Hexo vs KeystoneJS

Hexo and KeystoneJS are both popular content management systems, but they cater to different needs. Hexo is a static site generator, ideal for simple websites and blogs, while KeystoneJS is a dynamic CMS suitable for more complex web applications.

General information

Hexo
KeystoneJS
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 :
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 rendering speed
  • Easy to use and set up
  • Markdown support
  • Customizable themes and plugins
  • Active community and support
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 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 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 : 0.1% of websites
Hexo is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, with a niche user base.
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 Hexo requires some technical knowledge of Markdown and command line interface, making it average in terms of ease of use.
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 : 2012
Hexo was launched in 2012, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems on 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://hexo.io/
Official website : https://keystonejs.com/


Commercial details

Hexo
KeystoneJS
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Hexo is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The platform allows for complete customization and contributions from the community.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
KeystoneJS is fully open source and written in JavaScript, allowing for complete customization and community contributions.
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.
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.
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.
KeystoneJS offers a paid option for additional features, hosting, and support, providing users with more comprehensive and tailored solutions.


Platform details

Hexo
KeystoneJS
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Hexo are not clearly stated, further research or inquiries may be needed to determine availability.
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.
Hexo can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
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.
Hexo does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features through 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.
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 KeystoneJS through plugins, offering flexibility for users to generate static content if needed.


Key features

Hexo
KeystoneJS
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Hexo offers some content management capabilities, but primarily relies on plugins for more advanced features and functionality.
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.
Hexo is a good platform for blogging when enhanced by popular 3rd party plugins/extensions for added functionality and customization options.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
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

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


When choosing between Hexo and KeystoneJS, consider the complexity of your project. If you need a simple and fast website, Hexo is a great choice. However, if you require a more robust CMS with dynamic content capabilities, KeystoneJS would be the better option. Ultimately, the right choice depends on the specific requirements of your project.