Contao vs Eleventy

Contao and Eleventy are both popular static site generators used for building websites. Contao is a full-fledged content management system with a graphical interface, while Eleventy is a simpler and more flexible static site generator that allows for more customization.

General information

Contao
Eleventy
Introduction :
Contao is an open-source content management system that was first released in 2006. It is known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, making it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses. Contao offers a wide range of customizable templates and extensions, allowing users to create unique and professional websites without extensive coding knowledge. Its active community and regular updates contribute to its ongoing popularity in the CMS market.
Introduction :
Eleventy is a modern static site generator that is gaining popularity for its simplicity and flexibility. Launched in 2018, Eleventy is open source and allows users to build websites using various templating languages. It is known for its fast build times and ease of use, making it a popular choice for developers looking for a lightweight and customizable platform for their projects.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use for beginners
  • Strong community support
  • Flexible and customizable design options
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Regular updates and security patches
Advantages :
  • Simple setup and configuration process
  • Fast performance and build times
  • Flexible and customizable templating system
  • Built-in support for various template languages
  • Strong community support and active development
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of available plugins/extensions.
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms.
  • Less user-friendly interface for beginners.
  • Smaller community support compared to popular platforms.
  • Higher cost for premium features and support.
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Smaller community for support and resources
  • Less flexibility for customization and design
  • Limited third-party integrations and plugins
Website users : Thousands
Contao is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for content management and web development.
Website users : Thousands
Eleventy is used by thousands of websites as a flexible and simple static site generator, popular among developers for its ease of use.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Contao may require some technical knowledge, but with the available documentation and community support, it is manageable for beginners.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Eleventy requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some learning curve involved for beginners.
Year launched : 2006
Contao was launched in 2006, making it a relatively newer platform compared to others in the market.
Year launched : 2013
Eleventy was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to more established content management systems.
Official website : https://contao.org/
Official website : https://www.11ty.dev/


Commercial details

Contao
Eleventy
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Contao is fully open source and written in PHP. The platform allows for complete customization and flexibility in development.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Eleventy is partially open source, with the core functionality being open but some features requiring a paid license for full access.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
It is unclear if there is a free option for Contao. Further research is needed to determine if a free option is available.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Eleventy is a free and open-source static site generator, making it a cost-effective option for users looking to build websites without ongoing fees.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Contao offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and hosting services, providing more flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Eleventy offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, or hosted solutions, providing more flexibility and customization.


Platform details

Contao
Eleventy
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Contao may vary, with unclear information on official hosting services or third-party providers offering hosting services.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Eleventy does not offer a clear hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for the platform.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Contao offers a self-host option, allowing users to host their website on their own servers or with a third-party vendor.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Eleventy can be self-hosted on various platforms, offering flexibility and control over hosting options for users.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support headless functionality but can be achieved through plugins or custom development using its API.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support headless systems but can be used with plugins or APIs to enable headless features.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin for added functionality.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Eleventy natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and easy to use for creating static websites.


Key features

Contao
Eleventy
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Contao offers native content management capabilities, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy offers some content management capabilities through plugins, but may require additional setup compared to platforms with native content management features.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy is a versatile static site generator suitable for blogging, but lacks some native features commonly found in dedicated blogging platforms.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering a decent level of functionality and customization.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Eleventy is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. However, it can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not have native forum functionality but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for community and forum features.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support community/forum features but can be enhanced by integrating third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls are supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing functionality for monetizing content on the platform.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for this functionality.


Other features

Contao
Eleventy
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with the Multisite extension for managing multiple websites efficiently.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through third-party plugins or configurations for managing multiple sites.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Contao natively supports multi-language functionality, allowing users to easily create and manage multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with popular plugins/extensions for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through a popular third-party plugin, providing enhanced functionality for SEO optimization and site indexing.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Eleventy does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by third-party plugins like eleventy-plugin-sitemap for this functionality.


When choosing between Contao and Eleventy, consider the level of complexity and customization you require for your website. Contao is ideal for users looking for a comprehensive CMS solution, while Eleventy is better suited for those who prefer a lightweight and customizable approach to web development.