Pelican
Static site generator powered by Python for fast, flexible, and SEO-friendly websites
Overview
Pelican is a mature and reliable static site generator written in Python that converts Markdown or reStructuredText content into fast, SEO-friendly static websites. It is well suited for blogs, documentation portals, and headless CMS-driven projects where performance, simplicity, and long-term stability are critical.
Blogs and personal websites, Technical documentation, Content-heavy static sites, Python-based teams, Headless CMS + Jamstack setups, SEO-focused projects with low runtime complexity
AGPL 3.0
Quick Start
Create and activate a virtual environment, then install Pelican inside it. Quickstart a project skeleton (Pelican provides quick steps to create a starter structure). Build/serve your site using the CLI (pelican commands).
Key Features
Python-Based Generator
Markdown & reStructuredText
Jinja2 Templating
SEO-Friendly Output
Plugin System
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Clean and semantic HTML output
- Python ecosystem and tooling
- Very fast build times
- Simple content model (Markdown / reStructuredText)
- Stable and battle-tested project
- Easy integration with headless CMS workflows
Cons
- No built-in SSR or ISR
- Smaller ecosystem compared to JavaScript SSGs
- Requires Python knowledge
- Limited real-time or dynamic rendering capabilities
- AGPL license may be restrictive for some commercial use cases
Common Use Cases
Compatible Cloud Servers
Netlify
The platform developers love
AWS Amplify
Build full-stack web and mobile apps
Cloudflare Pages
JAMstack platform for frontend developers
DigitalOcean App Platform Basic
For basic web services and APIs
Find Pelican Experts
Looking for professional help with your Pelican project? Here are top certified agencies and developers.
Top Agencies
Alpina Tech
#1 RecommendedCraft custom, responsive websites using expert code and stunning design. Build your site with a flexible CMS and premium hosting to boost your digital presence.
Successive Digital
#1 RecommendedSuccessive Digital is a modern technology consulting partner built for enterprises that want to scale with confidence.
Tentwenty Digital Agency
Tentwenty Digital Agency specializes in addressing complex client challenges through a combination of cutting-edge UI/UX design and seamless technical integration.
FocusReactive
#1 RecommendedWeb development agency with deep expertise in the headless CMS market.
QBurst
QBurst is a digital engineering company that crafts delightful client experiences through AI-driven software engineering and data solutions.