BlogEngine.NET vs HTMLy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | BlogEngine.NET | HTMLy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 13 · At risk | 56 · Fair |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MS-PL | MIT |
| Language | C# | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 985 | ★ 1,364 |
| First released | 2007 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are BlogEngine.NET and HTMLy?
BlogEngine.NET
BlogEngine.NET is an open-source blogging platform built on ASP.NET that is easy to set up and customize. It works without a database using XML storage, or with SQL databases for larger blogs.
- XML or SQL storage
- Widget and theme system
- Multi-author support
- Built-in comment handling
HTMLy
HTMLy is an open-source databaseless flat-file blogging platform written in PHP. It is fast, lightweight, and stores all posts as text files for easy backup and migration.
- Databaseless flat-file storage
- Markdown content
- Multi-user roles
- Built-in themes
BlogEngine.NET vs HTMLy: key differences
BlogEngine.NET is written in C#, while HTMLy is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MS-PL for BlogEngine.NET versus MIT for HTMLy. HTMLy is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for BlogEngine.NET. BlogEngine.NET is the more established project (first released 2007), while HTMLy arrived in 2014. HTMLy lists first-class Docker deployment; BlogEngine.NET does not.
Why pick each one
Choose BlogEngine.NET if…
- Good fit for the .NET stack
- No database required option
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Smaller ecosystem
Choose HTMLy if…
- No database to maintain
- Fast and lightweight
Watch out for
- Limited plugin ecosystem
- Small community
Frequently asked questions
Is BlogEngine.NET or HTMLy better?
HTMLy is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider BlogEngine.NET if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are BlogEngine.NET and HTMLy free and open-source?
Yes. BlogEngine.NET is licensed under MS-PL and HTMLy under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BlogEngine.NET and HTMLy with Docker?
BlogEngine.NET: check the project docs for container support. HTMLy: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, BlogEngine.NET or HTMLy?
HTMLy has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for BlogEngine.NET. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.