Eleventy vs Gatsby: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Eleventy and Gatsby comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Eleventy
A simpler static site generator for fast websites and flexible content management.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • Compiles various content formats into static HTML for fast websites.
- • Offers extensive flexibility with multiple template languages and data sources.
Gatsby
Build fast, secure, and powerful web experiences with a React-based, open-source framework.
Best for you if:
- • React-based framework for building fast web experiences.
- • Unifies content and APIs with a GraphQL data layer.
| At a Glance |  Eleventy |  Gatsby |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | - | 4.9/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Eleventy or Gatsby?
Choose Eleventy if
A simpler static site generator for fast websites and flexible content management.
- Extremely fast build times and website performance
- High flexibility in choosing template languages and content formats
- Simpler to learn and use compared to more complex frameworks
- You want a fully free tool (Gatsby requires payment)
Choose Gatsby if
Build fast, secure, and powerful web experiences with a React-based, open-source framework.
- Builds extremely fast, accessible, and responsive websites.
- Simplifies data integration from various sources using GraphQL.
- Offers flexibility in rendering and deployment options.
| Feature | Eleventy | Gatsby |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.9/5 19 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsHosting & Deployment | Developer ToolsHosting & Deployment |
In-Depth Analysis
Eleventy
A simpler static site generator for fast websites and flexible content management.
Eleventy is entirely free, making it an exceptionally generous offering in the static site generator market.
Watch out
None, Eleventy is completely free.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast build times and website performance
- +High flexibility in choosing template languages and content formats
- +Simpler to learn and use compared to more complex frameworks
- +Strong emphasis on developer control and minimal abstraction
- +Active and supportive community
Weaknesses
- -Requires Node.js and command-line familiarity
- -No built-in UI or GUI for content management (relies on external CMS or file-based editing)
- -May require more manual setup for complex features compared to opinionated frameworks
Key features
Gatsby
Build fast, secure, and powerful web experiences with a React-based, open-source framework.
Gatsby's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust Free tier offering 300 credits and unlimited deploy previews.
Watch out
Additional concurrent builds cost $40 each.
Strengths
- +Builds extremely fast, accessible, and responsive websites.
- +Simplifies data integration from various sources using GraphQL.
- +Offers flexibility in rendering and deployment options.
- +Provides a robust developer experience with stable and intuitive functionality.
- +Strong documentation and a supportive ecosystem.
Weaknesses
- -Build times scale poorly as a site grows because every content source is pulled through Gatsby's GraphQL data layer, so sites with thousands of pages or images can take many minutes to rebuild, and the incremental-build feature that mitigated this was tied to the now-discontinued Gatsby Cloud.
- -Gatsby routes even simple content through a mandatory GraphQL data layer, adding boilerplate and a real learning curve that competing React frameworks like Next.js let you skip with more direct data fetching.
- -Since Netlify acquired Gatsby and folded Gatsby Cloud into its own hosting platform, the framework's momentum has stalled, with the last release shipping in February 2025 and nothing since, while Next.js has become the default choice for new React projects.
- -Gatsby relies heavily on third-party plugins for sourcing data and processing images, and version mismatches between plugins and the core framework are a common source of broken builds during upgrades.
Key features
Pricing: Eleventy vs Gatsby
| Plan | Eleventy | Gatsby |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Eleventy | $0 forever Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $9 month Personal |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $20 per member / month Pro |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Eleventy pricing and Gatsby pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Eleventy is free. Gatsby is freemium.
Go with: Eleventy
Want the highest-rated option?
Gatsby is rated 4.9/5. Eleventy has no ratings yet.
Go with: Gatsby
Value user reviews?
Eleventy: no ratings yet. Gatsby: 19 reviews (4.9/5).
Go with: Gatsby
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Eleventy is free. Gatsby is freemium. Go with Eleventy if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are developer tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Gatsby is rated 4.9/5; Eleventy has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Eleventy
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Gatsby
- Choose if you want build fast, secure, and powerful web experiences with a React-based, open-source framework
The Bottom Line
Eleventy is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eleventy or Gatsby better?
Eleventy is rated in our evaluation. Eleventy is free and Gatsby is freemium.
What are Eleventy and Gatsby used for?
Eleventy: A simpler static site generator for fast websites and flexible content management.. Gatsby: Build fast, secure, and powerful web experiences with a React-based, open-source framework..
What does Eleventy cost vs Gatsby?
Eleventy is completely free. Gatsby is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.