HeadlessCMS
Eleventy11tyStatic Site GeneratorHeadless CMSComposable ArchitectureAPI-Driven FrontendContent-FocusedMinimal JavaScript

Eleventy

Simple static site generator for content-focused, headless websites.

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Overview

Eleventy is commonly used with Headless CMS platforms by fetching content via APIs and generating static pages at build time. It emphasizes simplicity, flexibility in templating, and minimal abstractions, making it suitable for documentation sites, blogs, and content-heavy projects in composable architectures.

Rendering Modes
SSG
Best For

Blogs, Documentation, Simple websites

License

MIT

Quick Start

npm init && npm install @11ty/eleventy

Initialize a project and install Eleventy: npm init -y → npm i -D @11ty/eleventy. Run in dev/watch mode: npx @11ty/eleventy --serve (or npx eleventy --serve). Configure input/output (optional) in .eleventy.js / eleventy.config.js, add passthrough copy for assets, and choose a template language.

Key Features

Multiple Template Languages

Zero Config

Fast Builds

Data Cascade

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple and flexible
  • No client JS required
  • Fast builds

Cons

  • Less dynamic capabilities
  • Steeper learning curve for templates

Common Use Cases

Static WebsitesBlogs & DocumentationMarketing Sites & Landing PagesContent-Driven Sites (CMS → Static)Design Systems / Component Libraries (Static Previews)Partial Hydration

Compatible CMS

Tina CMS

Open-source Git-backed headless CMS with real-time visual editing

Compatible Cloud Servers

Netlify

Netlify

The platform developers love

Vercel

Vercel

The platform for frontend developers

Cloudflare Pages

Cloudflare Pages

JAMstack platform for frontend developers

DigitalOcean App Platform Starter

DigitalOcean App Platform Starter

Build, deploy, and scale apps quickly

Google Cloud Run

Google Cloud Run

Fully managed serverless containers

Find Eleventy Experts

Looking for professional help with your Eleventy project? Here are top certified agencies and developers.

Top Agencies

Alpina Tech

Alpina Tech

#1 Recommended

Craft custom, responsive websites using expert code and stunning design. Build your site with a flexible CMS and premium hosting to boost your digital presence.

QBurst

QBurst

QBurst is a digital engineering company that crafts delightful client experiences through AI-driven software engineering and data solutions.

Alloy

Alloy

Alloy is a marketing and transformation partner for the age of intelligence full of creative thinkers and problem solvers whose results-oriented work extends throughout the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

NOTUM

NOTUM

#1 Recommended

We are CMS-centered agency with 7 years of CMS experience. We build scalable corporate websites for scale-ups with headless CMS solutions. From design to deployment, we deliver complete, reliable support.

Successive Digital

Successive Digital

#1 Recommended

Successive Digital is a modern technology consulting partner built for enterprises that want to scale with confidence.