Eleventy vs Hugo
Eleventy and Hugo are both static site generators that are popular among developers for creating fast and efficient websites. Eleventy is known for its flexibility and simplicity, allowing users to work with various templating languages. On the other hand, Hugo is praised for its speed and performance, making it a great choice for large-scale projects.
General information
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.
Hugo is a static site generator that was launched in 2013 and has gained popularity for its speed and simplicity. It is an open-source platform that allows users to create fast and secure websites with ease. Hugo is known for its flexibility and performance, making it a popular choice among developers and content creators looking for a reliable and efficient platform for their projects.
- 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
- Fast static site generation
- Lightweight and efficient performance
- Easy customization and theming options
- Secure and reliable platform
- Excellent support and active community
- 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
- Limited built-in features compared to others
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Less user-friendly interface for non-technical users
- Limited plugin and theme options
- Less community support and resources available
Eleventy is used by thousands of websites as a flexible and simple static site generator, popular among developers for its ease of use.
Hugo is a niche platform with a small user base compared to other popular content management systems like WordPress and Shopify.
Getting started with Eleventy requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some learning curve involved for beginners.
Getting started with Hugo requires some technical knowledge and familiarity with the command line interface, but resources and documentation are available for support.
Eleventy was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to more established content management systems.
Hugo was launched in 2013, making it a relatively newer platform compared to others in the market.
Commercial details
Eleventy is partially open source, with the core functionality being open but some features requiring a paid license for full access.
Hugo is partially open source, with the core software being open but some additional features and themes requiring a license.
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.
It is unclear if there is a free option available for Hugo. Further research is needed to determine the pricing structure.
Eleventy offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, or hosted solutions, providing more flexibility and customization.
Hugo offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, or hosted solutions, providing flexibility and customization for a fee.
Platform details
Eleventy does not offer a clear hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for the platform.
There are hosted options available for Hugo, both free and paid, allowing users to easily deploy and manage their websites.
Eleventy can be self-hosted on various platforms, offering flexibility and control over hosting options for users.
Self-hosting is possible with Hugo, allowing users to have full control over their website and choose their own hosting provider.
Eleventy does not natively support headless systems but can be used with plugins or APIs to enable headless features.
Hugo does not natively support headless systems but can be integrated with headless features through plugins or APIs.
Eleventy natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and easy to use for creating static websites.
Hugo supports static content generation out of the box, making it a powerful tool for creating fast and efficient websites.
Key features
Eleventy offers some content management capabilities through plugins, but may require additional setup compared to platforms with native content management features.
Hugo is a static site generator, so content management is not native but can be achieved through plugins for added functionality.
Eleventy is a versatile static site generator suitable for blogging, but lacks some native features commonly found in dedicated blogging platforms.
Hugo is a good platform for blogging when enhanced by popular 3rd party plugins/extensions for additional features and functionality.
Eleventy is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. However, it can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
Hugo is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. However, it can be enhanced with third-party plugins/extensions.
Eleventy does not natively support community/forum features but can be enhanced by integrating third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
Hugo can support community forums with third-party plugins like Discourse or Vanilla Forums, offering robust features and customization options.
Eleventy does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by third-party plugins for this functionality.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.
Other features
Eleventy does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through third-party plugins or configurations for managing multiple sites.
Multi-site functionality is supported via a popular third-party plugin, providing flexibility for managing multiple sites within Hugo.
Eleventy does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with popular plugins/extensions for multi-language functionality.
Multi-language support in Hugo is typically achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility but requiring additional setup and maintenance.
Eleventy does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by third-party plugins like eleventy-plugin-sitemap for this functionality.
XML sitemap functionality can be added through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for Hugo websites.
When choosing between Eleventy and Hugo, consider your specific needs and preferences. If you value flexibility and ease of use, Eleventy may be the better option. However, if speed and performance are your top priorities, Hugo could be the ideal choice. Ultimately, both platforms offer powerful features for building static websites, so the decision comes down to what aligns best with your project requirements.