Hexo vs Jekyll
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Node.js tool that turns Markdown posts into a static blog website.
Open source · MIT
A Ruby tool that turns Markdown and templates into a static website, with blog support.
The short answer
Choose Hexo if you need…
- Bloggers who want a fast static site they fully control
- Developers already comfortable with Node.js and the command line
- People who want to deploy to GitHub Pages or similar hosts with one command
- Writers who prefer working in Markdown
Choose Jekyll if you need…
- Developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files
- People comfortable with Ruby tooling and the command line
- Writers who prefer Markdown and want static HTML output
- Projects that need hosting without a database or server-side code
Side-by-side
| Hexo | Jekyll | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 41.8k | 51.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | Ruby |
| Last code update | 10 days ago | 23 days ago |
What each one is
Hexo
Hexo is an open-source blog framework built on Node.js. You write posts in Markdown, and it generates a folder of plain static HTML files that you can host almost anywhere. The README describes it as fast and extensible, with themes and plugins available for customization.
Jekyll
Jekyll is a static site generator written in Ruby. You write content in files such as Markdown, combine it with templates, and it builds a folder of plain HTML pages that can be hosted anywhere. The description calls it blog-aware, and its topics include blog engine and Liquid templating. The README was not included in full, so details beyond the metadata are limited.
Best for
Hexo
- Bloggers who want a fast static site they fully control
- Developers already comfortable with Node.js and the command line
- People who want to deploy to GitHub Pages or similar hosts with one command
- Writers who prefer working in Markdown
Jekyll
- Developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files
- People comfortable with Ruby tooling and the command line
- Writers who prefer Markdown and want static HTML output
- Projects that need hosting without a database or server-side code
Strengths
Hexo
- The README describes it as fast at generating sites
- Supports GitHub Flavored Markdown and most Octopress plugins
- Large ecosystem of themes and plugins, and an API for extension
Jekyll
- Widely used open-source project with a large community (about 51,700 stars)
- Released under the permissive MIT license
- Produces plain static files that are simple to host and hard to break
Not ideal for
Hexo
- People who want a no-code, hosted blogging service, since Hexo requires installing and running Node.js tools
- Non-technical users who are uncomfortable with the terminal, since setup uses commands like npm and hexo server
- Sites needing dynamic server-side features, since Hexo generates static files
Jekyll
- Non-technical users who need a point-and-click site builder, since setup requires Ruby and the command line
- Sites that need dynamic features like user accounts or live database queries, since output is static files
- Teams that want a hosted service rather than running a build tool themselves
Trade-offs
Hexo
- Requires Node.js and command-line familiarity to set up and use
- Output is static, so dynamic features need other tools or services
- Quality and maintenance of third-party themes and plugins vary and are not covered by the README
Jekyll
- Requires a Ruby environment, which adds setup work for non-developers
- README content was truncated, so detailed feature coverage could not be verified here
Getting started
Hexo
Install Hexo CLI globally
npm install hexo-cli -gInstall with Homebrew (macOS and Linux)
brew install hexoJekyll
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jekyll/jekyllFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hexo and Jekyll?
Hexo: A Node.js tool that turns Markdown posts into a static blog website. Jekyll: A Ruby tool that turns Markdown and templates into a static website, with blog support. Hexo suits bloggers who want a fast static site they fully control, while Jekyll suits developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files.
Are Hexo and Jekyll free?
Hexo: Free and open source. Jekyll: Free and open source.
Is Hexo or Jekyll more popular?
Jekyll has more GitHub stars (51.7k) than Hexo (41.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Hexo and Jekyll?
Other options people compare them with include Gatsby, VuePress, Eleventy, Mitosis.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.