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Gatsby — Developer Tools

Free (open source)

Gatsby (Developer Tools): Gatsby is a React-based open-source framework for building fast, secure, and powerful websites. Pricing: Free (open source). (data verified July 2026)

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About Gatsby

What is Gatsby?

Gatsby is a React-based, open-source framework that helps developers build blazing-fast, secure websites and web applications. It solves the problem of slow, clunky site performance by generating static HTML at build time, then hydrating into a full React app for dynamic interactions. Its unified GraphQL data layer lets you pull content from multiple sources—CMS, APIs, markdown—without glue code.

Who is Gatsby for?

Gatsby is ideal for front-end developers, React developers, and teams who want high-performance marketing sites, blogs, e-commerce stores, or documentation portals. It is not for pure beginners new to React or those needing a no-code solution—it requires coding knowledge to set up and customize.

Key capabilities and use cases

Use Gatsby to create a secure, SEO-optimized blog, a lightning-fast landing page for your SaaS product, or a content-driven website that integrates multiple APIs. Real-world use cases include Netlify’s own marketing site, documentation platforms, and portfolio sites. Advanced features like Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Deferred Static Generation (DSG), and Cloud Functions provide flexibility for dynamic content and APIs beyond static pages.

Key features

  • React-Based Framework — Build websites using familiar React components with static and dynamic rendering.
  • GraphQL Data Layer — Unify content from CMS, APIs, and local files into one queryable graph—no more glue code.
  • SSR, DSG, and Cloud Functions — Add server-side rendering, deferred static generation, and serverless functions to handle dynamic pages and APIs.
  • Blazing-Fast Performance — Static generation at build time yields near-instant page loads and excellent Lighthouse scores.
  • Plugin Ecosystem — Extend functionality with hundreds of community and official plugins for images, SEO, analytics, and more.

SaaSpartout Score

7.3 /10
Ease of use 6.0
Features depth 8.5
Value for money 9.0
Support quality 6.5
Integrations 8.0
Scalability 7.5
Documentation 7.0
Onboarding speed 5.5

Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.

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Gatsby Pricing

Gatsby pricing: Free (open source). Billing model: Free.

For comparison: the median starting price in Developer Tools is $19.99/month, measured across 301 tools we track. See the full SaaS Pricing Index →

Open Source (Free)

The Gatsby framework itself is free and open source. Build, develop, and deploy locally at no cost.

Deploy on Netlify (Free tier + paid plans)

Deploy Gatsby sites on Netlify for free with 100 GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes per month, and automatic HTTPS. For higher traffic, team collaboration, and advanced build features, Netlify offers paid plans starting at $19/month.

Note: Scraped context does not include a separate Gatsby Cloud pricing page; current announcements indicate Gatsby Cloud features are now part of Netlify. Visit Netlify's site for detailed plan comparisons.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Gatsby free?
Yes, the Gatsby open-source framework is completely free to use. You can build and deploy sites locally with no cost. Hosting on Netlify offers a free tier as well.
How much does Gatsby cost?
The Gatsby framework is free. If you deploy on Netlify, you can start with a free plan or upgrade to paid plans from $19/month for more bandwidth and features.
Who is Gatsby best for?
Gatsby is best for React developers and development teams who need a high-performance, secure site that can pull data from multiple sources. It is ideal for marketing sites, blogs, and documentation.
What are the top alternatives to Gatsby?
Top alternatives include Next.js (React-based with SSR), Astro (static-first framework), and Eleventy (simpler static site generator). Choice depends on your need for server-side rendering vs. pure static output.
What is a key limitation of Gatsby?
Gatsby's build times can be long for large sites, and it requires familiarity with React and GraphQL. For simple sites without dynamic content, a lighter framework may be faster.
Does Gatsby support server-side rendering?
Yes, Gatsby supports Server-Side Rendering (SSR) as well as Deferred Static Generation (DSG) and Cloud Functions for dynamic pages and APIs, giving you flexibility beyond static generation.

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