Gridsome vs Vanilla Forums
Please select two different options.
Gridsome is a static site generator that allows for fast and efficient website development, while Vanilla Forums is an online platform focused on community engagement and discussion. Gridsome offers flexibility and performance for content-focused websites, while Vanilla Forums provides a robust platform for building online communities.
General information
Gridsome
Vanilla Forums
Introduction :
Gridsome is a modern website development framework for creating fast, secure, and dynamic websites using Vue.js. Launched in 2017, Gridsome is open-source and gaining popularity for its simplicity, performance, and flexibility. It allows developers to build static websites with dynamic capabilities, making it a popular choice for those looking to create high-performing websites with modern technologies.
Gridsome is a modern website development framework for creating fast, secure, and dynamic websites using Vue.js. Launched in 2017, Gridsome is open-source and gaining popularity for its simplicity, performance, and flexibility. It allows developers to build static websites with dynamic capabilities, making it a popular choice for those looking to create high-performing websites with modern technologies.
Introduction :
Vanilla Forums is a popular online community platform that was launched in 2005. It is not open source but is known for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and customization options. Vanilla Forums is widely used by businesses and organizations to create engaging online communities and foster customer engagement. Its popularity stems from its ease of use, scalability, and ability to integrate with other tools and platforms.
Vanilla Forums is a popular online community platform that was launched in 2005. It is not open source but is known for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and customization options. Vanilla Forums is widely used by businesses and organizations to create engaging online communities and foster customer engagement. Its popularity stems from its ease of use, scalability, and ability to integrate with other tools and platforms.
Advantages :
- Fast static site generation
- GraphQL data layer for efficient data fetching
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- SEO-friendly with built-in optimizations
- Easy integration with headless CMS platforms
Advantages :
- Easy to customize with themes and plugins
- Strong community support and resources
- User-friendly interface for both admins and users
- Built-in gamification features to increase engagement
- Robust security measures to protect user data
Disadvantages :
- Limited plugin ecosystem
- Steeper learning curve compared to WordPress
- Less community support and resources
- Limited built-in features compared to Shopify
- Less flexibility for complex website designs
Disadvantages :
- Limited customization options
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Lack of built-in SEO features
- Limited integrations with third-party apps
- Higher cost compared to some competitors
Website users : Thousands
Gridsome is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice for developers looking for a modern and efficient static site generator.
Gridsome is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice for developers looking for a modern and efficient static site generator.
Website users : Thousands
Vanilla Forums is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online community building and engagement.
Vanilla Forums is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online community building and engagement.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Gridsome may require some familiarity with Vue.js and GraphQL, but the documentation and community support can help navigate the learning curve.
Getting started with Gridsome may require some familiarity with Vue.js and GraphQL, but the documentation and community support can help navigate the learning curve.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Vanilla Forums requires basic technical skills and familiarity with forum platforms, making it an average level of difficulty.
Getting started with Vanilla Forums requires basic technical skills and familiarity with forum platforms, making it an average level of difficulty.
Year launched : 2017
Gridsome was launched in 2017, making it a relatively new player in the CMS market compared to more established platforms.
Gridsome was launched in 2017, making it a relatively new player in the CMS market compared to more established platforms.
Year launched : 2005
Vanilla Forums was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier platforms in the content management system landscape.
Vanilla Forums was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier platforms in the content management system landscape.
Official website :
https://gridsome.org/
Official website :
https://vanillaforums.com/
Commercial details
Gridsome
Vanilla Forums
🟢 Open source : Fully.
Gridsome is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The entire platform is available for modification and contribution by the community.
Gridsome is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The entire platform is available for modification and contribution by the community.
🟡 Open source : Partially.
Vanilla Forums is partially open source, with the core platform being open source but some features and plugins being proprietary.
Vanilla Forums is partially open source, with the core platform being open source but some features and plugins being proprietary.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Gridsome offers a free option with basic features, making it a cost-effective choice for those on a budget or looking to test the platform.
Gridsome offers a free option with basic features, making it a cost-effective choice for those on a budget or looking to test the platform.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Vanilla Forums offers a free option with limited features, making it a good choice for those on a tight budget or looking to test the platform.
Vanilla Forums offers a free option with limited features, making it a good choice for those on a tight budget or looking to test the platform.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Gridsome offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience.
Gridsome offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Vanilla Forums offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and advanced functionalities.
Vanilla Forums offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and advanced functionalities.
