Flarum vs Jekyll

Flarum is a modern forum software designed for simplicity and ease of use, while Jekyll is a static site generator that allows for fast and secure websites. Flarum focuses on community engagement and discussions, while Jekyll is more suited for static websites with minimal maintenance.

General information

Flarum
Jekyll
Introduction :
Flarum is a modern, open-source forum platform that was launched in 2015. It has gained popularity for its sleek design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Flarum is known for its active community and regular updates, making it a top choice for those looking to create engaging online forums. Its focus on simplicity and performance sets it apart from other forum platforms on the market.
Introduction :
Jekyll is a static site generator that was launched in 2008 and is open source. It has gained popularity for its simplicity, speed, and security. Jekyll is widely used by developers and bloggers who prefer a lightweight and flexible platform for creating websites. Its ease of use and compatibility with version control systems like Git make it a popular choice for those looking to build fast and secure websites.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and customize
  • Fast and lightweight performance
  • Active community for support and plugins
  • Modern and responsive design
  • Secure and reliable platform
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and setup for beginners
  • Large community for support and resources
  • Customizable with themes and plugins
  • Fast performance with static site generation
  • Secure with built-in features and updates
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of available plugins and extensions
  • Relatively smaller community support compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less flexibility in customization options
  • Limited themes and design options available
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less user-friendly interface for non-developers
  • Limited theme options and customization capabilities
  • Smaller community support and resources
Website users : Thousands
Flarum is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice among online platforms for forum communities.
Website users : Over 1 million websites
Jekyll is a popular choice for static websites, with a significant user base due to its simplicity and flexibility.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Flarum may require some technical knowledge, but with the right resources, users can navigate the platform effectively.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Jekyll requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Markdown. Some technical skills are needed, but resources are available for assistance.
Year launched : 2015
Flarum was launched in 2015, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other established content management systems.
Year launched : 2008
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Official website : https://flarum.org/
Official website : https://jekyllrb.com/


Commercial details

Flarum
Jekyll
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Flarum is fully open source, written in PHP. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Jekyll is fully open source, written in Ruby. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Flarum offers a free, open-source option with basic features. However, additional features and support may require paid extensions or services.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a free option with basic features. Users can host their site for free on platforms like GitHub Pages.
โšช Paid option : Unknown.
Flarum offers extensions and premium support services, but it is unclear if there is a paid option for the core platform.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.


Platform details

Flarum
Jekyll
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options may be available through third-party vendors, but direct hosting by Flarum is unclear. Further research is needed.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Flarum, allowing users to have full control over their hosting environment and data privacy.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Flarum does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via API.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via APIs.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Flarum does not natively support static content generation but can potentially achieve this functionality via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Jekyll natively supports static content generation, making it efficient for creating and managing static websites without the need for additional plugins.


Key features

Flarum
Jekyll
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Flarum offers basic content management capabilities but relies on plugins for more advanced features, making it suitable for content management with additional customization.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll requires plugins for advanced content management features, making it less user-friendly compared to platforms with native content management capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Flarum can be used for blogging with the help of third-party extensions, offering a customizable and feature-rich platform for content creation.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be enhanced by popular plugins for blogging features, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native blogging capabilities.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Flarum does not have native e-commerce capabilities. However, it can potentially be enhanced by third-party plugins for e-commerce functionality.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Jekyll is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality. It may require significant customization or integration with third-party plugins for e-commerce capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Flarum offers basic forum functionality but can be enhanced by popular third-party extensions for additional features and customization.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be used for a community/forum with the help of plugins like Jekyll Talk, but it requires additional setup compared to platforms with native forum features.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be supported through popular third-party extensions, enhancing Flarum's capabilities in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.


Other features

Flarum
Jekyll
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality is not supported natively in Flarum but can be achieved through the use of third-party plugins/extensions.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular plugins like jekyll-multilingual and jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in Flarum is primarily achieved through third-party extensions, offering flexibility and customization for different language requirements.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in Jekyll can be achieved through plugins like jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin, offering flexibility for internationalization needs.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Flarum 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.
Jekyll does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular plugins like jekyll-sitemap for this functionality.


When choosing between Flarum and Jekyll, consider the nature of your website. If you need a dynamic platform for community interactions, Flarum is the way to go. However, if you prefer a fast and secure static website, Jekyll is the better choice. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your specific needs and goals.