Eleventy

Eleventy is a static site generator for developers who want to turn templates into static HTML, whether starting a site or converting selected templates in an existing project. Its zero-client-JavaScript default suits content-led sites, but the full-page approach is a poor fit for single-page applications.

Overview

Eleventy begins with zero configuration and can be extended with flexible settings as a project grows. Because it can fit an existing directory structure, teams can adopt it gradually instead of replacing an entire site at once. That makes it a practical choice for incremental migrations as well as new builds.

It generates HTML without requiring a JavaScript framework and produces no client-side JavaScript by default. For content-focused sites, that keeps the default output simple; for projects built around single-page interactions and navigation, Eleventy’s documented approach is likely a mismatch.

Key features

Templates and content

Eleventy accepts HTML, Markdown, WebC, JavaScript, Liquid, Nunjucks, Handlebars, Mustache, EJS, Haml, Pug, TypeScript, JSX, MDX, Sass, and custom formats. That range gives developers considerable choice in how they compose pages, but assumes comfort working with templates rather than a visual editing workflow. Markdown sources, CMS integration, multilingual support, and a local preview server also support content publishing and review.

Builds and remote data

Eleventy’s homepage reports a build of 4,000 Markdown files in 1.93 seconds. Treat that as a reported comparison result rather than a guarantee for every project; the useful point is that the project presents large Markdown builds as a target. Its Fetch plugin can retrieve remote resources and cache JSON, HTML, images, video, and other assets, continuing to use cached data offline. The plugin caches full network responses, so its documentation recommends keeping the cache directory out of version control to avoid exposing private data.

For deployments using Netlify Functions or AWS Lambda, the Fetch documentation shows using a writable /tmp cache location. That detail matters when remote data is part of a deployment workflow, since the normal cache directory may not be writable in those environments.

Pricing

Eleventy is free: the Eleventy plan costs nothing and is an MIT-licensed, self-hosted static-site generator. There is no paid tier or seat or usage quota described, so it suits developers and teams wanting an open-source build tool without a software subscription. Self-hosting means the project is responsible for its own runtime and deployment setup.

Eleventy requires JavaScript and recommends Node.js version 18 or newer. Quick-start commands cover npm, pnpm, and Yarn, so developers can use any of those package runners. The runtime requirement is a real trade-off for teams that do not want JavaScript in their build environment.

Platforms

Quick-start instructions cover macOS, Linux, Windows, and cross-platform use. The software is also identified as self-hosted, which makes it suitable for teams that control their own development and deployment environments rather than looking for a hosted site-building service.

Who it's for

Eleventy is best for developers building content-rich static sites who value template flexibility, incremental adoption, and a default output without client-side JavaScript. Multilingual support, CMS integration, and Markdown content handling strengthen that fit. It is less suitable for a single-page application or for people seeking a visual site editor.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Zero configuration to start, with flexible configuration later, supports both small initial setups and projects that need to grow.
• Pro: Existing directory structures and selective template conversion make gradual adoption possible.
• Pro: Broad template-language support lets developers keep familiar formats or combine them.
• Con: JavaScript is required, and Node.js 18 or newer is recommended, adding a runtime requirement to the build environment.
• Con: The zero-client-JavaScript, full-page default makes Eleventy a poor choice for single-page applications.
• Con: Fetch’s full-response cache needs care: committing it could expose private data, and some deployment environments require a writable temporary path.

Alternatives

Consider Hugo if you want a free, open-source static site generator for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Choose Gatsby if its open-source framework or web and API platform options better match your project. Cecil is another free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no usage limits stated.

Nanoc is a free alternative for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Zola is free, supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosting, and is distributed as a single executable. Metalsmith is a free, MIT/(L)GPL-licensed option for Linux, macOS, Windows, and API use. Lume is a free static site generator for Deno. Bridgetown is another free option supporting API use, Linux, macOS, self-hosting, and Windows. Browse more options in static site generators.

Verdict

Choose Eleventy if you want a free, flexible template-based generator for static content and value adopting it incrementally without adding client-side JavaScript by default. Look elsewhere if your project depends on single-page navigation or you want to avoid a JavaScript runtime in the build environment.