Compare software

MkDocs vs Hugo: catalog facts
MkDocs	Hugo
Free The open-source application is available without a license fee.	Free Free and open source under Apache 2.0.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
One YAML file and a folder of Markdown produce a complete site Built-in live-reload server while writing	Builds large sites in seconds, with near-instant live reload while writing A single binary with no Node or Ruby runtime to keep working
Output is static, so search and versioning depend on the theme and plugins	Go templates are the steepest part of the learning curve You need the extended build for Sass, and picking the wrong one causes confusing errors
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: BSD-2-Clause	License: Apache-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.