Astro vs eleventy difference

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 by shipping minimal JavaScript, while Eleventy is a simpler static site generator emphasizing flexibility with many templating options. Astro supports component-based UI frameworks, whereas Eleventy is more traditional and template-driven.

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Quick Comparison

This table highlights the main differences between Astro and Eleventy across key factors.

Factor	Astro	Eleventy
Type	Static site builder with component framework support	Static site generator with template-based approach
Templating	Supports JSX, Vue, Svelte, React components	Supports many template languages like Nunjucks, Liquid, Markdown
JavaScript Handling	Ships zero JS by default, partial hydration	No built-in JS optimization, manual script inclusion
Performance Focus	Built for fast loading with minimal client JS	Depends on user optimization, simpler output
Learning Curve	Moderate, needs understanding of components	Easy for beginners familiar with templates
Use Case	Modern interactive sites, partial hydration	Content-heavy blogs, simple static sites

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Key Differences

Astro is designed around the idea of using UI components from popular frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte. It compiles these components into static HTML and only loads JavaScript on the client when needed, which helps keep sites very fast. This approach is great for modern web apps that want interactivity without heavy JavaScript bundles.

On the other hand, Eleventy is a more traditional static site generator that uses templates and markdown files to build pages. It supports many templating languages but does not have built-in support for JavaScript frameworks or partial hydration. Eleventy is simpler and more flexible for content-focused sites without complex interactivity.

Astro’s build process is more complex because it integrates component frameworks and optimizes JavaScript delivery, while Eleventy focuses on straightforward static HTML generation. This makes Astro better for projects needing modern UI features, and Eleventy better for fast, simple content sites.

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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';

export default function Home() {
  return <h1>Hello from Astro with React!</h1>;
}
---

<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Astro Example</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <Home />
  </body>
</html>

Output

<h1>Hello from Astro with React!</h1>

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Eleventy Equivalent

Here is the equivalent homepage in Eleventy using Nunjucks templating.

njk

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <title>Eleventy Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello from Eleventy with Nunjucks!</h1>
</body>
</html>

Output

<h1>Hello from Eleventy with Nunjucks!</h1>

🎯

When to Use Which

Choose Astro when you want to build modern websites that use UI components from frameworks like React or Vue and need fast loading with minimal JavaScript on the client. It is ideal for interactive sites that benefit from partial hydration and component-based architecture.

Choose Eleventy when you want a simple, flexible static site generator for content-heavy sites like blogs or documentation without complex interactivity. Eleventy is easier to learn and works well if you prefer traditional templating and markdown workflows.

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Key Takeaways

Astro uses component frameworks and optimizes JavaScript for fast, interactive sites.

Eleventy is a simpler, template-driven static site generator ideal for content-focused projects.

Astro supports partial hydration; Eleventy does not handle JavaScript optimization automatically.

Choose Astro for modern UI needs and Eleventy for straightforward static content.

Both generate static HTML but differ in complexity and use cases.