Eleventy

Eleventy is a free static site generator that compiles templates into HTML. It suits developers who want to build or gradually convert content-led sites while keeping client-side JavaScript out of the default output. Choose it for a flexible, template-driven workflow; look elsewhere for a single-page application.

Overview

Eleventy starts with zero configuration and can grow into a more tailored setup. It also works with an existing directory structure, so a team can convert selected templates instead of taking on a full migration at once. That makes it a practical option for incremental adoption as well as new sites.

Its default output has no client-side JavaScript and uses full-page navigation. That trade-off suits static, content-focused pages, but the project’s documentation cautions that Eleventy is probably not the right fit for a single-page application.

Key features

Templates and content

Eleventy supports HTML, Markdown, WebC, JavaScript, Liquid, Nunjucks, Handlebars, Mustache, EJS, Haml, Pug, TypeScript, JSX, MDX, Sass and custom formats. The range accommodates different template preferences, but this is a tool for assembling a site from code, not a visual site editor. Markdown content, CMS integration, multilingual support and a local preview server support common publishing workflows.

Builds and remote data

The project reports a build of 4,000 Markdown files in 1.93 seconds. Treat that as a project-reported comparison, not a guarantee for every site or machine. The official Fetch plugin can retrieve remote URLs and cache JSON, HTML, images, videos and other assets; cached data can still be used offline. It stores complete network responses, so the cache directory should be added to.gitignore to avoid exposing private data. For Netlify Functions and AWS Lambda deployments, the Fetch documentation shows using a writable /tmp cache location.

Runtime and community

Eleventy requires JavaScript and recommends Node.js 18 or newer. Quick-start commands cover npm, pnpm and Yarn. Community channels include Discord, Mastodon, Bluesky, YouTube and a newsletter. The project requests private vulnerability reports through GitHub or [email protected]; it reports no published security advisories. Its documentation repository is MIT licensed.

Pricing

Eleventy costs nothing, with an MIT license. The free plan is the static-site generator itself, intended for self-hosting; it avoids a software subscription, but this price does not describe hosting or other project costs.

Platforms

Eleventy supports Linux, macOS and Windows, with quick-start commands for each as well as cross-platform use. It is self-hosted software rather than a hosted site-building service, and requires a JavaScript runtime.

Who it's for

Eleventy is best for developers building content-led sites who value template choice, a gradual migration path and static HTML without default client-side JavaScript. Its flexibility is useful when a project already has templates or a directory structure to preserve. It is a weaker choice for people seeking a visual editor or building an application centered on single-page navigation.

Pros and cons

Broad template support: many established formats and custom formats let developers work in a preferred templating style.

Incremental adoption: existing directories and selected-template conversion reduce the need for an all-at-once migration.

No client JavaScript by default: suits projects prioritizing static HTML, but the full-page model is a poor match for an SPA.

Remote-data caching: Fetch can serve cached assets offline, though its complete-response cache needs careful handling to prevent private data exposure.

Runtime requirement: teams need JavaScript and should plan around the Node.js 18-or-newer recommendation.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see static site generators.

Gatsby is another free option, with a free plan carrying a 300-credit monthly limit.

Cecil is free software for Linux, macOS and Windows, with no cost or usage limits stated.

Bridgetown is another free option, supporting Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosting and API platforms.

Nanoc is a free static-site option described as a passion project.

Hugo is an open-source, free-to-use option for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Metalsmith is free software with MIT/(L)GPL licensing and support for Linux, macOS, Windows and API platforms.

Zola is a free option distributed as a single executable.

Lume is a free static-site generator for Deno.

Verdict

Choose Eleventy if you want a free, MIT-licensed way to generate static HTML from flexible templates, especially when you need to adopt it gradually or keep client-side JavaScript out of the default output. Its main limitation is the same architectural choice that makes it appealing: full-page navigation is not a good foundation for a single-page application.