Gatsby vs PageCord
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
PageCord
Email-to-blog platform that turns messages into posts
| Feature | Gatsby | PageCord |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 56 · Fair |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 55,942 | ★ 190 |
| First released | 2015 | 2024 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Medium | Medium, Posthaven |
What are Gatsby and PageCord?
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
PageCord
PageCord is an open-source blogging platform where you publish posts simply by sending an email. It is built with Ruby on Rails and focuses on a minimal, distraction-free writing workflow.
- Publish posts by email
- Minimal writing-focused design
- Custom domains and RSS
- Built on Ruby on Rails
Gatsby vs PageCord: key differences
Gatsby is written in JavaScript, while PageCord is built with Ruby. PageCord is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Gatsby. Gatsby is the more established project (first released 2015), while PageCord arrived in 2024. Gatsby has the considerably larger community, at 55,942 GitHub stars versus 190. PageCord lists first-class Docker deployment; Gatsby does not.
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 PageCord if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Ruby
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Gatsby or PageCord 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 PageCord free and open-source?
Yes. Gatsby is licensed under MIT and PageCord under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gatsby and PageCord with Docker?
Gatsby: check the project docs for container support. PageCord: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gatsby or PageCord?
PageCord has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Gatsby. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.