Jekyll vs WordPress

Jekyll and WordPress are both popular content management systems for creating websites. Jekyll is a static site generator that requires technical knowledge, while WordPress is a user-friendly platform with a wide range of plugins and themes.

General information

Jekyll
WordPress
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.
Introduction :
WordPress is a widely-used open-source content management system that was first released in 2003. It is known for its flexibility, ease of use, and extensive plugin library, making it a popular choice for bloggers, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. With a vast community of developers and users, WordPress continues to evolve and improve, offering a customizable platform for creating websites of all types and sizes.
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 and customize
  • Large community for support
  • Wide range of plugins and themes
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Regular updates and security patches
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 :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Vulnerable to security breaches without updates
  • Limited customization options without coding knowledge
  • Can be resource-intensive, affecting site speed
  • Regular maintenance required for optimal performance
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.
Website users : 40%
WordPress powers approximately 40% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular content management system globally.
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸข Difficulty : Easy.
WordPress offers a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, making it easy for beginners to get started with building a website.
Year launched : 2008
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Year launched : 2003
WordPress was launched in 2003, making it one of the oldest and most established content management systems available.
Official website : https://jekyllrb.com/
Official website : https://wordpress.org/


Commercial details

Jekyll
WordPress
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Jekyll is fully open source, written in Ruby. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
WordPress is fully open source, allowing users to freely modify and distribute the code to suit their needs.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a free option with basic features. Users can host their site for free on platforms like GitHub Pages.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
WordPress offers a free option with limited features. It is a self-hosted platform, allowing users to customize and extend functionality with plugins.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
WordPress offers a paid option for additional features, customization, and support, providing users with more flexibility and resources for their websites.


Platform details

Jekyll
WordPress
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
WordPress offers a hosted option through WordPress.com, providing a convenient solution for users who prefer a fully managed hosting service.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
WordPress offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose from a variety of 3rd party vendors for hosting their website.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via APIs.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
WordPress does not natively support headless systems but can be achieved through plugins or custom development using its REST API.
๐ŸŸข 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.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
WordPress does not natively support static content generation but can achieve this functionality perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

Jekyll
WordPress
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
WordPress offers native content management tools, making it a strong platform for managing various types of content efficiently.
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸข Blogging : Support natively.
WordPress is a top choice for blogging with native features like customizable themes, SEO tools, and easy content management, making it ideal for bloggers.
๐Ÿ”ด 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.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
WordPress can be enhanced by popular e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, providing robust features for online stores.
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
WordPress can be enhanced by popular forum plugins like bbPress or BuddyPress for robust community and forum functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
WordPress does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by popular plugins like MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro.


Other features

Jekyll
WordPress
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸข Multi-site : Support natively.
WordPress supports multi-site natively, allowing users to create and manage multiple websites from a single installation, making it a powerful feature for managing multiple sites.
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
WordPress does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced by popular plugins like WPML or Polylang for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก 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.
๐ŸŸข XML Sitemaps : Support natively.
WordPress natively supports XML sitemaps, providing an easy way for search engines to crawl and index website content.


When choosing between Jekyll and WordPress, consider your technical expertise and the level of customization you require. If you prefer simplicity and a large community support, WordPress may be the better choice. However, if you have coding skills and value speed and security, Jekyll could be the ideal solution for your website needs.