HTMLy vs PluXml
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | HTMLy | PluXml |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 56 · Fair | 76 · Good |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,364 | ★ 235 |
| First released | 2014 | 2007 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are HTMLy and PluXml?
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
PluXml
PluXml is an open-source blog and content management system that stores all content in XML files, requiring no database. It is lightweight and aimed at simple personal sites and blogs.
- XML flat-file storage
- No database required
- Theme and plugin support
- Lightweight
HTMLy vs PluXml: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for HTMLy versus GPL-2.0 for PluXml. PluXml is the more established project (first released 2007), while HTMLy arrived in 2014. HTMLy has the considerably larger community, at 1,364 GitHub stars versus 235.
Why pick each one
Choose HTMLy if…
- No database to maintain
- Fast and lightweight
Watch out for
- Limited plugin ecosystem
- Small community
Choose PluXml if…
- No database needed
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Limited modern themes
Frequently asked questions
Is HTMLy or PluXml 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 PluXml free and open-source?
Yes. HTMLy is licensed under MIT and PluXml under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run HTMLy and PluXml with Docker?
HTMLy: yes. PluXml: yes.