Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Jekyll VS Prismic

Compare Jekyll VS Prismic and see what are their differences

Jekyll logo Jekyll

Jekyll is a simple, blog aware, static site generator.

Prismic logo Prismic

prismic.io is a web software you can use to manage content in any kind of website or app. API-driven.
  • Jekyll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • Prismic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-19

Jekyll

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-

Prismic

Website
prismic.io
$ Details
-
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Guillaume Bort
Employees
10 - 19

Jekyll features and specs

  • Speed and Performance
    Jekyll generates static websites, which means they load faster compared to dynamic websites. No database queries are required, reducing server overhead and improving performance.
  • Security
    Static sites have a smaller attack surface compared to dynamic sites because they don't rely on databases or server-side code. This means fewer vectors for potential compromises.
  • Simplicity
    Jekyll setups are relatively straightforward, especially if you are comfortable writing in Markdown and HTML. This can make it easier to manage and maintain your website.
  • Integration with GitHub Pages
    Jekyll is designed to work seamlessly with GitHub Pages, allowing you to host your website for free with automatic deployment directly from your GitHub repository.
  • Customizability
    Jekyll allows for extensive customization through its support for plugins, themes, and templates. This can be helpful to create a unique look and functionality for your website.

Possible disadvantages of Jekyll

  • Learning Curve
    While Jekyll is simpler than some other static site generators, it does require some familiarity with the command line, version control (Git), and YAML configuration.
  • Build Time
    For large websites, the build times can become lengthy, which can slow down the development process, especially if you are making frequent updates.
  • Lack of Real-time Content Updates
    Since Jekyll generates static sites, real-time content updates (e.g., comments, dynamic forms) aren't natively supported and require third-party services or additional tooling.
  • Dependence on Ruby
    Jekyll is built with Ruby, so you will need to have Ruby installed and occasionally deal with Ruby-specific issues. This might be a drawback for developers who are not familiar with the Ruby ecosystem.
  • Limited Built-in Functionality
    While Jekyll is very flexible, it doesn’t have built-in support for many features out of the box, which might require you to manually implement or rely on plugins.

Prismic features and specs

  • Content Modeling Flexibility
    Prismic offers a highly flexible content management system where users can create custom content types, known as ‘Custom Types’. This allows for extensive control over the structure and fields of content, making it adaptable to various project needs.
  • Developer-Friendly API
    Prismic provides a robust and well-documented API that developers can use to fetch content easily. This includes support for GraphQL, RESTful APIs, and client SDKs, simplifying integration with various front-end frameworks and platforms.
  • Rich Text Editor and Slices
    It includes a rich text editor and 'Slices,' which are reusable content components. This allows for modular content creation, enabling marketers and content creators to build and manage dynamic pages without developer intervention.
  • Multi-Language Support
    Prismic offers strong multi-language support, making it easy to manage content in different languages and locales. This is ideal for businesses operating in multiple regions.
  • Versioning and Previews
    With built-in versioning, users can revert to previous versions of content easily. Additionally, Prismic offers a preview feature that allows users to see changes before they go live, ensuring greater content accuracy and quality.
  • SEO-Friendly
    Prismic lets users manage SEO-related settings like meta tags, canonical URLs, and alt text for images, enabling better control over search engine optimization.

Possible disadvantages of Prismic

  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, Prismic's interface and custom types can have a steeper learning curve for new users unfamiliar with headless CMS or structured content models.
  • Pricing
    Prismic's pricing can be relatively high compared to some other CMS options, especially for small businesses or personal projects. The cost scales with advanced features and higher traffic levels.
  • Limited In-Built Features
    Unlike traditional CMS platforms, Prismic doesn't include in-built features for things like e-commerce, forms, or complex workflows. These functionalities usually require third-party integrations or custom development.
  • Dependency on API
    Since Prismic is a headless CMS, the front-end is entirely decoupled, making it heavily dependent on the API. Any downtime or slow response times from the API can directly impact the user experience.
  • Complex Integration for Non-Developers
    Although Prismic is designed with developers in mind, this can make integrations and customizations challenging for non-developers. Basic features might require technical knowledge to implement effectively.
  • Scalability Limitations
    For extremely large projects or enterprises with complex needs, Prismic may not scale as effectively as some other enterprise-level CMS platforms.

Analysis of Jekyll

Overall verdict

  • Jekyll is a good choice for individuals and organizations looking for a straightforward, reliable, and efficient way to build static websites. Its strengths include simplicity, flexibility, and strong community support, which contribute to a smooth development experience.

Why this product is good

  • Jekyll is a popular static site generator that is widely appreciated for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use. It is particularly suited for creating blogs and simple websites, leveraging Markdown and Liquid templates to generate static HTML content. Its integration with GitHub Pages also makes it a convenient choice for developers and non-developers alike who want to host their sites directly from their GitHub repositories without additional setup or cost.

Recommended for

  • Bloggers and content creators looking for a simple way to publish content online.
  • Developers who prefer writing in Markdown and managing content with a version control system.
  • Users who want to host their sites for free using GitHub Pages.
  • Anyone in need of a static site generator that is easy to set up, customize, and maintain with minimal resources.

Analysis of Prismic

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Prismic is a solid choice for teams looking for a headless CMS that balances developer flexibility with user-friendly content management.

