Hexo vs PureBlog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Hexo
Fast and simple blog framework powered by Node.js
VS
PureBlog
Blogging platform, designed for personal use
| Feature | Hexo | PureBlog |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | LicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1 |
| Language | TypeScript | |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 41,769 | — |
| First released | 2012 | 2026 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | Blogger, Blogspot |
Why pick each one
Choose PureBlog if…
- Released under the LicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1 license
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Hexo or PureBlog better?
Neither is universally better. Hexo has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Hexo and PureBlog free and open-source?
Yes. Hexo is licensed under MIT and PureBlog under LicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hexo and PureBlog with Docker?
Hexo: check the project docs for container support. PureBlog: check the project docs for container support.