Static Site Generators Compared

Choosing a static site generator can be overwhelming. Let's compare the most popular options to help you decide.

Eleventy (11ty)

Best for: Flexibility and simplicity

Pros:

• Zero client-side JavaScript by default
• Supports 10+ template languages
• Extremely fast builds
• Minimal configuration

Cons:

• Less opinionated (can be overwhelming)
• Smaller ecosystem

npx @11ty/eleventy

Astro

Best for: Content-heavy sites with interactive islands

Pros:

• Ships zero JavaScript by default
• Component islands architecture
• Use any framework (React, Vue, Svelte)
• Great image optimization

Cons:

• Newer, smaller community
• Learning curve for islands

npm create astro@latest

Hugo

Best for: Speed demons and Go enthusiasts

Pros:

• Blazingly fast builds
• Single binary, no dependencies
• Built-in image processing
• Large theme ecosystem

Cons:

• Go template syntax learning curve
• Less flexible than JS-based tools

hugo new site my-site

Next.js (Static Export)

Best for: React developers who need static output

Pros:

• React ecosystem
• Incremental static regeneration
• Great developer experience
• Vercel integration

Cons:

• Heavier output
• React knowledge required
• More complex than needed for simple sites

npx create-next-app@latest

Comparison Table

Feature	Eleventy	Astro	Hugo	Next.js
Build Speed	Fast	Fast	Fastest	Moderate
Learning Curve	Low	Medium	Medium	High
JS Framework	Any	Any	None	React
Default JS	None	None	None	Yes
Template Options	Many	JSX/MD	Go	JSX

My Recommendation

• Simple blog or docs? Eleventy or Hugo
• Marketing site with interactions? Astro
• React app that needs SEO? Next.js
• Maximum flexibility? Eleventy

Choose the tool that matches your team's skills and project needs. They're all excellent choices!