support for Drupal applications. Other companies offer Drupal support and maintenance packages, including routine maintenance, security management, performance optimization, custom development, and 24/7 support.
Drupal has been in use for over two decades, since its initial release in 2001. The latest stable version is Drupal 11.1.7, released on May 8, 2025. It is widely used by various organizations, including government agencies, educational institutions, media companies, and businesses. Drupal’s flexibility, scalability, and strong focus on security and accessibility have made it a popular choice for building a wide range of websites and digital experiences