Gatsby vs Jekyll
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering.
Open source · MIT
A Ruby tool that turns Markdown and templates into a static website, with blog support.
Our verdict
Gatsby and Jekyll are both free, open-source tools for building static websites, but they suit different builders. Gatsby is a React framework that pulls data from many sources and can mix static, deferred, and server-rendered pages, so it fits teams already comfortable with React and GraphQL. Jekyll is a Ruby tool that turns plain Markdown and templates into a folder of HTML pages, which makes it a good match for blogs and simple sites.
Pick Gatsby if your team already works with React and you want a content-heavy site that pulls data from CMSs or APIs.
Pick Jekyll if you want a simple blog or website written in Markdown and are comfortable with Ruby and the command line.
| Key difference | Gatsby | Jekyll |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | React framework that builds fast pages from many data sources. | Ruby tool that converts Markdown and templates into static HTML. |
| Best for | Content-heavy sites and apps for teams using React and GraphQL. | Blogs and simple websites built from plain text files. |
| Setup | Intermediate difficulty; assumes React and JavaScript skills. | Intermediate difficulty; requires a Ruby environment and command line. |
| Complexity | Plugin model and data layer add complexity beyond simpler generators. | Simpler model: plain files in, plain HTML out, easy to host. |
| Community size | About 55.9k GitHub stars, large plugin and starter ecosystem. | About 51.7k GitHub stars, large and widely used community. |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Gatsby if you need…
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Choose Jekyll if you need…
- Developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files
- People comfortable with Ruby tooling and the command line
- Writers who prefer Markdown and want static HTML output
- Projects that need hosting without a database or server-side code
Side-by-side
| Gatsby | Jekyll | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 55.9k | 51.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Last code update | 17 days ago | 23 days ago |
What each one is
Gatsby
Gatsby is a free, open-source framework built on React for making websites and web apps. It pulls data from sources such as Markdown files, headless CMSs, or REST and GraphQL APIs, then builds pages that load quickly. The README says it automates tasks like code splitting, image optimization, and lazy-loading.
Jekyll
Jekyll is a static site generator written in Ruby. You write content in files such as Markdown, combine it with templates, and it builds a folder of plain HTML pages that can be hosted anywhere. The description calls it blog-aware, and its topics include blog engine and Liquid templating. The README was not included in full, so details beyond the metadata are limited.
Best for
Gatsby
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Jekyll
- Developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files
- People comfortable with Ruby tooling and the command line
- Writers who prefer Markdown and want static HTML output
- Projects that need hosting without a database or server-side code
Strengths
Gatsby
- The README lists built-in performance features such as code splitting and image optimization
- It supports static, deferred static, and server-side rendering on a per-page basis
- It has a large plugin and starter ecosystem and an active community
Jekyll
- Widely used open-source project with a large community (about 51,700 stars)
- Released under the permissive MIT license
- Produces plain static files that are simple to host and hard to break
Not ideal for
Gatsby
- Beginners with no React or JavaScript experience, since the README assumes developer skills
- Very simple static pages, where a plain HTML generator may be less work
- Teams that need to avoid learning GraphQL and a plugin-based data pipeline
Jekyll
- Non-technical users who need a point-and-click site builder, since setup requires Ruby and the command line
- Sites that need dynamic features like user accounts or live database queries, since output is static files
- Teams that want a hosted service rather than running a build tool themselves
Trade-offs
Gatsby
- The README does not describe the learning curve in detail, and it assumes React and GraphQL knowledge
- Its feature set and plugin model add complexity compared with simpler site generators
- The README is truncated, so details about the security claims in the description are not verified here
Jekyll
- Requires a Ruby environment, which adds setup work for non-developers
- README content was truncated, so detailed feature coverage could not be verified here
Getting started
Gatsby
Initialize a new project
npm init gatsbyStart the site in develop mode
cd my-gatsby-site/ && npm run developJekyll
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jekyll/jekyllFrequently asked questions
Should I use Gatsby or Jekyll?
Gatsby and Jekyll are both free, open-source tools for building static websites, but they suit different builders. Gatsby is a React framework that pulls data from many sources and can mix static, deferred, and server-rendered pages, so it fits teams already comfortable with React and GraphQL. Jekyll is a Ruby tool that turns plain Markdown and templates into a folder of HTML pages, which makes it a good match for blogs and simple sites. Pick Gatsby if your team already works with React and you want a content-heavy site that pulls data from CMSs or APIs. Pick Jekyll if you want a simple blog or website written in Markdown and are comfortable with Ruby and the command line.
What is the difference between Gatsby and Jekyll?
Gatsby: A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering. Jekyll: A Ruby tool that turns Markdown and templates into a static website, with blog support. Gatsby suits developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation, while Jekyll suits developers who want a blog or simple website built from plain text files.
Are Gatsby and Jekyll free?
Gatsby: Free and open source. Jekyll: Free and open source.
Is Gatsby or Jekyll more popular?
Gatsby has more GitHub stars (55.9k) than Jekyll (51.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Gatsby and Jekyll?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Nextra, Wasp, refine, React Static.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.