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Drupal

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11ty

Drupal vs 11ty

Drupal vs 11ty: which is right for your project? Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures. 11ty is zero-config javascript ssg that ships zero client js by default. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

11ty wins overall, but Drupal is better for large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Drupal for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose 11ty for Performance-focused sites that need minimal client-side JavaScript.

Official docs: Drupal Documentation

Migrate Drupal → 11ty

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Drupal	11ty
Ease of Use	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Drupal

Pros

Powerful content modeling with custom entity types and fields
Enterprise-grade access control and user permissions
Built-in multilingual support for global sites
Strong security track record used by governments and universities

Cons

Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise
Fewer themes and modules compared to WordPress
Major version upgrades (e.g. Drupal 7→10) are complex migrations
Slow without aggressive caching configuration

11ty

Pros

Ships zero JavaScript to the browser by default — pure HTML
Supports 10+ template languages (Nunjucks, Liquid, Markdown, etc.)
Framework-independent — use any or no JS framework
Fast builds and simple mental model

Cons

No built-in client-side JS framework for interactive components
Smaller ecosystem of plugins and starters than Next.js or Gatsby
Less intuitive for developers coming from React/Vue backgrounds
Documentation can be hard to navigate

Platform Details

Detail	Drupal	11ty
Language / Stack	PHP	JavaScript (multiple template languages)
Type	traditional cms	ssg
Pricing	Free (self-hosted)	Free (open-source)
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Best For	Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control	Performance-focused sites that need minimal client-side JavaScript
Export Method	JSON:API module or Views data export	N/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Drupal if…

You need large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control
Your team is comfortable with PHP
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Choose 11ty if…

You need performance-focused sites that need minimal client-side javascript
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript (multiple template languages)
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

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Drupal and 11ty depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Drupal is a traditional cms built with PHP, while 11ty is a ssg built with JavaScript (multiple template languages). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Drupal's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

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 offers a free Drupal → 11ty migration tool that preserves your URLs, metadata, and content structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Drupal better than 11ty?

11ty scores higher overall (25/30 vs 20/30) thanks to better performance. However, Drupal remains the better choice for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control.

Can I migrate from Drupal to 11ty?

Yes. Export your Drupal content via JSON:API module or Views data export, then convert it to Markdown or import into a headless CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Drupal and 11ty?

Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures, while 11ty is zero-config javascript ssg that ships zero client js by default. Key differences: ease of use (Drupal: 2/5, 11ty: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free (open-source)), and scalability (Drupal: 4/5, 11ty: 4/5).

How much does Drupal cost compared to 11ty?

Drupal: Free (self-hosted). 11ty: Free (open-source). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.

Which is easier to learn, Drupal or 11ty?

11ty is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 2/5). Ships zero JavaScript to the browser by default — pure HTML. Drupal Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise.

Which performs better, Drupal or 11ty?

11ty has the performance edge (5/5 vs 3/5). As a static site generator, 11ty pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Drupal Slow without aggressive caching configuration.

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