Astro vs Halo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Astro | Halo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 62,777 | ★ 39,879 |
| First released | 2021 | 2018 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Medium | WordPress, Medium |
What are Astro and Halo?
Astro
Astro is an open-source web framework for building fast, content-focused websites and blogs. It ships zero JavaScript by default and supports components from React, Vue, Svelte, and more.
- Zero JavaScript by default
- Use any UI framework
- Content collections for blogs
- Fast static output
Halo
Halo is a modern open-source blogging and website platform written in Java. It offers a clean admin interface, a plugin and theme marketplace, and an extensible architecture.
- Modern admin interface
- Plugin and theme marketplace
- REST API
- Markdown editor
Astro vs Halo: key differences
Astro is written in TypeScript, while Halo is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Astro versus GPL-3.0 for Halo. Astro is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Halo. Halo is the more established project (first released 2018), while Astro arrived in 2021. Halo lists first-class Docker deployment; Astro does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Astro if…
- Excellent performance
- Flexible component model
Watch out for
- No admin UI
- Requires Node tooling
Choose Halo if…
- Polished modern UI
- Active development
Watch out for
- Higher memory needs from Java
- Docs strongest in Chinese
Frequently asked questions
Is Astro or Halo better?
Neither is universally better. Astro has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Astro and Halo free and open-source?
Yes. Astro is licensed under MIT and Halo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Astro and Halo with Docker?
Astro: check the project docs for container support. Halo: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Astro or Halo?
Astro has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Halo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.