104 Static Site Generators For Modern Web Development

A static site generator is a tool that generates a full static HTML website based on raw data and a set of templates. Essentially, a static site generator automates the task of coding individual HTML pages and gets those pages ready to serve to users ahead of time. Static site generators are an alternative to database-driven content management systems, such as WordPress and Drupal. In such systems, content is managed and stored in a database.

Static site generators are taking over the web. They are modern tools that fundamentally define your development process. Their very nature is to simplify your workflow. This is why they are so popular with modern web development. Check out how they can help you in various scenarios and what are their main benefits here. Here’s a look at 104 Static Site Generators For Modern Web Development covering Blogs, CMS, Documentation, Frameworks, Photography, Single Page, Wikis, Helpful Tools and Services and Web Hosts. Continue reading if you want to use a static site generator to build your next website.

Blogs

1. 11ty (JavaScript, Node.js)
   Eleventy is a simpler static site generator.
2. ABlog (Python)
   A Sphinx extension that converts any documentation or personal website project into a full-fledged blog.
3. BlogC++ (C++)
   A static blog generator, written in C++17.
4. Cobalt (Rust)
   A Rust static site generator.
5. Franklin (Julia)
   A static site generator written in Julia that is primarily intended for technical blogging.
6. Gitfolio (Node.js)
   A portfolio website where you could showcase your work + a blog that will help you spread your ideas into real world.
7. Hexo (JavaScript, Node.js)
   A fast, simple & powerful blog framework.
8. Hyde (Python)
9. Jamify NextJS (JavaScript, React, Next.js)
   Publish flaring fast blogs with Next.js and Ghost.
10. Jamify Gatsby (JavaScript, React, Gastby)
    Publish flaring fast blogs with Gatsby and Ghost.
11. Jekyll (Ruby)
    Jekyll is a simple, blog-aware, static site generator perfect for personal, project, or organization sites.
12. Journey (Go)
13. Makesite (Python)
    Simple, lightweight, and magic-free static site/blog generator (< 130 lines) for Python coders
14. mkws (Bash)
    A simple static site generator using sh as a templating language.
15. Nikola (Python)
16. Octopress (Ruby, Jekyll)
    Similar to Jekyll but where everything you need is already setup.
17. Orchid Posts (Orchid, Java, Kotlin)
    Add Jekyll-like blogging functionality to your Orchid site.
18. Pelican (Python)
    Uses Markdown or ReST for content and Jinja2 for themes.
19. PRPL (TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js)
    A modular static site generator built for longevity
20. Qgoda (Perl)
    Arbitrary taxonomies and cross-links, multi-lingua.
21. Serum (Elixir)
    Serum is a static website generator written in Elixir Programming Language.
22. Sphido (Node.js)
    A rocket fast, lightweight, static site generator.
23. Spress (PHP)
24. Static (Clojure)
    Supports org-mode and markdown.
25. CommonMark Blog for Laravel (PHP)
    Static generator to use with Laravel projects. Uses CommonMark and FrontMatter to generate and publish files in the public folder. Supports articles as well as listing pages.
26. WP2Static
    WordPress static site generator for security, performance and cost benefits

CMS

1. Lektor (Python)
   An easy to use static CMS and blog engine.
2. Publii (JavaScript, Electron)
   Easy-to-use desktop app to generate static websites.
3. Tipe (JavaScript)
   An easy to use API-first CMS engine to generate static sites.
4. Datenstrom Yellow (PHP)
   For people who make small websites.

Documentation

1. Docnado (Python, Jinja2)
   A rapid documentation tool that will blow you away; batteries and style included.
2. DocPad (JavaScript, CoffeeScript, Node.js)
3. Docsify (JavaScript, Node.js)
   A magical documentation site generator.
4. Doctave (Rust)
   A batteries-included developer documentation site generator.
5. Docusaurus (JavaScript, React)
   Easy to maintain open source documentation websites.
6. Docute (JavaScript)
   Effortless documentation, done right.
7. MkDocs (Python)
   Write your docs in Markdown and configure the generator with a single YAML configuration file.
8. Orchid Javadoc (Orchid, Java, Kotlin)
   Create beautiful Javadocs for your project within your Orchid site.
9. Slate (Ruby)
10. Sphinx (Python)

