Medium vs Jekyll

Jekyll and Medium are both popular platforms for creating and publishing online content. Jekyll is a static site generator that offers more control over customization and hosting options, while Medium is a user-friendly platform with a built-in audience and social features.

General information

Medium
Jekyll
Introduction :
Our platform is a versatile and user-friendly content management system that has gained popularity for its ease of use and customization options. Launched in [year], it has quickly become a go-to choice for individuals and businesses looking to create and manage their online presence. With a wide range of themes and plugins available, our platform offers endless possibilities for creating unique and professional websites.
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.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use for beginners
  • Wide range of themes and plugins
  • Strong community support
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Customizable design options
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
Disadvantages :
  • Limited customization options
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited support for e-commerce functionality
  • Limited scalability for large websites
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
Website users : Over 40% of websites
A widely-used platform with a significant market share, making it a popular choice for a large number of websites.
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.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started requires basic technical skills and understanding of the platform. Some initial learning curve but resources available for assistance.
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.
Year launched : 2002
Launched in 2002, Medium has been providing a platform for writers and publishers to share their content for nearly two decades.
Year launched : 2008
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Official website : https://medium.com/
Official website : https://jekyllrb.com/


Commercial details

Medium
Jekyll
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Medium's platform is partially open source, with limited access to the codebase for customization and development.
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 Free option : Yes.
There is a free option available with limited features, suitable for basic websites or blogs. Additional features may require a paid plan.
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 Paid option : Yes.
Paid options available for additional features and support, providing more customization and flexibility for users.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.


Platform details

Medium
Jekyll
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
There are hosted options available for users, offering convenience and ease of use without the need for self-hosting.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting options available through various third-party vendors, offering flexibility and control over hosting environment.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Support for headless systems is not clearly stated, but there may be headless features available through an API.
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 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Medium does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.
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.


Key features

Medium
Jekyll
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Medium offers basic content management features but may require additional plugins for more advanced functionality compared to other platforms.
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.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Medium is a good platform for blogging when enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for additional features and customization options.
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.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Medium can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins like Shopify Buy Button or Ecwid integration.
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 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Medium offers basic community features, but its functionality can be enhanced by third-party plugins for a more robust forum experience.
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 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls are supported through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for monetizing content on Medium.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.


Other features

Medium
Jekyll
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Support for multi-site is available through popular plugins, offering flexibility and scalability for managing multiple sites within the platform.
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.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Supports multiple languages via plugins like WPML or Polylang, offering flexibility and customization for multilingual websites.
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 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemaps can be supported through popular third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for users who require this feature.
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.


When deciding between Jekyll and Medium, consider your technical skills and hosting preferences. If you value flexibility and control over your website, Jekyll may be the better choice. However, if you prefer a simpler, all-in-one platform with a built-in audience, Medium could be the right option for you.