Platform details
Gridsome
Vanilla Forums
⚪ Hosted : Unknown.
Gridsome does not offer a directly hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for Gridsome sites.
Gridsome does not offer a directly hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for Gridsome sites.
🟢 Hosted : Yes.
Vanilla Forums offers a hosted option for users, providing a convenient and hassle-free solution for managing online forums.
Vanilla Forums offers a hosted option for users, providing a convenient and hassle-free solution for managing online forums.
⚪ Self host : Unknown.
Gridsome can be self-hosted, but details on self-hosting options are not clearly specified. Third-party vendors may offer hosting services.
Gridsome can be self-hosted, but details on self-hosting options are not clearly specified. Third-party vendors may offer hosting services.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting option available through third-party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting environment for Vanilla Forums users.
Self-hosting option available through third-party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting environment for Vanilla Forums users.
🟡 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome is not inherently headless but can be used as a headless system with plugins and API integrations for decoupled architecture.
Gridsome is not inherently headless but can be used as a headless system with plugins and API integrations for decoupled architecture.
⚪ Headless CMS : Unknown.
Vanilla Forums does not have native headless support, but it may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
Vanilla Forums does not have native headless support, but it may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
🟢 Static content generation : Support natively.
Gridsome natively supports static content generation, allowing for fast and efficient website performance without the need for additional plugins.
Gridsome natively supports static content generation, allowing for fast and efficient website performance without the need for additional plugins.
🟡 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Vanilla Forums through the use of a popular plugin, offering flexibility and customization options.
Static content generation is possible in Vanilla Forums through the use of a popular plugin, offering flexibility and customization options.
Key features
Gridsome
Vanilla Forums
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome offers content management capabilities through plugins, making it a good platform for managing content with additional customization options.
Gridsome offers content management capabilities through plugins, making it a good platform for managing content with additional customization options.
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums offers content management through plugins, making it versatile but requiring additional setup compared to platforms with native content management features.
Vanilla Forums offers content management through plugins, making it versatile but requiring additional setup compared to platforms with native content management features.
🟡 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome can be enhanced for blogging with plugins like Gridsome Source Filesystem for markdown files, but it's not native to the platform.
Gridsome can be enhanced for blogging with plugins like Gridsome Source Filesystem for markdown files, but it's not native to the platform.
🟡 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins, offering additional features and customization options.
Vanilla Forums can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins, offering additional features and customization options.
🔴 E-commerce : Not supported.
Gridsome is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native e-commerce features. However, it can potentially be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
Gridsome is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native e-commerce features. However, it can potentially be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
🟡 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for online stores.
Vanilla Forums can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for online stores.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome does not have native support for community/forum features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
Gridsome does not have native support for community/forum features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums offers a solid platform for community building, but may require additional plugins for enhanced functionality compared to other platforms.
Vanilla Forums offers a solid platform for community building, but may require additional plugins for enhanced functionality compared to other platforms.
⚪ Content subscription : Unknown.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls is not a native feature of Gridsome and availability of third-party plugins/extensions is uncertain.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls is not a native feature of Gridsome and availability of third-party plugins/extensions is uncertain.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
Other features
Gridsome
Vanilla Forums
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through the use of third-party plugins or extensions.
Gridsome does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through the use of third-party plugins or extensions.
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums does not support multi-site natively but can be enabled through third-party plugins for enhanced functionality.
Vanilla Forums does not support multi-site natively but can be enabled through third-party plugins for enhanced functionality.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome does not have native multi-language support but can be enhanced with plugins like @gridsome/plugin-i18n for multi-language functionality.
Gridsome does not have native multi-language support but can be enhanced with plugins like @gridsome/plugin-i18n for multi-language functionality.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Vanilla Forums does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for multi-language functionality.
Vanilla Forums does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for multi-language functionality.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Gridsome does not support XML sitemaps natively but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
Gridsome does not support XML sitemaps natively but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemap functionality can be added through a popular 3rd party plugin or extension for enhanced SEO capabilities on Vanilla Forums.
XML sitemap functionality can be added through a popular 3rd party plugin or extension for enhanced SEO capabilities on Vanilla Forums.
When choosing between Gridsome and Vanilla Forums, consider your website’s primary focus. If you prioritize content delivery and performance, Gridsome is the way to go. On the other hand, if community engagement and discussion are key aspects of your website, Vanilla Forums offers the necessary tools and features. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific needs and goals.