Jekyll alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Jekyll: slow builds on large sites, and ruby setup can be fiddly, especially on Windows. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Jekyll, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Hugo currently ranks first.
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Show all 5 alternativesThe best Jekyll alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Jekyll alternative for most people
HugoMuch faster builds and a single binary with no Ruby setup.
Best Jekyll alternative for a free option
EleventySimilar simplicity in JavaScript, with Liquid templates supported.
Best Jekyll alternative for open source
AstroModern framework for content sites with components and islands.
Best Jekyll alternative for working in the browser
Pages CMSSimple hosted editor for Jekyll sites on GitHub.
Jekyll alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Jekyll?
Hugo ranks first right now. Much faster builds and a single binary with no Ruby setup. Eleventy and Astro follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Jekyll?
Yes. Hugo (open source), Eleventy (open source), Astro (open source) and Decap CMS (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Jekyll?
Yes: Hugo, Eleventy, Astro and Decap CMS, plus 1 more in the list above. Hugo, Eleventy and Astro can also be self-hosted.
Which Jekyll alternatives work on Linux?
Hugo, Eleventy and Astro run on Linux.
Why do people switch from Jekyll?
The complaints we hear most: slow builds on large sites; ruby setup can be fiddly, especially on Windows; slow-moving project with many dated plugins.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Jekyll, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.