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Gatsby alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Gatsby: development has slowed sharply since the Netlify acquisition, and slow builds on large sites. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Gatsby, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Astro currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Payload logoPayloadOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web4 of 457.2
2Sanity logoSanityFree plan + paidNoWeb3 of 355.3
  1. Payload logo

    1. PayloadTop pick

    Best for: TypeScript and Next.js developers who want the CMS inside their own codebase

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gatsby

    Next.js-native CMS if you're moving to Next.js.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed and fully self-hostable
    • Lives inside your Next.js app with a type-safe local API
    • Auth, uploads, drafts and access control built in

    Cons

    • Content model changes require code and deploys
    • You manage the database and hosting yourself
    • SSO and some workflow features are enterprise-only
    Visit Payload Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Payload a good Gatsby alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Framework
    Next.js
    Checked Oct 25, 2026payloadcms.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Codebase
    Open-source TypeScript
    Checked Oct 25, 2026payloadcms.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise features
    SSO, publishing workflows, visual editor
    Checked Oct 25, 2026payloadcms.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Sanity logo

    2. Sanity

    Best for: Developer teams who want an editing interface tailored to their content

    Free plan + paidWeb

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gatsby

    Hosted headless CMS that works with any framework you migrate to.

    Pros

    • Editing studio is fully customisable in code
    • Real-time collaboration and visual editing
    • Generous free plan with many user seats

    Cons

    • Needs developers to set up and evolve the studio
    • GROQ is a proprietary query language to learn
    • Add-ons for extra quota and support cost extra
    Visit Sanity Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Sanity a good Gatsby alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    $0 forever, up to 20 seats
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sanity.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Growth plan
    $15 per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sanity.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Dedicated support add-on
    $799 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sanity.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Gatsby alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Astro logo

Best Gatsby alternative for most people

Astro

The usual modern replacement, with islands and React support.

Eleventy logo

Best Gatsby alternative for a free option

Eleventy

Lean generator with simpler builds and no React.

Sanity logo

Best Gatsby alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Sanity

Hosted headless CMS that works with any framework you migrate to.

Hugo logo

Best Gatsby alternative for open source

Hugo

Much faster builds for large content sites.

Payload logo

Best Gatsby alternative for self-hosting

Payload

Next.js-native CMS if you're moving to Next.js.

Astro logo

Best Gatsby alternative for Mac

Astro

The usual modern replacement, with islands and React support.

Astro logo

Best Gatsby alternative for Windows

Astro

The usual modern replacement, with islands and React support.

Astro logo

Best Gatsby alternative for Linux

Astro

The usual modern replacement, with islands and React support.

Payload logo

Best Gatsby alternative for working in the browser

Payload

Next.js-native CMS if you're moving to Next.js.

Gatsby alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Gatsby?

Astro ranks first right now. The usual modern replacement, with islands and React support. Eleventy and Hugo follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Gatsby?

Yes. Astro (open source), Eleventy (open source), Hugo (open source) and Payload (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gatsby?

Yes: Astro, Eleventy, Hugo and Payload. Astro, Eleventy and Hugo can also be self-hosted.

Which Gatsby alternatives work on Linux?

Astro, Eleventy and Hugo run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Gatsby?

The complaints we hear most: development has slowed sharply since the Netlify acquisition; slow builds on large sites; heavy plugin dependency trees are hard to upgrade.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Gatsby, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.