Jekyll vs Squarespace
Please select two different options.
Jekyll is a static site generator that requires technical knowledge to set up and customize, while Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder with drag-and-drop functionality. Jekyll offers more control over the design and structure of the site, but Squarespace provides pre-designed templates and a simpler interface.
General information
Jekyll
Squarespace
Introduction :
Jekyll is a static site generator that was launched in 2008 and is open source. It has gained popularity for its simplicity, speed, and security. Jekyll is widely used by developers and bloggers who prefer a lightweight and flexible platform for creating websites. Its ease of use and compatibility with version control systems like Git make it a popular choice for those looking to build fast and secure websites.
Jekyll is a static site generator that was launched in 2008 and is open source. It has gained popularity for its simplicity, speed, and security. Jekyll is widely used by developers and bloggers who prefer a lightweight and flexible platform for creating websites. Its ease of use and compatibility with version control systems like Git make it a popular choice for those looking to build fast and secure websites.
Introduction :
Squarespace is a popular website building platform that was launched in 2004. It is not open source but is known for its user-friendly interface and beautiful design templates. Squarespace is a preferred choice for individuals and small businesses looking to create professional-looking websites without the need for coding skills. Its drag-and-drop functionality and integrated e-commerce features make it a convenient option for those seeking a visually appealing online presence.
Squarespace is a popular website building platform that was launched in 2004. It is not open source but is known for its user-friendly interface and beautiful design templates. Squarespace is a preferred choice for individuals and small businesses looking to create professional-looking websites without the need for coding skills. Its drag-and-drop functionality and integrated e-commerce features make it a convenient option for those seeking a visually appealing online presence.
Advantages :
- Easy to use and setup for beginners
- Large community for support and resources
- Customizable with themes and plugins
- Fast performance with static site generation
- Secure with built-in features and updates
Advantages :
- Easy to use for beginners
- Beautiful and professional templates
- Excellent customer support
- Integrated e-commerce functionality
- Mobile responsive designs
Disadvantages :
- Limited built-in features compared to others
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Less user-friendly interface for non-developers
- Limited theme options and customization capabilities
- Smaller community support and resources
Disadvantages :
- Limited customization options compared to WordPress
- Higher cost compared to open-source platforms
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Limited third-party integrations compared to Shopify
- Limited SEO capabilities compared to specialized platforms
Website users : Over 1 million websites
Jekyll is a popular choice for static websites, with a significant user base due to its simplicity and flexibility.
Jekyll is a popular choice for static websites, with a significant user base due to its simplicity and flexibility.
Website users : Millions
Squarespace powers millions of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for individuals and businesses looking for a user-friendly website builder.
Squarespace powers millions of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for individuals and businesses looking for a user-friendly website builder.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Jekyll requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Markdown. Some technical skills are needed, but resources are available for assistance.
Getting started with Jekyll requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Markdown. Some technical skills are needed, but resources are available for assistance.
🟢 Difficulty : Easy.
Squarespace offers intuitive drag-and-drop tools, templates, and customer support, making it easy for beginners to create a website without technical skills.
Squarespace offers intuitive drag-and-drop tools, templates, and customer support, making it easy for beginners to create a website without technical skills.
Year launched : 2008
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Year launched : 2004
Squarespace was launched in 2004, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for website creation and hosting.
Squarespace was launched in 2004, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for website creation and hosting.
Official website :
https://jekyllrb.com/
Official website :
https://www.squarespace.com/
Commercial details
Jekyll
Squarespace
🟢 Open source : Fully.
Jekyll is fully open source, written in Ruby. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
Jekyll is fully open source, written in Ruby. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
🟡 Open source : Partially.
Squarespace is not open source, but does offer limited customization options through its developer platform and code injection features.
Squarespace is not open source, but does offer limited customization options through its developer platform and code injection features.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a free option with basic features. Users can host their site for free on platforms like GitHub Pages.
Jekyll offers a free option with basic features. Users can host their site for free on platforms like GitHub Pages.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Squarespace offers a free 14-day trial, but there is no ongoing free plan. Limited features available during trial period.
Squarespace offers a free 14-day trial, but there is no ongoing free plan. Limited features available during trial period.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Squarespace offers paid plans with additional features and customization options, providing value for users looking for more advanced functionality.
Squarespace offers paid plans with additional features and customization options, providing value for users looking for more advanced functionality.
Platform details
Jekyll
Squarespace
🟢 Hosted : Yes.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
🟢 Hosted : Yes.
