HTMLy 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 | HTMLy | Nibbleblog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 56 · Fair | 7 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,364 | ★ 227 |
| First released | 2014 | 2009 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are HTMLy and Nibbleblog?
HTMLy
HTMLy is an open-source databaseless flat-file blogging platform written in PHP. It is fast, lightweight, and stores all posts as text files for easy backup and migration.
- Databaseless flat-file storage
- Markdown content
- Multi-user roles
- Built-in themes
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
HTMLy vs Nibbleblog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Nibbleblog's repository is archived and no longer developed, while HTMLy is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for HTMLy versus GPL-3.0 for Nibbleblog. Nibbleblog is the more established project (first released 2009), while HTMLy arrived in 2014. HTMLy has the considerably larger community, at 1,364 GitHub stars versus 227. HTMLy lists first-class Docker deployment; Nibbleblog does not.
Why pick each one
Choose HTMLy if…
- No database to maintain
- Fast and lightweight
Watch out for
- Limited plugin ecosystem
- Small community
Choose Nibbleblog if…
- Very easy to install
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Development is inactive
- Limited features
Frequently asked questions
Is HTMLy or Nibbleblog better?
Neither is universally better. HTMLy has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are HTMLy and Nibbleblog free and open-source?
Yes. HTMLy is licensed under MIT and Nibbleblog under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run HTMLy and Nibbleblog with Docker?
HTMLy: yes. Nibbleblog: check the project docs for container support.