Side by side
Grain vs Harp
Both stand on static site generators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Grain combines Groovy-based site generation with several markup formats, preview tools, themes, and asset-processing features. Its JDK requirement and Windows-specific command are important setup details.
Visit Grain Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
Harp combines local serving, preprocessing, templating, and static compilation in one open-source tool. It is flexible for deployment and Express integration, but development changes require manual browser refreshes.
Visit HarpThe facts
| Grain | Harp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Not published |
| Plans published | None | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | harp.sh |
| On static site generators | #29 of 35 | #25 of 35 |
Grain: what it does well
- Free plan and Apache 2.0 license
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Supports Markdown, reStructuredText, and AsciiDoctor
- Local preview reloads website changes
- Includes compression, minification, and Sass support
What to know first
- Requires JDK 7 or later
- Windows uses grainw instead of ./grainw
Harp: what it does well
- Preprocesses several web source languages
- No configuration file or build step required
- Compiles deployable static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Supports layouts, partials, and directory data
- Can run as Express middleware
What to know first
- Local development has no live reload
- Basic Authentication is absent from compiled output
- Requires Node.js and global npm installation