BlogEngine.NET vs Nibbleblog
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 | Nibbleblog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 13 · At risk | 7 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MS-PL | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 985 | ★ 227 |
| First released | 2007 | 2009 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are BlogEngine.NET and Nibbleblog?
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
Nibbleblog
Nibbleblog is a simple, lightweight blog engine written in PHP that stores its data in XML files rather than a database. It is designed for quick setup of a personal blog.
- No database required
- XML-based storage
- Plugin support
- Quick installation
BlogEngine.NET vs Nibbleblog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Nibbleblog's repository is archived and no longer developed, while BlogEngine.NET is actively maintained. BlogEngine.NET is written in C#, while Nibbleblog is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MS-PL for BlogEngine.NET versus GPL-3.0 for Nibbleblog. Nibbleblog 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 Nibbleblog arrived in 2009. BlogEngine.NET has the considerably larger community, at 985 GitHub stars versus 227.
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 Nibbleblog if…
- Very easy to install
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Development is inactive
- Limited features
Frequently asked questions
Is BlogEngine.NET or Nibbleblog better?
Neither is universally better. BlogEngine.NET has the larger community, while Nibbleblog is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are BlogEngine.NET and Nibbleblog free and open-source?
Yes. BlogEngine.NET is licensed under MS-PL and Nibbleblog under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BlogEngine.NET and Nibbleblog with Docker?
BlogEngine.NET: check the project docs for container support. Nibbleblog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, BlogEngine.NET or Nibbleblog?
Nibbleblog 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.