Grav vs KeystoneJS

Grav and KeystoneJS are both popular content management systems, but they cater to different needs. Grav is a flat-file CMS known for its simplicity and speed, while KeystoneJS is a powerful headless CMS that offers more advanced features and customization options.

General information

Grav
KeystoneJS
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 :
KeystoneJS is a powerful open-source content management system and web application framework that was launched in 2013. It is popular for its flexibility, ease of use, and robust features such as database management, authentication, and dynamic routing. KeystoneJS is widely used for building dynamic websites and web applications, making it a popular choice among developers looking for a scalable and customizable platform.
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 customize
  • Built-in user authentication and access control
  • Flexible content modeling with schemas
  • Active community and support
  • Scalable for large projects
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 :
  • Limited theme options
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some
  • Less community support than WordPress
  • Not as customizable as other platforms
  • Limited plugins and extensions available
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
KeystoneJS is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice among developers for building dynamic web applications.
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.
KeystoneJS requires some familiarity with Node.js and MongoDB, making it average in terms of ease of getting started compared to other CMS platforms.
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 : 2013
KeystoneJS was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems.
Official website : https://getgrav.org/
Official website : https://keystonejs.com/


Commercial details

Grav
KeystoneJS
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.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
KeystoneJS is fully open source and written in JavaScript, allowing for complete customization and community contributions.
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.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
KeystoneJS offers a free option, but the specifics regarding limitations or features of the free plan are unclear.
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.
KeystoneJS offers a paid option for additional features, hosting, and support, providing users with more comprehensive and tailored solutions.


Platform details

Grav
KeystoneJS
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.
KeystoneJS offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of managed hosting services.
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.
KeystoneJS can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Grav does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features via plugins or APIs.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
KeystoneJS supports headless features via its API, allowing for decoupled front-end development and content management capabilities.
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 KeystoneJS through plugins, offering flexibility for users to generate static content if needed.


Key features

Grav
KeystoneJS
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.
KeystoneJS excels in content management with its native capabilities, offering robust tools for creating, editing, and organizing content efficiently.
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.
KeystoneJS can be used for blogging with the help of plugins like keystone-blog, offering basic blogging functionality but may require additional 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.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
KeystoneJS is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. It may require extensive customization or integration with third-party plugins.
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.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
KeystoneJS can be used for a community/forum with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options.
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 using third-party plugins/extensions in KeystoneJS, enhancing its functionality in this area.


Other features

Grav
KeystoneJS
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 in KeystoneJS through the use of third-party plugins or extensions.
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.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multilingual support can be achieved via plugins like keystone-multilingual or keystone-localisation, enhancing native capabilities.
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.
XML sitemaps can be implemented through a popular 3rd party plugin or extension, enhancing the SEO capabilities of KeystoneJS.


When choosing between Grav and KeystoneJS, consider your specific requirements. If you value simplicity and speed, Grav may be the right choice for you. However, if you need more advanced features and customization options, KeystoneJS could be the better option. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your individual needs and preferences.