Eleventy vs Ghost

Eleventy and Ghost are both popular static site generators, but they serve different purposes. Eleventy is known for its simplicity and flexibility, allowing developers to create custom websites with ease. On the other hand, Ghost is a full-fledged CMS designed specifically for blogging and content publishing.

General information

Eleventy
Ghost
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.
Introduction :
Ghost is a modern and open-source content management system that was launched in 2013. It is known for its sleek and minimalist design, making it popular among bloggers and publishers who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity. Ghost offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for creating and managing content, making it a strong contender in the CMS market.
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
Advantages :
  • Clean and minimalist design for modern websites
  • Fast loading times for improved user experience
  • Built-in SEO tools for better search visibility
  • Markdown support for easy content creation
  • Active community for support and resources
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
Disadvantages :
  • Limited plugin options
  • Less community support compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Customization options can be overwhelming
  • Higher cost for premium features
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.
Website users : 0.1% of websites
Ghost is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, making it a niche choice for content management.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Eleventy requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some learning curve involved for beginners.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Ghost requires some technical knowledge, but the platform offers comprehensive documentation and support for users to navigate through the initial learning curve.
Year launched : 2013
Eleventy was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to more established content management systems.
Year launched : 2013
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Official website : https://www.11ty.dev/
Official website : https://ghost.org/


Commercial details

Eleventy
Ghost
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.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Ghost is partially open source, with the core platform being fully open source but certain features and services being proprietary.
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 Free option : Yes.
Ghost offers a free, self-hosted option with limited features. Users can upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced functionality.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Eleventy offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, or hosted solutions, providing more flexibility and customization.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Ghost offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and flexibility for their website.


Platform details

Eleventy
Ghost
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 Hosted : Yes.
Ghost offers a hosted option through its official website, providing users with a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their Ghost site.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Eleventy can be self-hosted on various platforms, offering flexibility and control over hosting options for users.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Ghost can be self-hosted on various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
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.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Ghost does not have native headless support but may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Eleventy natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and easy to use for creating static websites.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Ghost through the use of third-party plugins, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.


Key features

Eleventy
Ghost
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.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Ghost offers robust native content management features, making it a strong platform for managing content efficiently and effectively.
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.
๐ŸŸข Blogging : Support natively.
Ghost offers a native and user-friendly platform specifically designed for blogging, with a focus on clean design and seamless content creation.
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 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Ghost can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Snipcart or Shopify Buy Button, offering flexibility and customization options.
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.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Ghost offers native support for community and forum features, making it a strong platform for building engaging online communities without the need for additional plugins.
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.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party integrations like Memberful or Patreon, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.


Other features

Eleventy
Ghost
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.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility for managing multiple sites within the Ghost platform.
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 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Ghost does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by popular plugins for multi-language support.
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.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.


When choosing between Eleventy and Ghost, consider your specific needs. If you require a simple and customizable website, Eleventy is a great choice. However, if you prioritize content management and blogging features, Ghost may be the better option. Ultimately, the decision should be based on the specific requirements of your project.