Eleventy vs Strapi

Eleventy and Strapi are both popular tools for managing content on websites. Eleventy is a static site generator that simplifies the process of creating static websites, while Strapi is a headless CMS that offers more flexibility in content management and delivery.

General information

Eleventy
Strapi
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 :
Strapi is a headless CMS that was launched in 2015 and has gained popularity for its open-source nature and flexibility. It allows users to create, manage, and distribute content across multiple platforms seamlessly. Strapi's user-friendly interface, customizable API, and extensive documentation make it a preferred choice for developers and content creators looking for a modern and efficient CMS solution.
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 :
  • Highly customizable and flexible for developers
  • Easy to use and manage content
  • Offers a wide range of plugins and extensions
  • Strong community support and documentation
  • Scalable for small to large projects
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 community support
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms
  • Less flexibility in terms of customization
  • Limited number of available plugins and extensions
  • Higher cost for enterprise-level 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
Strapi is a relatively niche platform, with a small but dedicated user base compared to more widely used CMSs.
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 Strapi requires some technical knowledge but provides comprehensive documentation and community support for assistance.
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
Strapi was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems.
Official website : https://www.11ty.dev/
Official website : https://strapi.io/


Commercial details

Eleventy
Strapi
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.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Strapi is fully open source and written in JavaScript. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
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.
Strapi offers a free self-hosted option with no limitations on features, making it a cost-effective choice for users on a budget.
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.
Strapi offers a paid Enterprise Edition for organizations requiring advanced features, support, and customization options beyond the free Community Edition.


Platform details

Eleventy
Strapi
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Eleventy does not offer a clear hosted option, but users may find third-party vendors providing hosting services for the platform.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options may be available through third-party vendors, but direct hosting by Strapi is unclear.
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.
Self-hosting is possible with Strapi, giving users more control over their hosting environment and data security.
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.
๐ŸŸข Headless CMS : Support natively.
Strapi is a headless CMS by design, offering robust API capabilities for decoupled front-end development and seamless content delivery.
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.
Strapi does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

Eleventy
Strapi
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.
Strapi is a native platform for managing content, offering robust features and customization options without the need for additional plugins.
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 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Strapi can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
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.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Strapi is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality, but it can be adapted for this purpose with custom development or integrations.
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 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Strapi can be used for a community/forum with the help of third-party plugins/extensions for enhanced functionality.
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.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions in the Strapi ecosystem.


Other features

Eleventy
Strapi
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 the use of the Strapi Multisite plugin, offering flexibility and customization for managing multiple sites.
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.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Strapi supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
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.
๐Ÿ”ด XML Sitemaps : Not supported.
Strapi does not support XML sitemaps natively or through a popular 3rd party plugin/extension, limiting SEO optimization capabilities.


When choosing between Eleventy and Strapi, consider the type of website you are building. If you need a simple static site, Eleventy may be the better choice. However, if you require more dynamic content management capabilities, Strapi’s headless CMS approach could be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your specific project requirements and technical expertise.