Invision Community vs ButterCMS

ButterCMS and Invision Community are both popular platforms for managing online content. ButterCMS is a headless CMS that offers flexibility and ease of use, while Invision Community is a community forum software with robust features for engaging with users.

General information

Invision Community
ButterCMS
Introduction :
Invision Community is a robust platform that offers a comprehensive suite of community building tools, including forums, blogs, and galleries. Launched in 2002, it has a strong reputation for being user-friendly and highly customizable. Invision Community is popular among online communities for its extensive features, active support community, and regular updates to keep pace with evolving online trends.
Introduction :
ButterCMS is a headless content management system that was launched in 2014. It offers a user-friendly interface and robust API for developers to easily integrate content into their websites and applications. ButterCMS is not open source but is popular for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a preferred choice for businesses looking to streamline their content management processes.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate interface
  • Active and supportive community
  • Regular updates and improvements
  • Customizable design and functionality
  • Integrated tools for engagement and analytics
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate interface
  • Seamless integration with existing websites
  • Robust API for customization and flexibility
  • Fast content delivery with CDN
  • Scalable for growing businesses
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited customization options compared to others
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Requires regular maintenance and updates
Disadvantages :
  • Limited customization options
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Not as widely supported as other platforms
Website users : Thousands
Invision Community is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online communities and forums.
Website users : Thousands of websites
ButterCMS is used by a significant number of websites, making it a popular choice among content management systems.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Invision Community has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical skills to set up and customize, but resources are available for assistance.
๐ŸŸข Difficulty : Easy.
ButterCMS offers a user-friendly interface and comprehensive documentation, making it easy for users to get started without needing advanced technical skills.
Year launched : 2002
Invision Community was launched in 2002, making it one of the earlier content management systems available in the market.
Year launched : 2014
ButterCMS was launched in 2014, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to more established CMS platforms.
Official website : https://buttercms.com/


Commercial details

Invision Community
ButterCMS
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Invision Community is partially open source, with limited access to the source code for customization and development purposes.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
ButterCMS is not fully open source, but offers some level of customization and flexibility for developers to work with.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
There is a free option available for Invision Community, but it may have limited features compared to paid plans. It is a self-hosted platform.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
ButterCMS 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.
Invision Community offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing more value for users looking for advanced capabilities.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
ButterCMS offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support beyond the free plan.


Platform details

Invision Community
ButterCMS
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Invision Community offers a hosted option, providing users with the convenience of a managed service for their online community platform.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
ButterCMS offers various pricing plans, but it is unclear if there is a fully hosted option available directly from ButterCMS.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Invision Community offers a self-host option, allowing users to host the platform on their own servers or through third-party vendors.
โšช Self host : Unknown.
ButterCMS does not offer a self-hosting option, but there may be third-party vendors available for hosting services.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Invision Community does not have native headless support, but it may offer headless features through its API. Further research is recommended.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS supports headless features via its API, allowing for decoupled front-end development while still utilizing its content management capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Invision Community through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

Invision Community
ButterCMS
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Invision Community offers robust native content management tools, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS is a good platform for managing content with its easy-to-use plugin integration, but it may require additional setup compared to native solutions.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community offers basic blogging capabilities, but it is enhanced by third-party plugins for more advanced features and customization.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS is primarily a headless CMS with a focus on content delivery. Blogging functionality can be enhanced through plugins.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Commerce, offering robust features for online stores.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
ButterCMS is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality, lacking native features for online stores. It may require third-party plugins for such capabilities.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Invision Community offers a robust set of community features out of the box, making it a strong platform for building forums and communities.
๐Ÿ”ด Community forum : Not supported.
ButterCMS does not have native support for community/forum features. It may require integration with third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options within Invision Community.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for monetizing content.


Other features

Invision Community
ButterCMS
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved via third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for managing multiple sites within Invision Community.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Invision Community supports multi-language natively, making it easy for users to create and manage content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
ButterCMS does not support XML sitemaps natively but can be implemented using popular third-party plugins or extensions.


When choosing between ButterCMS and Invision Community, consider your specific needs - if you require a versatile content management system, ButterCMS may be the better choice. However, if community engagement and interaction are your priorities, Invision Community offers a comprehensive solution. Ultimately, the right decision depends on your unique requirements and goals.