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Head-to-head · Template Engine Software

Apache Velocity vs Smarty

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Apache Velocity #6 in Template Engine Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Try Apache Velocity
Smarty #8 in Template Engine Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Smarty

Apache Velocity leads on 0 checks, Smarty on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreApache Velocity · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresSmarty · 2 of 4

Apache Velocity scores higher on our rubric for template engine software: 8.9 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.

Apache Velocity is the better fit for java teams generating text and source artifacts. Smarty is the better fit for PHP teams separating presentation from application logic.

  • Apache Velocity fits best

    Java teams generating text and source artifacts

  • Smarty fits best

    PHP teams separating presentation from application logic

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Side by side

Feature Apache Velocity 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Smarty 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.7
Ranking #6 in Template Engine Software #8 in Template Engine Software
Best for Java teams generating text and source artifacts PHP teams separating presentation from application logic
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Community Community
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache Velocity 1/4 · Smarty 2/4
Template inheritance Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Automatic escaping — —
Sandbox mode ✓ ✓
Async rendering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Rendering mode Server Server
Syntax model Logic-based Logic-based
License model Open-source Open-source
Our review
Pros
  • Generates web pages, source code, SQL, PostScript, and emails
  • Supports conditionals, collection loops, includes, and reusable macros
  • Loads templates from files, the classpath, or a database
  • Compiles templates to PHP scripts and recompiles when files change
  • Template inheritance lets child templates fill parent blocks
  • Built-in caching plus custom functions and variable modifiers
Cons
  • Requires self-hosted deployment in a Java application or utility
  • Automatic escaping is listed as false
  • Support is community-based
  • HTML escaping is optional rather than enabled by default
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP application
  • Support is community-based
Our verdict

Apache Velocity is a Java-based template engine for teams that need to generate text from templates. Java code supplies objects in a context, and templates use the Velocity Template Language to reference them and control output. It can be…

Read the review →

Smarty is an open-source PHP template engine for teams that want presentation handled separately from application logic. PHP applications pass content and variables into templates, where tags format and render them. That arrangement can…

Read the review →
  1. Apache VelocityTemplate Engine Software 8.9Free plan
  2. SmartyTemplate Engine Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Apache Velocity — where it wins

    • Generates web pages, source code, SQL, PostScript, and emails
    • Supports conditionals, collection loops, includes, and reusable macros
    • Loads templates from files, the classpath, or a database

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted deployment in a Java application or utility
    • Automatic escaping is listed as false
    • Support is community-based

  • Smarty — where it wins

    • Compiles templates to PHP scripts and recompiles when files change
    • Template inheritance lets child templates fill parent blocks
    • Built-in caching plus custom functions and variable modifiers

    Where it doesn't

    • HTML escaping is optional rather than enabled by default
    • Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP application
    • Support is community-based

More comparisons

All template engine software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update