Gatsby vs Hexo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Gatsby
React-based static site and blog generator
VS
Hexo
Fast and simple blog framework powered by Node.js
| Feature | Gatsby | Hexo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 55,942 | ★ 41,774 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Medium | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Gatsby and Hexo?
Gatsby
Gatsby is an open-source React-based framework for building fast static websites and blogs. It pulls content from many sources via a GraphQL data layer and produces highly optimized output.
- React-powered sites
- GraphQL data layer
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- Performance-optimized output
Hexo
Hexo is an open-source static blog framework built with Node.js that turns Markdown into a fast static site. It is widely used by developers for personal blogs with a rich plugin ecosystem.
- Fast Markdown-based builds
- Large plugin and theme ecosystem
- One-command deployment
- Highly extensible
Gatsby vs Hexo: key differences
Gatsby is written in JavaScript, while Hexo is built with TypeScript. Hexo is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Gatsby. Hexo is the more established project (first released 2012), while Gatsby arrived in 2015.
Why pick each one
Choose Gatsby if…
- Great for React developers
- Pulls content from many sources
Watch out for
- Heavier build process
- Steeper learning curve
Choose Hexo if…
- Popular with developers
- Rich plugin ecosystem
Watch out for
- No admin UI
- Node toolchain required
Frequently asked questions
Is Gatsby or Hexo better?
Neither is universally better. Gatsby has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gatsby and Hexo free and open-source?
Yes. Gatsby is licensed under MIT and Hexo under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gatsby and Hexo with Docker?
Gatsby: check the project docs for container support. Hexo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Gatsby or Hexo?
Hexo has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Gatsby. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.