Side by side
Metalsmith vs Publii
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 APILinuxMac+1
Metalsmith offers a flexible, plugin-based approach to generating static output, with a choice of API or CLI. Developers should account for the NodeJS requirement and the lack of partial rebuilds when planning a workflow.
Visit Metalsmith
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Publii covers core blog publishing needs with custom domains, code-based theme customization, and analytics at no cost. Its listed feature set omits memberships and post scheduling.
Visit PubliiThe facts
| Metalsmith | Publii | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Metalsmith | Publii |
| Website | metalsmith.io | getpublii.com |
| On static site generators | #10 of 35 | #6 of 35 |
Metalsmith: what it does well
- JavaScript API and command-line interface
- No predefined project structure required
- Supports Markdown, JSON, and YAML
- Static output deploys to multiple hosting targets
- Free software
What to know first
- Requires NodeJS
- Partial rebuilds are not available
- No local preview server
Publii: what it does well
- Free plan is available.
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Supports custom domains.
- Theme customization supports custom code.
- Includes blog analytics.
What to know first
- No post scheduling.
- No built-in memberships.
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