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Astro

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Gatsby

Astro vs Gatsby

Compare Astro and Gatsby for building static websites. See which SSG is better for your project.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Astro for most sites. Choose Astro for new projects where performance is critical and you want modern tooling. Choose Gatsby if you're already invested in its ecosystem or need specific Gatsby plugins.

Official docs: Astro Documentation · Gatsby Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureAstroGatsby
Performance
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Build Speed
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of Use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Framework Support
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Future Outlook
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Astro

Pros

  • Zero JS by default
  • Fastest performance
  • Framework agnostic
  • Content Collections
  • Simpler mental model
  • Growing fast

Cons

  • Newer ecosystem
  • Fewer plugins
  • Less React-specific
  • Smaller community (for now)

Gatsby

Pros

  • Mature ecosystem
  • Rich plugin library
  • GraphQL data layer
  • Large community
  • Enterprise adoption

Cons

  • Heavy JavaScript
  • Slow builds
  • Complex setup
  • Declining mindshare

Platform Details

DetailAstroGatsby
Language / Stack
JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Type
frameworkssg
Pricing
Free (open-source)Free (open-source)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScriptContent-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL
Export Method
N/A (destination framework)N/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Astro if…

  • You need content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal javascript
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members
  • You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Choose Gatsby if…

  • You need content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
  • You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Astro and Gatsby depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Astro is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic), while Gatsby is a ssg built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. Both platforms require some technical comfort — consider which tech stack aligns better with your team's existing skills.

From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gatsby dead?
No, but Gatsby's growth has slowed. Netlify (who acquired Gatsby) continues development.

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