Hashnode vs Vanilla Forums
Please select two different options.
Hashnode and Vanilla Forums are both popular platforms for creating online communities and discussions. Hashnode is known for its focus on blogging and developer communities, while Vanilla Forums offers a more versatile solution for various types of online discussions and customer engagement.
General information
Hashnode
Vanilla Forums
Introduction :
Hashnode is a modern blogging platform that was launched in 2016. It is known for its user-friendly interface, robust community, and focus on developer-centric content. Hashnode allows users to create and customize their blogs easily, with features like code syntax highlighting and integration with popular developer tools. It is gaining popularity among tech enthusiasts and developers for its simplicity and support for Markdown formatting.
Hashnode is a modern blogging platform that was launched in 2016. It is known for its user-friendly interface, robust community, and focus on developer-centric content. Hashnode allows users to create and customize their blogs easily, with features like code syntax highlighting and integration with popular developer tools. It is gaining popularity among tech enthusiasts and developers for its simplicity and support for Markdown formatting.
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 :
- Easy to use for beginners
- Strong community support and resources
- Customization options for unique websites
- SEO-friendly features for better visibility
- Regular updates and improvements for security
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 customization options
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Less plugins and extensions available
- Limited SEO capabilities
- Smaller community support compared to others
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
Hashnode is used by thousands of websites as a blogging platform, offering a user-friendly experience and community engagement features.
Hashnode is used by thousands of websites as a blogging platform, offering a user-friendly experience and community engagement features.
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 : Easy.
Hashnode offers a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, making it easy for beginners to get started with minimal technical skills required.
Hashnode offers a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, making it easy for beginners to get started with minimal technical skills required.
🟡 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 : 2018
Hashnode was launched in 2018, making it a relatively newer platform compared to other content management systems and online platforms.
Hashnode was launched in 2018, making it a relatively newer platform compared to other content management systems and online 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://hashnode.com/
Official website :
https://vanillaforums.com/
Commercial details
Hashnode
Vanilla Forums
🟡 Open source : Partially.
Hashnode's codebase is not fully open source. Some parts are open, but others are proprietary. It is written in JavaScript.
Hashnode's codebase is not fully open source. Some parts are open, but others are proprietary. It is written in JavaScript.
🟡 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.
Hashnode offers a free option with limited features such as a custom domain and analytics. It is a hosted platform for bloggers and developers.
Hashnode offers a free option with limited features such as a custom domain and analytics. It is a hosted platform for bloggers and developers.
🟢 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.
Hashnode offers a paid option for additional features and customization, providing more value for users looking for advanced capabilities.
Hashnode offers a paid option for additional features and customization, providing more value for users looking for advanced capabilities.
🟢 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
Hashnode
Vanilla Forums
🟢 Hosted : Yes.
Hashnode offers a hosted option for users looking for a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their content.
Hashnode offers a hosted option for users looking for a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their content.
🟢 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 : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Hashnode through a number of 3rd party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting environment.
Self-hosting is possible with Hashnode through a number of 3rd party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting environment.
🟢 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.
Hashnode does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features via its API.
Hashnode does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features via its API.
⚪ 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 : Supported via plugin.
Hashnode does not natively support static content generation but can potentially achieve it via a popular plugin.
Hashnode does not natively support static content generation but can potentially achieve it via a popular plugin.
🟡 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
Hashnode
Vanilla Forums
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
Hashnode offers basic content management features but may require additional plugins for more advanced content management capabilities.
Hashnode offers basic content management features but may require additional plugins for more advanced content management capabilities.
🟡 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.
Hashnode offers basic blogging features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for more advanced functionality.
Hashnode offers basic blogging features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for more advanced functionality.
🟡 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.
Hashnode is primarily a blogging platform and may not have all the necessary features and integrations required for e-commerce functionality.
Hashnode is primarily a blogging platform and may not have all the necessary features and integrations required for e-commerce functionality.
🟡 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.
Hashnode offers community features through plugins like Disqus, providing a solid forum experience when enhanced with third-party tools.
Hashnode offers community features through plugins like Disqus, providing a solid forum experience when enhanced with third-party tools.
🟡 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 : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions and paywalls through third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for monetizing content on the platform.
Supports content subscriptions and paywalls through third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for monetizing content on the platform.
🟡 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
Hashnode
Vanilla Forums
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for managing multiple sites.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for managing multiple sites.
🟡 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.
Hashnode does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with third-party plugins or extensions for multi-language functionality.
Hashnode does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with third-party plugins or extensions 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.
XML sitemaps can be generated using third-party plugins on Hashnode, enhancing SEO capabilities for users who require this feature.
XML sitemaps can be generated using third-party plugins on Hashnode, enhancing SEO capabilities for users who require this feature.
🟡 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 Hashnode and Vanilla Forums, consider the specific needs of your online community. If you are looking for a platform tailored towards developers and blogging, Hashnode may be the better choice. However, if you require a more versatile solution for engaging with customers and managing various types of discussions, Vanilla Forums could be the ideal option for your online community.