Eleventy vs vBulletin

Eleventy is a static site generator known for its simplicity and flexibility, while vBulletin is a popular forum software with a long history of community building. Eleventy focuses on content creation and customization, while vBulletin specializes in fostering online discussions and user engagement.

General information

Eleventy
vBulletin
Introduction :
Eleventy is a modern static site generator that is gaining popularity for its simplicity and flexibility. Launched in 2018, Eleventy is open source and allows users to build websites using various templating languages. It is known for its fast build times and ease of use, making it a popular choice for developers looking for a lightweight and customizable platform for their projects.
Introduction :
vBulletin is a popular forum software platform known for its robust features and user-friendly interface. Launched in 2000, vBulletin has a long-standing reputation in the online community space. It is not open source, but its extensive customization options and active support community have contributed to its popularity among website owners looking to create engaging discussion forums. vBulletin is a reliable choice for those seeking a comprehensive forum solution.
Advantages :
  • Simple setup and configuration process
  • Fast performance and build times
  • Flexible and customizable templating system
  • Built-in support for various template languages
  • Strong community support and active development
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate for users
  • Robust moderation and security features
  • Customizable design and layout options
  • Active community support and resources
  • Seamless integration with other applications
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Smaller community for support and resources
  • Less flexibility for customization and design
  • Limited third-party integrations and plugins
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms
  • Limited customization options without coding knowledge
  • Higher cost for licenses and add-ons
  • Less user-friendly interface for beginners
  • Limited built-in SEO features compared to others
Website users : Thousands
Eleventy is used by thousands of websites as a flexible and simple static site generator, popular among developers for its ease of use.
Website users : Thousands
vBulletin is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online forums and community platforms.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Eleventy requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some learning curve involved for beginners.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with vBulletin may require some technical knowledge and familiarity with forum software, making it an average level of difficulty.
Year launched : 2013
Eleventy was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to more established content management systems.
Year launched : 2000
vBulletin was launched in 2000, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for online communities.
Official website : https://www.11ty.dev/
Official website : https://www.vbulletin.com/


Commercial details

Eleventy
vBulletin
🟡 Open source : Partially.
Eleventy is partially open source, with the core functionality being open but some features requiring a paid license for full access.
🟡 Open source : Partially.
vBulletin is partially open source, with the core code being proprietary but allowing for some customization and extensions by users.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Eleventy is a free and open-source static site generator, making it a cost-effective option for users looking to build websites without ongoing fees.
⚪ Free option : Unknown.
There is no clear information available on a free option for vBulletin. Further research is needed to determine if one exists.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Eleventy offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, or hosted solutions, providing more flexibility and customization.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
vBulletin offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their online community.


Platform details

Eleventy
vBulletin
⚪ Hosted : Unknown.
Eleventy does not offer a clear hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for the platform.
⚪ Hosted : Unknown.
vBulletin does not offer a hosted option directly, but third-party vendors may provide hosting services for vBulletin forums.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
Eleventy can be self-hosted on various platforms, offering flexibility and control over hosting options for users.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
vBulletin offers a self-hosting option, allowing users to host their own forums on their preferred servers or with third-party vendors.
🟡 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support headless systems but can be used with plugins or APIs to enable headless features.
⚪ Headless CMS : Unknown.
vBulletin does not have native headless capabilities, but it may support headless features through its API. Further research is needed for confirmation.
🟢 Static content generation : Support natively.
Eleventy natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and easy to use for creating static websites.
🟡 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin does not natively support static content generation but can potentially achieve this functionality via a popular plugin.


Key features

Eleventy
vBulletin
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy offers some content management capabilities through plugins, but may require additional setup compared to platforms with native content management features.
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin offers content management capabilities through plugins, making it suitable for managing content with additional customization options compared to native solutions.
🟡 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy is a versatile static site generator suitable for blogging, but lacks some native features commonly found in dedicated blogging platforms.
🔴 Blogging : Not supported.
vBulletin is not primarily designed for blogging but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for basic blogging functionality.
🔴 E-commerce : Not supported.
Eleventy is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. However, it can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
🟡 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins, offering decent functionality but not as robust as dedicated e-commerce platforms.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support community/forum features but can be enhanced by integrating third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin is a solid platform for forums, especially when enhanced by popular plugins for added functionality and customization.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for this functionality.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.


Other features

Eleventy
vBulletin
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through third-party plugins or configurations for managing multiple sites.
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
vBulletin does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with popular plugins/extensions for multi-language functionality.
🟢 Multi-language : Support natively.
vBulletin supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by third-party plugins like eleventy-plugin-sitemap for this functionality.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Support for XML sitemaps can be added through popular third-party plugins/extensions in vBulletin.


When choosing between Eleventy and vBulletin, consider your website’s primary purpose. If you prioritize content management and design control, Eleventy may be the better choice. On the other hand, if building a thriving online community is your goal, vBulletin’s robust forum features could be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision should align with your website’s specific needs and objectives.