10 reasons why we don't work with 1C-Bitrix

Table of Contents

• International Projects
• Design and Customization
• SEO Limitations
• Integration with Services
• Tendency to "Code Bloat"
• Scaling Issues
• Inconvenient Admin Interface
• Resource Intensity and Structure
• Community and Support
• Update System and Bugs
• Additional Publications

1. Issues with International Projects

We are involved in developing projects in the international market, where 1C-Bitrix is poorly represented and not suitable for solving standard and unique tasks.

There is a lack of necessary support for multilingual sites and adaptation for other countries.

1C-Bitrix was primarily developed for Russia and the CIS countries, which means that complex multilingual projects and working with international audiences require extensive modifications and additional plugins that are not available in the closed marketplace.

2. Limited Design and Customization Options

It is difficult to create a truly unique design in 1C-Bitrix without serious core modifications.

The templates and themes in 1C-Bitrix can be functional but are not always modern, aesthetically pleasing, and definitely cannot convey the unique identity of your project.

Implementing a non-standard design requires a deep understanding of the platform, which can increase development costs.

3. Low Flexibility and SEO Limitations

1C-Bitrix has basic SEO tools, but they are not flexible, and the capabilities are limited compared to other popular CMS like WordPress or OpenCart. Often, a web developer is required for quality SEO optimization.

Load and speed issues can negatively affect the site's rankings in search results.

4. Integration Issues with Other Services

1C-Bitrix supports integration with 1C and has its own marketplace, but its integration with external services, especially international ones, can be limited and complex to implement.

Unlike open platforms, it is sometimes difficult to find ready-made solutions for popular CRMs, payment systems, tracking systems, delivery services, or email marketing systems for 1C-Bitrix.

If integration and access to the API exist, additional development and code implementation in the modular project structure are usually required.

5. Tendency to "Code Bloat"

1C-Bitrix contains a lot of built-in modules and functions that are often not needed for a specific project, but removing or disabling these modules can be challenging.

This leads to "code bloat" and redundancy, which can complicate the support and maintenance of the project, especially in cases of custom settings.

6. Scaling and Functionality Expansion Issues

1C-Bitrix is partly a file-based CMS without clear architecture affiliation, leading to problems in projects with diverse page structures or projects with a large number of pages. The problem can be resolved through significant work to achieve the desired result or by purchasing a new template website.

Unlike popular open-source CMS, 1C-Bitrix does not easily allow for functionality expansion.

Using non-standard solutions may require writing a significant amount of code, which is not always cost-effective.

Adding new functionality may encounter platform limitations, and many tasks that are easily resolved in other CMS may require significant effort and skills in 1C-Bitrix.

7. Inconvenient Interface for Content Managers

The administrative interface of 1C-Bitrix for managing the site is complex and overloaded for users without technical experience. This complicates daily content management and settings.

The non-intuitive interface can hinder the tasks of content managers and marketers, who end up spending more time on training and performing simple tasks, such as uploading new materials or creating pages.

8. Complex Structure and Resource Intensity

1C-Bitrix is known for its resource intensity: a powerful server is often required for its normal operation, especially if the site has many visitors.

The platform runs slower than many other CMS and requires powerful hardware or cloud hosting.

In complex projects and online stores, additional optimizations may be needed, requiring more time, effort, and investment.

Even for simple tasks, additional skills are required, such as in cache configuration and speed optimization. This complicates site administration for owners without technical knowledge.

9. Limited Community and Lack of Support

The 1C-Bitrix community is smaller and less active than that of popular open-source platforms. This means users have fewer variations of solutions and modules to choose from, or solutions may be completely absent.

The lack of multilingual technical support makes it impossible to implement international or foreign projects.

10. Complex Update System and Bugs

1C-Bitrix updates are often accompanied by bugs that can lead to failures. The platform has a large codebase, and with each new update, errors may appear that require prompt correction.

The modular system of 1C-Bitrix contains many built-in tools, but some may be poorly optimized and rarely updated. This makes them more prone to bugs, which are not always addressed promptly.

Additional Publications:

1. https://pikabu.ru/story/bitriks_vse_o_chem_ne_skazhut_7824191
2. https://habr.com/ru/articles/190084/
3. https://spark.ru/user/35941/blog/44834/5-minusov-1s-bitriks-kotorie-ya-postoyanno-slishu-ot-klientov
4. https://www.webdebug.ru/blog/cms-1s-bitrix-za-i-protiv/
5. https://habr.com/ru/articles/459330/
6. https://habr.com/ru/companies/trinion/articles/246429/
7. https://habr.com/ru/post/282333/