AstroComparisonBeginner · 4 min read

Astro vs Eleventy: Key Differences and When to Use Each

Astro is a modern static site builder focused on delivering fast websites with partial hydration and component-based architecture, while Eleventy is a simpler, flexible static site generator that emphasizes straightforward templating and content-focused builds. Both generate static sites but differ in complexity, flexibility, and how they handle components and JavaScript.

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Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of Astro and Eleventy on key factors.

Factor	Astro	Eleventy
Type	Static site builder with component framework support	Static site generator focused on templating
JavaScript Support	Supports partial hydration and client-side JS	Minimal JS, mostly server-side templating
Templating	Supports multiple frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte, etc.)	Supports many template languages (Nunjucks, Liquid, Markdown)
Build Speed	Moderate, optimized for partial hydration	Fast, simple build process
Learning Curve	Moderate, requires understanding components	Low, simple templating and config
Use Case	Interactive, modern sites needing JS components	Content-heavy, simple static sites

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Key Differences

Astro uses a component-based architecture allowing you to build UI with popular frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte, then compiles them into static HTML with optional client-side hydration. This means you can add interactivity only where needed, improving performance. It also supports modern JavaScript features and partial hydration out of the box.

Eleventy is more focused on simplicity and flexibility with templating languages. It does not have built-in support for JavaScript frameworks or hydration but excels at generating static content quickly using templates like Nunjucks, Liquid, or Markdown. Eleventy is ideal for blogs or documentation sites where minimal JavaScript is needed.

In summary, Astro is better for projects needing interactive components and modern frontend features, while Eleventy is great for straightforward static sites with fast builds and simple templating.

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Code Comparison

Here is how you create a simple homepage that displays a greeting in Astro using a React component.

astro

---
import React from 'react';
---
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Astro Example</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello from Astro!</h1>
    <ReactComponent client:load />
  </body>
</html>

---

function ReactComponent() {
  return <p>This is a React component rendered in Astro.</p>;
}

Output

<h1>Hello from Astro!</h1> <p>This is a React component rendered in Astro.</p>

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Eleventy Equivalent

Here is how you create a simple homepage that displays a greeting in Eleventy using Nunjucks templating.

njk

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Eleventy Example</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello from Eleventy!</h1>
    <p>This is static content rendered by Eleventy.</p>
  </body>
</html>

Output

<h1>Hello from Eleventy!</h1> <p>This is static content rendered by Eleventy.</p>

🎯

When to Use Which

Choose Astro when you want to build modern websites that combine static content with interactive components using popular JavaScript frameworks, especially if performance and partial hydration matter. It is ideal for projects needing a mix of static and dynamic UI.

Choose Eleventy when you want a simple, fast static site generator focused on content with minimal JavaScript, such as blogs, documentation, or marketing sites. Eleventy is great for beginners or projects where simplicity and speed are priorities.

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Key Takeaways

Astro supports component-based UI with partial hydration for interactive static sites.

Eleventy focuses on simple templating and fast static content generation.

Use Astro for modern, interactive sites; use Eleventy for straightforward, content-heavy sites.

Astro has a moderate learning curve due to components; Eleventy is easier for beginners.

Both generate static sites but differ in flexibility and JavaScript handling.