Choosing a Static Site Generator

The 2026 choice collapses to intent, not features. Pick by the question you're actually answering:

• Content-first site, want a great default? → Astro. Zero JS by default, framework-agnostic islands.
• Thousands of pages, build speed is the constraint? → Hugo. Compiled Go; nothing JS-based catches it.
• Need dynamic routes later, not just static? → Next.js. Static + ISR + edge in one stack.
• Want minimal opinions and full control? → Eleventy.

For a small personal site, build speed is irrelevant and dynamic needs are minimal — so the tie-breaker is developer experience, which points to Astro (or Eleventy if you'd rather avoid a framework entirely).

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Source: Best Static Site Generators 2026 See also: Launch Personal Site