I've built sites with most of these. Here's how they stack up in 2026.
flowchart TB
Need[What do you need?]
Need --> Blog[Blog / content]
Need --> Docs[Documentation]
Need --> API[API docs]
Need --> Fast[Fast builds]
Blog --> Pelican[Pelican]
Docs --> MkDocs[MkDocs]
API --> Sphinx[Sphinx]
Fast --> Bengal[Bengal]
Bengal --> FT[Free-threading]
Bengal --> Inc[Incremental]
Pelican --> Plugins[Plugin ecosystem]
MkDocs --> Simple[Simple setup]
Sphinx --> Heavy[Full autodoc]
TL;DR
| Generator | Best for | Build speed | Free-threading | Incremental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal | Docs, blogs, product sites | Fast (parallel) | Yes (3.14t) | Yes |
| Pelican | Blogs, content-heavy | Good | No | Limited |
| MkDocs | Documentation | Good | No | Limited |
| Sphinx | API docs, books | Slower | No | Yes |
| Logya | Simple sites | Good | No | Limited |
The landscape in 2026
Python static site generators are not a crowded field. The ecosystem has a few mature options and a handful of newer ones. The difference in 2026 is that free-threaded Python is officially supported and some generators are starting to take advantage of it.
| Generator | Strengths | Tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Pelican | Since 2010. Markdown, reST, Jinja2, RSS, plugins | GIL-bound; no real parallel builds |
| MkDocs | Docs-first, simple config, Material theme | Not for blogs or product sites |
| Sphinx | Autodoc, cross-refs, large hierarchies | Slower, steeper learning curve |
| Bengal | Free-threading, sub-second incremental, Kida + Patitas | 3.14+ only, newer ecosystem |
| Logya, Stattic, Markata | Flexible, SEO-focused, plugin-based | None yet targets free-threading |
When to choose which
| Use case | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blog or content site, no special needs | Pelican | Mature, plugin-rich |
| Documentation site, simple structure | MkDocs | Docs-first, simple |
| API docs, autodoc, large hierarchy | Sphinx | Standard for Python API docs |
| Docs or blog, fast builds and incremental | Bengal | Free-threading, sub-second incremental |
| Want to try free-threaded Python | Bengal | Only SSG with parallel rendering |
The builder's take
- Build speed matters — Bengal is the only Python SSG that uses free-threading for parallel rendering. Large sites, small change → sub-second rebuild.
- Mature ecosystem — Pelican is the default if you don't mind slower builds.
- Docs-only, simplicity — MkDocs is hard to beat.
- The GIL question — Python 3.14 made free-threading official. For most sites, negligible. For large sites, game-changing.