Squarespace offers a fully hosted option, providing users with a seamless and hassle-free website building experience.
Squarespace offers a fully hosted option, providing users with a seamless and hassle-free website building experience.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
⚪ Self host : Unknown.
Squarespace does not offer a self-hosting option, but there may be third-party vendors that provide hosting services for Squarespace websites.
Squarespace does not offer a self-hosting option, but there may be third-party vendors that provide hosting services for Squarespace websites.
🟡 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via APIs.
Jekyll does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via APIs.
🟡 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Squarespace does not natively support headless CMS, but it can be achieved through third-party plugins and APIs for headless functionality.
Squarespace does not natively support headless CMS, but it can be achieved through third-party plugins and APIs for headless functionality.
🟢 Static content generation : Support natively.
Jekyll natively supports static content generation, making it efficient for creating and managing static websites without the need for additional plugins.
Jekyll natively supports static content generation, making it efficient for creating and managing static websites without the need for additional plugins.
🟡 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible on Squarespace, perhaps via a popular plugin, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.
Static content generation is possible on Squarespace, perhaps via a popular plugin, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.
Key features
Jekyll
Squarespace
🟡 Content management : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll requires plugins for advanced content management features, making it less user-friendly compared to platforms with native content management capabilities.
Jekyll requires plugins for advanced content management features, making it less user-friendly compared to platforms with native content management capabilities.
🟢 Content management : Support natively.
Squarespace offers a user-friendly interface for managing content, making it a strong platform compared to others that may require additional plugins or customization.
Squarespace offers a user-friendly interface for managing content, making it a strong platform compared to others that may require additional plugins or customization.
🟡 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be enhanced by popular plugins for blogging features, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native blogging capabilities.
Jekyll can be enhanced by popular plugins for blogging features, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native blogging capabilities.
🟢 Blogging : Support natively.
Squarespace offers a user-friendly blogging platform with built-in features for creating and managing content, making it a strong choice for bloggers.
Squarespace offers a user-friendly blogging platform with built-in features for creating and managing content, making it a strong choice for bloggers.
🔴 E-commerce : Not supported.
Jekyll is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality. It may require significant customization or integration with third-party plugins for e-commerce capabilities.
Jekyll is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality. It may require significant customization or integration with third-party plugins for e-commerce capabilities.
🟢 E-commerce : Support natively.
Squarespace is a good platform for e-commerce with native features like inventory management, secure payments, and customizable storefronts.
Squarespace is a good platform for e-commerce with native features like inventory management, secure payments, and customizable storefronts.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be used for a community/forum with the help of plugins like Jekyll Talk, but it requires additional setup compared to platforms with native forum features.
Jekyll can be used for a community/forum with the help of plugins like Jekyll Talk, but it requires additional setup compared to platforms with native forum features.
🟡 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Squarespace does not have native community/forum features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for this functionality.
Squarespace does not have native community/forum features but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for this functionality.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.
🟢 Content subscription : Support natively.
Squarespace supports content subscriptions and paywalls natively, allowing users to easily monetize their content and restrict access to paid subscribers.
Squarespace supports content subscriptions and paywalls natively, allowing users to easily monetize their content and restrict access to paid subscribers.
Other features
Jekyll
Squarespace
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular plugins like jekyll-multilingual and jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin.
Jekyll does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular plugins like jekyll-multilingual and jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin.
🔴 Multi-site : Not supported.
Squarespace does not support multi-site functionality natively or through a popular 3rd party plugin/extension.
Squarespace does not support multi-site functionality natively or through a popular 3rd party plugin/extension.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in Jekyll can be achieved through plugins like jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin, offering flexibility for internationalization needs.
Multi-language support in Jekyll can be achieved through plugins like jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin, offering flexibility for internationalization needs.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Squarespace does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for this feature.
Squarespace does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for this feature.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular plugins like jekyll-sitemap for this functionality.
Jekyll does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular plugins like jekyll-sitemap for this functionality.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Squarespace does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be implemented using third-party plugins or extensions for enhanced functionality.
Squarespace does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be implemented using third-party plugins or extensions for enhanced functionality.
When choosing between Jekyll and Squarespace, consider your technical expertise and design preferences. If you’re comfortable with coding and want more customization options, Jekyll may be the better choice. However, if you prefer a user-friendly platform with ready-made templates, Squarespace is the way to go. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your specific needs and comfort level with technology.