How to choose a static blog framework: Valaxy, Hexo, VitePress, Hugo, and Astro

A static blog framework publishes Markdown posts as a site with lists, tags, archives, and a theme. This page compares Valaxy with Hexo, VitePress, Hugo, and Astro.

Valaxy fits you if… ​

You want a Vue blog, or you are leaving Hexo and can accept a new theme.

• Vite hot reload for config and posts. See Features.
• Typed valaxy.config.ts and site.config.ts. Hexo uses _config.yml.
• Tags, archives, RSS, and a sitemap are built in. VitePress is for documentation. See Why Valaxy.
• Themes you override as Vue components. Yun for the blog. Press when the same site should read as docs. See Customizing components.
• SSG, then SPA navigation. valaxy build --ssg writes one HTML file per route. Later clicks do not reload the page. See Commands.
• A full Chinese tree at /zh/, and posts copy from Hexo source/_posts to pages/posts. See Migration.
• Addons for comments, search, and galleries. See Addons.

pnpm create valaxy

Get started. From Hexo, follow Migration and use Yun. Requires Node.js 22.12 or newer.

Comparison ​

Taken from Why Valaxy, Getting Started, Features, Commands, and Migration. Hugo’s speed is a reason to pick Go, not a benchmark against Valaxy.

Decision tree ​

When not Valaxy ​

• A specific Hexo theme or plugin is the product, and replacing it is unacceptable.
• The site is only a library manual. Use VitePress.
• You want Go templates, and that toolchain’s speed is the requirement. No Valaxy-versus-Hugo timing is published here.
• Pages must mix more than one UI framework. Use Astro.
• You need accounts on a server. Comments are client-side addons such as Waline or Twikoo.
• Node.js is older than 22.12.

Selection FAQ ​

How is Valaxy different from Hexo? ​

Both are blog frameworks: Markdown posts, themes, and a static build. For a Vue author, Valaxy is the one with Vite hot reload, typed valaxy.config.ts / site.config.ts, and themes you override as Vue components. Hexo still has the larger Chinese theme catalog. Move when you can accept a new theme: copy posts, then use Yun. Stay on Hexo only when that existing theme or plugin is the product. See Migration.

Should I use a blog framework or a docs generator? ​

Use Valaxy when the site is posts, tags, archives, and a blog theme. VitePress is the better fit only when the site is documentation and those blog pieces are not the product. Press keeps a docs-shaped site on Valaxy, including posts and addons. It does not replace VitePress for a standalone library manual.

What is the difference between the SPA build and SSG? ​

valaxy build emits a single-page app. valaxy build --ssg is the publish command to use: one HTML file per route, then Vue hydrates it. Later navigations update the page instead of reloading the document. That in-site navigation is the difference from Astro’s default static output, described in Why Valaxy. See Commands.

How complete is Chinese support? ​

This docs site keeps a full Chinese tree at /zh/ beside the English pages. Site text uses Vue i18n, and one page can carry two languages with CSS i18n. Hexo posts migrate with the Chinese migration guide. Hexo still has the deeper theme and plugin community. Valaxy’s Chinese docs are first-class. Its theme catalog is not as large, which is why component overrides matter.

When should I not choose Valaxy? ​

Use the list in When not Valaxy. The short version: stay on Hexo only for theme lock-in, use VitePress for a library manual, Hugo when the Go toolchain is the point, and Astro when one site mixes UI frameworks.