Hexo vs Gatsby

Gatsby and Hexo are both popular static site generators used for building fast and efficient websites. Gatsby is known for its React-based framework and extensive plugin ecosystem, while Hexo is praised for its simplicity and ease of use, especially for blogging purposes.

General information

Hexo
Gatsby
Introduction :
Hexo is a popular static site generator that was launched in 2012. It is an open-source platform that allows users to create fast and efficient websites with ease. Hexo is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a preferred choice for developers looking to build static websites quickly. With a growing community and extensive documentation, Hexo continues to gain popularity among users seeking a streamlined content management solution.
Introduction :
Gatsby is a modern website framework that uses React to build blazing fast websites. Launched in 2015, it has gained popularity for its ability to create high-performance websites with a great user experience. Gatsby is open source and has a strong community of developers contributing to its growth. Its popularity stems from its speed, SEO benefits, and ease of use for developers looking to build static websites or dynamic web applications.
Advantages :
  • Fast rendering speed
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Markdown support
  • Customizable themes and plugins
  • Active community and support
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate interface
  • Strong community support and resources
  • Fast loading times and performance
  • Customizable design and templates
  • Integrated SEO tools for better visibility
Disadvantages :
  • Limited themes and plugins available
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less community support compared to others
  • Limited e-commerce functionality
  • Customization options may be more limited
Disadvantages :
  • Limited customization options
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Higher cost compared to some competitors
  • Limited built-in SEO features
  • Lack of built-in customer support options
Website users : 0.1% of websites
Hexo is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, with a niche user base.
Website users : 30%
Gatsby is used by approximately 30% of websites compared to other platforms in the market.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Hexo requires some technical knowledge of Markdown and command line interface, making it average in terms of ease of use.
๐Ÿ”ด Difficulty : Hard.
Gatsby can be difficult to get started with due to its complex setup and configuration requirements, requiring a good understanding of React and GraphQL.
Year launched : 2012
Hexo was launched in 2012, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems on the market.
Year launched : 2015
Gatsby was launched in 2015, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to others in the content management system market.
Official website : https://hexo.io/
Official website : https://www.gatsbyjs.com/


Commercial details

Hexo
Gatsby
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Hexo is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The platform allows for complete customization and contributions from the community.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Gatsby is partially open source, with the core framework and many plugins being open source, but some features may require a commercial license.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Hexo offers a free self-hosted option with no limitations on features, making it a cost-effective choice for users looking to build websites.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Gatsby offers a free option with limited features, making it a good choice for those on a budget or looking to test the platform.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Hexo offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience compared to free alternatives.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Gatsby offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a comprehensive solution for those willing to invest.


Platform details

Hexo
Gatsby
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Hexo are not clearly stated, further research or inquiries may be needed to determine availability.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Gatsby offers a hosted option through third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of managed hosting services for their websites.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Hexo can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Gatsby through various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features through plugins or APIs.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Gatsby is primarily a static site generator, but it can be used as a headless CMS with the help of APIs and integrations.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Hexo natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and reliable for generating static websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Gatsby through plugins like gatsby-plugin-react-helmet for SEO optimization and gatsby-plugin-offline for offline support.


Key features

Hexo
Gatsby
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Hexo offers some content management capabilities, but primarily relies on plugins for more advanced features and functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Gatsby is primarily a static site generator, so content management capabilities are achieved through plugins rather than native features.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Hexo is a good platform for blogging when enhanced by popular 3rd party plugins/extensions for added functionality and customization options.
๐Ÿ”ด Blogging : Not supported.
Gatsby is not specifically designed for blogging, lacking native features for managing and publishing blog content compared to other platforms.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Hexo does not have native e-commerce capabilities but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for online store functionality.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Gatsby is not specifically designed for e-commerce but can be enhanced with plugins/extensions for limited functionality. Consider other platforms for robust e-commerce capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support community/forum features but can be enhanced by popular plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Gatsby 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, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through various third-party plugins/extensions on Gatsby, enhancing its functionality for monetizing content.


Other features

Hexo
Gatsby
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with the Hexo Multi-Lingual plugin for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality is not supported natively in Gatsby, but can be achieved through the use of third-party plugins/extensions.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Hexo does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with plugins like hexo-generator-i18n for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Gatsby does not support multi-language natively but can be enhanced by popular plugins like gatsby-plugin-i18n for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemap functionality can be added to Hexo through third-party plugins, offering enhanced SEO capabilities for users.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Support for XML sitemaps in Gatsby is typically achieved through popular third-party plugins or extensions.


When choosing between Gatsby and Hexo, consider your level of expertise and the complexity of your project. Gatsby offers more flexibility and advanced features, making it ideal for larger and more dynamic websites. On the other hand, Hexo is a great choice for beginners or those looking for a straightforward blogging platform. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your specific needs and preferences.