Grav vs Invision Community

Grav and Invision Community are both popular platforms for managing online content and communities. Grav is a flat-file CMS known for its simplicity and speed, while Invision Community is a robust forum software with advanced community-building features.

General information

Grav
Invision Community
Introduction :
Grav is a modern open-source flat-file CMS that was launched in 2014. It has gained popularity for its simplicity, speed, and flexibility, making it a popular choice for developers and content creators. Grav's modular architecture allows for easy customization and its Markdown-based content creation simplifies the publishing process. With a growing community and extensive documentation, Grav is a reliable platform for building websites of all sizes.
Introduction :
Invision Community is a robust platform that offers a comprehensive suite of community building tools, including forums, blogs, and galleries. Launched in 2002, it has a strong reputation for being user-friendly and highly customizable. Invision Community is popular among online communities for its extensive features, active support community, and regular updates to keep pace with evolving online trends.
Advantages :
  • Fast performance due to flat-file structure. - Highly flexible and customizable with modular architecture. - Built-in version control for content. - Excellent caching system for improved speed. - Easy to learn and use for beginners.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate interface
  • Active and supportive community
  • Regular updates and improvements
  • Customizable design and functionality
  • Integrated tools for engagement and analytics
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of themes available
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms
  • Less user-friendly for beginners
  • Smaller community support compared to others
  • Limited built-in features and functionalities
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited customization options compared to others
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Requires regular maintenance and updates
Website users : Thousands
Grav is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice among content management systems for web development projects.
Website users : Thousands
Invision Community is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online communities and forums.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Grav requires some technical knowledge, but the documentation and community support can help navigate the learning curve.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Invision Community has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical skills to set up and customize, but resources are available for assistance.
Year launched : 2011
Grav was launched in 2011, positioning it as a relatively newer content management system compared to others in the market.
Year launched : 2002
Invision Community was launched in 2002, making it one of the earlier content management systems available in the market.
Official website : https://getgrav.org/


Commercial details

Grav
Invision Community
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Grav is partially open source, with the core code being fully open source but some premium plugins and themes being proprietary.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Invision Community is partially open source, with limited access to the source code for customization and development purposes.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Grav offers a free option with no limitations on features, making it a cost-effective choice for users looking to build websites without spending money.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
There is a free option available for Invision Community, but it may have limited features compared to paid plans. It is a self-hosted platform.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Grav offers a paid option for users seeking additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience for those willing to invest.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Invision Community offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing more value for users looking for advanced capabilities.


Platform details

Grav
Invision Community
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
There are hosted options available for Grav, offering convenience and ease of use for users who prefer a hosted solution.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Invision Community offers a hosted option, providing users with the convenience of a managed service for their online community platform.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Grav through various third-party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting options.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Invision Community offers a self-host option, allowing users to host the platform on their own servers or through third-party vendors.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Grav does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features via plugins or APIs.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Invision Community does not have native headless support, but it may offer headless features through its API. Further research is recommended.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Grav does not natively support static content generation but can achieve this functionality perhaps via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Invision Community through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for users.


Key features

Grav
Invision Community
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Grav offers a robust native content management system, providing comprehensive tools and features for efficient content management without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Invision Community offers robust native content management tools, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Grav can be enhanced for blogging with popular plugins like Blog Site and SimpleSearch, offering robust features for content creation and management.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community offers basic blogging capabilities, but it is enhanced by third-party plugins for more advanced features and customization.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Grav can be enhanced for e-commerce with popular plugins like Snipcart or Ecwid, offering robust features for online stores.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Commerce, offering robust features for online stores.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Grav can support a community/forum with the right plugins/extensions, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native community features.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Invision Community offers a robust set of community features out of the box, making it a strong platform for building forums and communities.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Grav's functionality in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options within Invision Community.


Other features

Grav
Invision Community
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Grav does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by the popular 'MultiSite' plugin for managing multiple sites from a single installation.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved via third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for managing multiple sites within Invision Community.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Grav does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced by popular plugins like 'Grav Multi-Language Plugin' for this functionality.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Invision Community supports multi-language natively, making it easy for users to create and manage content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemaps can be added through a popular third-party plugin, enhancing Grav's functionality in this area.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.


When choosing between Grav and Invision Community, consider your specific needs - Grav is ideal for smaller websites that prioritize speed and ease of use, while Invision Community is better suited for larger communities looking for advanced forum and community-building tools. Ultimately, the right choice depends on the scale and functionality required for your online platform.