What is the difference between Ghost and Eleventy?

Ghost is best for Bloggers and publishers who want a clean CMS, while Eleventy is best for Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator. Ghost starts at $9/mo and Eleventy starts at Free.

Is Ghost or Eleventy cheaper?

Ghost starts at $9/mo and is free. Eleventy starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to Eleventy?

Both Ghost and Eleventy offer free tiers.

Ghost vs Eleventy

Ghost is open-source publishing platform focused on professional blogging with membership and newsletter features, while Eleventy is simple static site generator with flexible templating and zero client-side JavaScript. Ghost is built for bloggers and publishers who want a clean cms, whereas Eleventy targets developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator.

At a glance

	Ghost	Eleventy
Best for	Bloggers and publishers who want a clean CMS	Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator
Starting price	$9/mo	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	✓	✓
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	✓	✓
Data Cascade	—	✓
Memberships	✓	—
Multiple Templates	—	✓
Newsletters	✓	—
Plugins	—	✓
Publishing	✓	—
SEO	✓	—
Zero Config	—	✓

Ghost

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Includes Publishing 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 Ghost → 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 Ghost and Eleventy are free, so this decision comes down to features and philosophy rather than budget.

Feature gaps: Ghost offers Memberships, Newsletters and Publishing that Eleventy lacks. Eleventy brings Data Cascade, Multiple Templates and Plugins that Ghost does not have.

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

Open source: Both Ghost and Eleventy are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.

Where each tool shines: Ghost's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes publishing as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows. 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 Ghost, users commonly note that may lack some advanced features. With Eleventy, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose Ghost if...

You need a tool built for bloggers and publishers who want a clean cms
You specifically need Memberships and Newsletters
You care about includes publishing as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows

Choose Eleventy if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator
You specifically need Data Cascade and Multiple Templates
You care about includes zero config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows