We compared Jekyll with other popular static site generators (SSGs) based on speed, ease of setup, flexibility, ecosystem, and hosting compatibility.
We also considered:
- Build time performance on large projects
- Plugin and theme availability
- Documentation quality
- Community support in 2025
After testing and reviewing, here are the top 7 Jekyll alternatives worth considering.
1. Hugo
Best for: Ultra-fast builds and large content-heavy sites
Language: Go
Hugo is one of the fastest SSG, capable of building thousands of pages in seconds. Its templating system is powerful yet beginner-friendly once you understand Go templates.
Why choose Hugo over Jekyll:
- Build speed is significantly faster
- No dependencies like Ruby or Node.js
- Great for blogs, documentation, and portfolios
Pros:
- Blazing fast build times
- Robust theme marketplace
- Easy deployment to Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages
Cons:
- Go templates have a learning curve
2. Eleventy (11ty)
Best for: Flexibility and zero lock-in
Language: JavaScript
Eleventy is known for its flexibility, you can use Markdown, HTML, Nunjucks, Liquid, or other templating languages. It’s simple for small projects but powerful enough for complex ones.
Why choose Eleventy over Jekyll:
- Works without a heavy framework
- Supports multiple template engines
- Lightweight and minimal setup
Pros:
- Flexible templating
- Great for blogs and personal sites
- Good for progressive migration from existing sites
Cons:
- Build times are slower than Hugo for huge sites
3. Astro
Best for: Modern web apps with islands of interactivity
Language: JavaScript/TypeScript
Astro is built for the modern web, with less JavaScript and load interactive components only when needed. It supports React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, and more.
Why choose Astro over Jekyll:
- Partial hydration for performance
- Component-based development
- Ideal for marketing sites, blogs, and e-commerce landing pages
Pros:
- Extremely fast load times
- Flexible with multiple frontend frameworks
- Great developer experience
Cons:
- Relatively new; the ecosystem is still growing
4. Next.js (Static Export Mode)
Best for: Hybrid static + dynamic sites
Language: JavaScript/TypeScript
Next.js isn’t just for SSR; it can also statically export sites, making it a Jekyll alternative for those already using React.
Why choose Next.js over Jekyll:
- Easy to add dynamic pages alongside static content
- Strong Vercel integration
- Vast React ecosystem
Pros:
- Versatile: SSG + SSR + ISR
- Large community and plugin ecosystem
- Good for SEO
Cons:
- More complex than pure static site generators
5. Zola
Best for: Simplicity and speed without Go’s complexity
Language: Rust
Zola is a Rust-based SSG that’s lightning-fast and easy to configure with a single config.toml file.
Why choose Zola over Jekyll:
- No dependencies, single binary install
- Extremely fast builds
- Simple templating
Pros:
- Cross-platform binary
- No extra tooling needed
- Easy to learn
Cons:
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Hugo or Eleventy
6. MkDocs
Best for: Documentation sites
Language: Python
MkDocs is designed specifically for project documentation, using Markdown and simple YAML configuration.
Why choose MkDocs over Jekyll:
- Built-in search
- Excellent themes like Material for MkDocs
- Perfect for developer documentation
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Great search and navigation
- Strong Python community support
Cons:
- Less flexible for non-docs use cases
7. Pelican
Best for: Python-based static sites and blogs
Language: Python
Pelican offers a clean workflow for Python users, supporting reStructuredText and Markdown.
Why choose Pelican over Jekyll:
- Native Python environment
- Multiple output formats
- Great for tech blogs
Pros:
- Python plugin ecosystem
- Flexible theming
- Good for multilingual sites
Cons:
- Smaller community than Hugo or Eleventy
Comparison Table
| SSG | Language | Best For | Speed | Ecosystem Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo | Go | Large, content-heavy sites | 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 | Large |
| Eleventy | JavaScript | Flexible templating | 🚀🚀🚀 | Medium |
| Astro | JS/TS | Modern, interactive sites | 🚀🚀🚀🚀 | Growing |
| Next.js | JS/TS | Hybrid static + dynamic | 🚀🚀🚀 | Very Large |
| Zola | Rust | Fast, simple builds | 🚀🚀🚀🚀 | Small |
| MkDocs | Python | Documentation | 🚀🚀🚀 | Medium |
| Pelican | Python | Tech blogs, multilingual | 🚀🚀🚀 | Small |
Final Thoughts
If you love Jekyll but need faster builds or more modern workflows, one of these SSGs will fit your needs.
- For speed: Go with Hugo or Zola.
- For flexibility: Choose Eleventy.
- For modern frameworks: Try Astro or Next.js.
- For documentation: Use MkDocs.