Why this product is good

  • Prismic is a popular headless CMS that is highly regarded for its flexibility and ease of use. It allows developers to create custom content structures, making it suitable for a wide variety of projects. Its API-first approach enables seamless integration with different front-end technologies, and it offers a user-friendly interface that is appreciated by content editors.

Recommended for

  • Businesses seeking a headless CMS with strong API capabilities.
  • Teams that require a flexible content management structure.
  • Developers who prefer using a variety of front-end frameworks.
  • Organizations looking for a CMS that allows easy content collaboration.

Jekyll videos

Getting Started With Jekyll, The Static Site Generator

Prismic videos

Setup a blog with Gatsby and Prismic in less than 10min

More videos:

  • Review - Quick overview of a Next.js website project with Prismic and Now

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Jekyll and Prismic)
CMS
73 73%
27% 27
Blogging
78 78%
22% 22
Static Site Generators
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging Platform
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Jekyll and Prismic

Jekyll Reviews

Best Gitbook Alternatives You Need to Try in 2023
Jekyll is a static site generator often used to create blogs and websites, similar to Gitbook in its ability to generate documentation from markdown files. Jekyll is built in Ruby and is known for its flexibility and ease of use. It also has a large community and a wide variety of plugins and themes available. Jekyll's main advantage is that it is highly customizable,...
Source: www.archbee.com
11 Popular Free And Open Source WordPress CMS alternatives in 2021
Unlike some listed alternatives, Jekyll is also a static site generator so it lays in the same category. It uses Ruby and we would say it's simpler, free, and open-source CMS software.
Source: medevel.com
10 static site generators to watch in 2021
Perhaps most conveniently described as Jekyll implemented with JavaScript rather than Ruby, Eleventy has now moved beyond that while retaining a clear and simple on-ramp, and only shipping to the browser what you tell it too. As with Jekyll and Hugo, no JavaScript frameworks are auto-baked in.
Source: www.netlify.com
Hugo vs Jekyll: an Epic Battle of Static Site Generator Themes
Jekyll isn’t strict with its content location. It expects pages in the root of your site, and will build whatever’s there. Here’s how you might organize these pages in your Jekyll site root:
9 Reasons I Think Craft is the Best CMS on the Market Today
Craft CMS is simple, minimalistic, agile and has every capability a modern CMS framework needs. Over the past ten years we have worked with every CMS you could think of (Wordpress, Drupal, Rails+ActiveAdmin, Ghost, Weebly, DjangoCMS, Jekyll, Joomla, Tumblr, Squarespace, Expression Engine, Statamic, Blogger)… here are the reasons why we’ve landed firmly with Craft as our №1...
Source: hackernoon.com

Prismic Reviews

Best Headless CMS in 2022
Prismic is a SaaS headless CMS trusted by many big companies such as Google, Netflix, and others. The product allows you to choose the technology, framework, and language and thereafter easily manage and deliver the content. It supports native integrations with eCommerce platforms.
Source: flatlogic.com
Best Node.js CMS platforms for 2022
Prismic is a headless CMS for editing online content. We can use Prismic to build everything from simple, editorial, and corporate websites to ecommerce stores.
11 Headless CMS to Consider for Modern Application
With Prismic CMS, teams of developers and marketers can launch websites, also allowing front-end developers to customize the front-end and use any programming language.
Source: geekflare.com
34 Headless CMS That Should Be On Your Radar
San Francisco-based Prismic is a SaaS headless CMS that comes with a visual editor, custom type builds, multi-language support, and full revision history. As well as native integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Magento, Prismic comes with a scheduling and project management tool to enable collaboration and workflow management.
Source: www.cmswire.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Jekyll should be more popular than Prismic. It has been mentiond 195 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Jekyll mentions (195)

  • Building PicoSSG: 'Just Enough Code'
    The static site generator (SSG) landscape is crowded with feature-rich but increasingly complex solutions. As I looked at and used tools like lume, 11ty, lektor, or jekyll, I found myself drowning in configuration options, plugins, and middleware. What started as a simple desire to convert Markdown content into HTML had evolved into learning complex frameworks with steep learning curves. - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • How to create a blog with Quartz, GitHub, and Cloudflare
    If you don't want to use Jekyll as your static site generator for GitHub Pages and you want to have a custom domain for your GitHub Pages. This post is for you! - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Blogging with Obsidian and Jekyll
    Jekyll is a static site generator that transforms Markdown files into a fully functional website. Everything is generated into plain HTML, which makes it simple to deploy on platforms like GitHub Pages. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Create a Blogging Platform With No Backend (Zero Hosting Fee)
    Obviously, there are a dozen choices for generating static websites (efficiently and quickly), from the classic Jekyll to the new Next.js. And you are good to go with any of them as long as your confident with it. I choose 11ty because:. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • It's easy to dev blog
    In your repository settings you need to turn on GitHub Pages to make it pull Jekyll content (that's the magic✨ default GitHub Pages build tool) from your GitHub repository. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
View more

Prismic mentions (34)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Jekyll and Prismic, you can also consider the following products

Hugo - Hugo is a general-purpose website framework for generating static web pages.

Contentful - You don't need another CMS. You need a better way to manage content — unified, structured, and ready to deploy to any digital channel.

Ghost - Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.

Strapi - Manage any content. Anywhere. The leading open-source headless CMS. 100% JavaScript / TypeScript and fully customizable.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Sanity.io - Sanity.io a platform for structured content that comes with an open-source editor that you can customize with React.js.