Wix vs Eleventy
Wix is drag-and-drop website builder with 800+ templates, app market, and built-in SEO tools, 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. Wix is built for small businesses wanting drag-and-drop simplicity, whereas Eleventy targets developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator.
At a glance
|
Wix
|
Eleventy
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses wanting drag-and-drop simplicity | Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| AI Builder | ✓ | — |
| App Market | ✓ | — |
| Data Cascade | — | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop | ✓ | — |
| E-commerce | ✓ | — |
| Multiple Templates | — | ✓ |
| Plugins | — | ✓ |
| Zero Config | — | ✓ |
Wix
Strengths
- Includes Drag & Drop as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
- Includes App Market as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
- Free with Wix branding — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
- Established product with 20+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Performance and SEO control is limited compared to custom-coded sites
- Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up
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
The bottom line
Pricing: Both Wix and Eleventy are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: Wix offers AI Builder, App Market and Drag & Drop that Eleventy lacks. Eleventy brings Data Cascade, Multiple Templates and Plugins that Wix 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. Wix is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Wix's biggest strengths are: includes drag & drop as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows. includes app market 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 Wix, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Eleventy, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
Choose Wix if...
- You need a tool built for small businesses wanting drag-and-drop simplicity
- You specifically need AI Builder and App Market
- You care about includes app market as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
- The free tier works for you: free with wix branding
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
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