Frameworks

1. Assemble (JavaScript, Node.js)
2. Astro (JavaScript, Node.Js, React.js, Vue.js, Svelte.js)
   Framework agnostic static site generator with component-level support for partial hydration on page load, page idle, component visible or none.
3. Cactus (Python)
4. coil (elixir)
5. Complexity (Python)
   For those who like to work in HTML.
6. Cuttlebelle (JavaScript, Node.js, React.js)
   The react static site generator that separates editing and code concerns.
7. Dewar (Python)
   A flask-like static site generator.
8. Elder.js (JavaScript, Node.js, Svelte.js)
   An opinionated, SEO focused, static site generator for Svelte.js.
9. Flask-Frozen (Python, Flask)
   Freezes a Flask application into a set of static files.
10. Gaiden (Groovy)
    A tool that makes it easy to create documentation with Markdown.
11. Gatsby (JavaScript, Node.js, React.js)
12. Goldsmith (Go)
    Fast and simple pipeline-based static site generator, extensible via plugins.
13. Grain (Groovy)
14. Gridsome (Vue.js, JavaScript)
    Vue.js-powered, modern site generator for building the fastest possible websites for any Headless CMS, APIs or Markdown-files.
15. Hakyll (Haskell)
    Hakyll is a Haskell library for generating static sites, mostly aimed at small-to-medium sites and personal blogs. It is written in a very configurable way and uses an xmonad-like DSL for configuration.
16. Harp (JavaScript, Node.js)
17. Hugo (Go)
    It is optimized for speed, easy use and configurability.
18. JBake (Java)
19. LambdaPad (Erlang)
20. m4-bakery (make, m4)
21. Metalsmith (JavaScript, Node.js)
    An extremely simple, pluggable static site generator.
22. Middleman (Ruby)
    Middleman is a static site generator using all the shortcuts and tools in modern web development.
23. nanoc (Ruby)
    Flexible support for small personal to large corporate web sites.
24. Nuxt.js
    Versatile vue-based framework for server-side-rendered, static and traditional single page applications.
25. obelisk (elixir)
26. Orchid (Java, Kotlin)
    A beautiful and truly unique documentation engine and static site generator.
27. Pagegen (Python)
28. Publish (Swift)
    enables entire websites to be built using Swift, and supports themes, plugins and tons of other powerful customization options
29. React Static (React.js)
    A progressive static-site framework for React.
30. Scully (TypeScript, Angular)
    The Static Site Generator for Angular apps.
31. Sculpin (PHP)
32. Sitegen (Lua, MoonScript)
33. Slides (JavaScript)
34. Tags (Python)
35. Urubu (Python)
36. VuePress (JavaScript)
    Vue.js powered static site generator.
37. webgen (Ruby)
38. Wintersmith (JavaScript, Node.js)
39. yst (Haskell)
    Powered by YAML.
40. Silssig (Go, Golang)
    Go powered static site generator for GitHub/GitLab pages and other similar services with support for markdown.
41. Zola (Rust)
    Rust powered static site generator

Photography

1. Expose (Bash)
   For photoessays.
2. Prosopopee A static website generator to make beautiful customizable pictures galleries that tell a story (Python)
3. Sigal (Python)

Single Page

1. CMS.js (JavaScript)
   A fully client-side, JavaScript Markdown site generator.
2. Flatdoc (JavaScript)
   A small JavaScript file that fetches Markdown files and renders them as full pages.

Wikis

1. GitBook (GitBook)
   Modern documentation format and toolchain using Git and Markdown.
2. Gollum (Ruby)
   Gollum is a simple wiki system built on top of Git.
3. ikiwiki (Perl)
4. Orchid Wiki (Orchid, Java, Kotlin)
   A Gitbook-like wiki for your Orchid site.

Helpful Tools and Services

1. Formspree
   Adds functional forms to your static web sites.
2. git-annex
   Configure git-annex for a public repository for a static web site.
3. JAMStack Themes
   A collection of themes filterable by static site generator and CMS support.

Web Hosts

1. AWS S3
2. Azure Static Web Apps
3. Firebase
4. GitLab Pages
5. Netlify
6. Surge

Other Lists of Static Web Site Generators

1. HeadlessCMS
2. Static Site Generators
3. StaticGen
4. Best Static Site Generators in 2019
5. Beginner’s Guide to Static Site Generators