FlatPress 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 | FlatPress | Nibbleblog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 7 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 215 | ★ 227 |
| First released | 2005 | 2009 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are FlatPress and Nibbleblog?
FlatPress
FlatPress is an open-source blogging engine that requires no database, storing all content in flat files. It is designed to be simple, fast, and easy to deploy on minimal hosting.
- No database required
- Flat-file storage
- Plugin and theme support
- Lightweight
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
FlatPress vs Nibbleblog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Nibbleblog's repository is archived and no longer developed, while FlatPress is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for FlatPress versus GPL-3.0 for Nibbleblog. FlatPress is the more established project (first released 2005), while Nibbleblog arrived in 2009.
Why pick each one
Choose FlatPress if…
- Trivial to install and back up
- Runs on minimal hosting
Watch out for
- Small community
- Basic feature set
Choose Nibbleblog if…
- Very easy to install
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Development is inactive
- Limited features
Frequently asked questions
Is FlatPress or Nibbleblog better?
Neither is universally better. Nibbleblog has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FlatPress and Nibbleblog free and open-source?
Yes. FlatPress is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nibbleblog under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FlatPress and Nibbleblog with Docker?
FlatPress: check the project docs for container support. Nibbleblog: check the project docs for container support.