What is the difference between Framer and Eleventy?

Framer is best for Designers who want pixel-perfect websites without writing code, while Eleventy is best for Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator. Framer starts at Free and Eleventy starts at Free.

Is Framer or Eleventy cheaper?

Framer starts at Free and is free. Eleventy starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to Eleventy?

Both Framer and Eleventy offer free tiers.

Framer vs Eleventy

Framer is design-to-code website builder with real React components and CMS, while Eleventy is simple static site generator with flexible templating and zero client-side JavaScript. Eleventy is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Framer is built for designers who want pixel-perfect websites without writing code, whereas Eleventy targets developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator.

At a glance

	Framer	Eleventy
Best for	Designers who want pixel-perfect websites without writing code	Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	—	✓
Animations	✓	—
CMS	✓	—
Data Cascade	—	✓
Localization	✓	—
Multiple Templates	—	✓
Plugins	—	✓
React Components	✓	—
Visual Canvas	✓	—
Zero Config	—	✓

Framer

Strengths

Beautiful output — sites look professional
Real React components under the hood
Powerful animations and interactions
Built-in CMS and localization

Weaknesses

Steeper learning curve than Squarespace/Wix
SEO customization can be limited
Performance varies with heavy animations
CMS is basic compared to dedicated headless CMS

Try Framer → Full review

Eleventy

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Includes Zero Config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Performance and SEO control is limited compared to custom-coded sites

Try Eleventy → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both Framer and Eleventy are free, so this decision comes down to features and philosophy rather than budget.

Feature gaps: Framer offers Animations, CMS and Localization that Eleventy lacks. Eleventy brings Data Cascade, Multiple Templates and Plugins that Framer does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: Eleventy is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Framer is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: Framer's biggest strengths are: beautiful output — sites look professional. real react components under the hood. Eleventy's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes zero config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows.

Watch out for: With Framer, users commonly note that steeper learning curve than squarespace/wix. With Eleventy, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose Framer if...

You need a tool built for designers who want pixel-perfect websites without writing code
You specifically need Animations and CMS
You care about real react components under the hood

Choose Eleventy if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need Data Cascade and Multiple Templates
You care about includes zero config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows