Modules and Plugins are the primary add-ons for DotNetNuke and WordPress. When you want to add some kind of functionality to your site, you’ll probably start looking for one of these.

There are primary places to find these for both platforms. DotNetNuke has a store and a forge, WordPress has a plugin directory. Both systems have 3rd party developers and shops spread broadly across the Internet. As you may expect, there is a wide range in quality products on both sides of the fence. Like any market, some producers are better than others. Some may offer products at a lower price, while some offer better support that comes with a cost.

I have found that with either CMS, the quality of the people who produce the product is directly related to both initial quality and ongoing support. Typically you spend more for higher-quality and better support in both modules and plugins. I guess this sort of goes without saying, but it’s funny how doing business on the Internet leads people to have different expectations for what they buy. Online purchases seem to come with seemingly higher expectations that usual.

This post has been by far the most difficult for me to come up with grading criteria. That in itself is a bit odd, given the fact that I use both systems on a regular basis, personally and professionally. Where does one begin to give a top-level opinion on these items? Honestly? I don’t know. Really, I don’t know. So, I’ll just keep rambling. 🙂

When it comes to development of modules and plugins, I haven’t done any for either platform. So I can’t speak to which is easier or better with any sort of authority.

In terms of what is available out there for free, I would say WordPress has a greater number of higher-end free plugins. Now, there are plenty of DotNetNuke free modules that are amazing. It’s probably the size of the user base that makes more quality plugins available. It may also be that WordPress needs more plugins than DotNetNuke? I’m not really sure on that one, but I do think WordPress has a greater number of quality, free plugins available.

Out of the box on a standard install, I would also say that it’s easier to search for and install plugins on a WordPress site. It’s faster, it’s integrated to a library of plugins maintained through wordpress.org, searchable and installable from right within the admin area. Because this library is so large and centrally managed, and probably because it’s more mature than the DotNetNuke store, it has advantages.

For all of the quality modules provided by DotNetNuke and it’s sizable community, searching for them and finding what you’re looking for is still a lot easier on the WordPress side of things. I think the DNN Corporation has made drastic improvements in the past few years in this area, and I think it will only get better for them. Being part of that community, I continue to look forward to more improvements that outpace the incredible advancements I’ve seen recently.

DotNetNuke has a huge advantage in one area when it comes to modules and plugins. There are a number of what they call core modules that are developed and maintained directly through DNN Corp. This is an advantage because it brings inherent stability and development to those projects. Need a forum module? One is available from DNN Corp. Events? Yes. Blog? Yup. Media? You bet. Announcements, Documents, FAQ, Feedback, Form builder, Surveys, and more. You can count on these modules to work seamlessly with your DotNetNuke install, adding functionality to your site with ease.

How to pick a winner in this article? I really don’t know. I’m going to have to call it a tie, because I don’t really know that a clear winner stands out. Probably much more could be said, and I’ve also probably said too much. What are your thoughts on modules and plugins for DotNetNuke and WordPress?