Drupal vs Hexo

Drupal is a powerful and flexible content management system that is ideal for large, complex websites with advanced functionality. On the other hand, Hexo is a lightweight static site generator that is perfect for simple, fast-loading websites with minimal server requirements.

General information

Drupal
Hexo
Introduction :
Drupal is a powerful open-source content management system that was launched in 2001. It is known for its flexibility, scalability, and robust security features. Drupal is popular among large enterprises and government organizations due to its ability to handle complex websites and high traffic volumes. Its extensive customization options and active community support make it a top choice for developers looking to build sophisticated websites.
Introduction :
Hexo is a popular static site generator that was launched in 2012. It is an open-source platform that allows users to create fast and efficient websites with ease. Hexo is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a preferred choice for developers looking to build static websites quickly. With a growing community and extensive documentation, Hexo continues to gain popularity among users seeking a streamlined content management solution.
Advantages :
  • Highly customizable and flexible for developers
  • Strong community support and extensive documentation
  • Scalable for large and complex websites
  • Built-in security features and regular updates
  • Wide range of modules and themes available
Advantages :
  • Fast rendering speed
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Markdown support
  • Customizable themes and plugins
  • Active community and support
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Less user-friendly interface for non-technical users
  • Requires more technical knowledge for customization
  • Limited availability of high-quality themes and plugins
Disadvantages :
  • Limited themes and plugins available
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less community support compared to others
  • Limited e-commerce functionality
  • Customization options may be more limited
Website users : 2.3%
Drupal powers approximately 2.3% of websites on the internet, making it a popular choice among content management systems.
Website users : 0.1% of websites
Hexo is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, with a niche user base.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Drupal has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical skills to get started. It may be challenging for beginners without prior experience.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Hexo requires some technical knowledge of Markdown and command line interface, making it average in terms of ease of use.
Year launched : 2001
Drupal was launched in 2001, making it one of the older content management systems available for website development.
Year launched : 2012
Hexo was launched in 2012, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems on the market.
Official website : https://www.drupal.org
Official website : https://hexo.io/


Commercial details

Drupal
Hexo
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Drupal is fully open source, allowing users to access and modify the codebase to customize and extend the platform as needed.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Hexo is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The platform allows for complete customization and contributions from the community.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Drupal offers a free open-source option with extensive features and customization capabilities, making it a popular choice for developers and organizations.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Hexo offers a free self-hosted option with no limitations on features, making it a cost-effective choice for users looking to build websites.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Drupal offers a paid option for additional features, support, and hosting services, providing more flexibility and customization for users.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Hexo offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience compared to free alternatives.


Platform details

Drupal
Hexo
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Drupal offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of a managed hosting solution for their websites.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Hexo are not clearly stated, further research or inquiries may be needed to determine availability.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Drupal offers a self-hosting option, allowing users to host their websites on their own servers or with a third-party hosting provider.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Hexo can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Drupal supports headless features via its API, allowing for decoupled front-end development with various frameworks and technologies.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features through plugins or APIs.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Drupal does not natively support static content generation but can achieve this functionality perhaps via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Hexo natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and reliable for generating static websites without the need for additional plugins.


Key features

Drupal
Hexo
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Drupal excels in content management with robust native features for organizing, creating, and publishing content efficiently and effectively.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Hexo offers some content management capabilities, but primarily relies on plugins for more advanced features and functionality.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Drupal can be used for blogging with the help of popular plugins like Drupal Blog or Drupal Content Types, offering robust features for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Hexo is a good platform for blogging when enhanced by popular 3rd party plugins/extensions for added functionality and customization options.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Drupal can be used for e-commerce with popular plugins like Drupal Commerce, offering robust features and flexibility for online stores.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Hexo does not have native e-commerce capabilities but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for online store functionality.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Drupal offers robust community and forum features natively, making it a strong platform for building interactive online communities.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support community/forum features but can be enhanced by popular plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented through various third-party plugins/extensions available for Drupal, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for users.


Other features

Drupal
Hexo
๐ŸŸข Multi-site : Support natively.
Drupal supports multi-site natively, allowing users to manage multiple sites from a single installation, making it efficient for managing multiple websites.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with the Hexo Multi-Lingual plugin for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Drupal supports multi-language natively, allowing for easy creation and management of multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with plugins like hexo-generator-i18n for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Drupal does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemap functionality can be added to Hexo through third-party plugins, offering enhanced SEO capabilities for users.


When choosing between Drupal and Hexo, consider the size and complexity of your website. If you need extensive features and scalability, Drupal is the way to go. However, if you prioritize speed, simplicity, and low server costs, Hexo may be the better choice for your project.