The best static site generators, according to hackers
10 static site generators were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 8 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended static site generators with the badge. Each figure is 10 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Plain HTML, minimal JavaScript
A pleasant, approachable web framework that outputs plain HTML with minimal JavaScript and adds interactivity only where needed; some worry Cloudflare's ownership could push hosting lock-in.
Pure static output, fewer security worries
Free, fast static site generator that builds plain HTML from Markdown and is easy to host anywhere. Common caveat: themes and updates often break.
Good fit for blogs
Simple static site generator that turns Markdown into pages people find secure, easy to host and low-maintenance. Common caveat: complex templates and breaking updates.
All 10 static site generators, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astro | 174 | 36 | 83% | 13 | 2 yrs9 owners | Approved |
| 2 | Hugo static site generator | 85 | 40 | 68% | 12 | 3.5 yrs9 owners | Approved |
| 3 | Jekyll | 29 | 14 | 67% | 7 | 10 yrs5 owners | Approved |
| 4 | Eleventy | 22 | 3 | 88% | 6 | 3 yrs3 owners | Approved |
| 5 | Zensical | 17 | 4 | 81% | 4 | — | Approved |
| 6 | Zola | 15 | 0 | 100% | 7 | — | Approved |
| Tied 7 | Docusaurus | 10 | 2 | 83% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 7 | Quartz for Obsidian | 10 | 2 | 83% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 9 | MkDocs | 7 | 7 | 50% | 6 | — | — |
| 10 | Pelican | 5 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same static site generator in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to static site generators that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.