Best Mako Alternatives in 2026
The top Mako alternatives are Jinja, Twig and Handlebars.js: 15 template engine software our editors would look at instead of Mako, in our ranking order.
Mako: A logic-based template engine for Python teams that want templates with Python expressions. Where it falls short: HTML escaping is available but is not applied automatically by default..
Switching from Mako? For most template engine software buyers the best Mako alternative is Jinja, built for python applications needing a flexible server engine.
Why People Look for a Mako Alternative
- HTML escaping is available but is not applied automatically by default
- Templates can contain Python logic, which may not suit teams seeking a restricted syntax
- Self-hosted deployment puts operation within the team's environment
- No automatic escaping — 8 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallJinja9.4
Python applications needing a flexible server engine
Visit Jinja - Best free optionJinja9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Jinja - Best for automatic escapingJinja9.4
Automatic escaping (Mako: no)
Visit Jinja
All 15 Mako Alternatives, Ranked
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Best forPython applications needing a flexible server engine
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.6
Jinja gives Python applications inheritance, configurable rendering, and compilation in an open-source engine.
- Sandbox mode
- Async rendering
- Template inheritance
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Jinja -
Best forPHP projects needing secure, optimized rendering
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 9.3 vs 6.6
A free, open-source PHP engine for compiled templates, inheritance, escaping, and sandboxing.
- Sandbox mode
- Template inheritance
- Automatic escaping
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Twig -
Best forJavaScript projects needing reusable HTML templates
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.6
A free, open-source template engine for JavaScript projects that need reusable HTML.
- Automatic escaping
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Handlebars -
Best forJava teams building HTML templates with Spring
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.6
An extensible, open-source choice for Java teams building server-rendered templates.
- Template inheritance
- Automatic escaping
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Thymeleaf -
Best forJava projects generating varied text formats
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.6
An open-source Java library for producing varied text formats from FTL templates.
- Automatic escaping
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forJava teams generating text and source artifacts
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.6
A free, open-source Java engine for logic-based server-side text rendering.
- Sandbox mode
8.9/10★★★★☆Try Apache Velocity -
Best forGo developers needing a standard-library engine
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.6
A free, logic-based Go template package with named templates and no automatic escaping.
- Template inheritance
8.8/10★★★★☆Try Go text/template -
Best forPHP teams separating presentation from application logic
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.6
Smarty separates PHP views from application logic and compiles templates for reuse.
- Sandbox mode
- Template inheritance
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Smarty -
Best forTeams generating source code from EMF models
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.6
A focused open-source engine for EMF-based source-code generation.
- Template inheritance
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Acceleo -
Best forPython teams transforming HTML and XML markup
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.6
A free, self-hosted Python engine for structured markup and text templates.
- Automatic escaping
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Genshi -
Best forPerl teams producing web content and text documents
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.6
A logic-based Perl template engine with reusable components, plugins, filters, and compiled-template caching.
8.4/10★★★★☆Try Template Toolkit -
Best forRuby developers embedding Ruby in templates
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.6
A free Ruby library for evaluating template tags and generating strings.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Ruby -
Best forPHP developers prioritizing safe template rendering
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.6
A self-hosted PHP template engine with automatic escaping, inheritance, and sandbox controls.
- Sandbox mode
- Template inheritance
- Automatic escaping
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Latte -
Best forTeams wanting a simple logic-less template syntax
- Better than Mako:
- Automatic escaping
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.6
Mustache keeps templating simple with logic-less tags, sections, partials and default escaping.
- Template inheritance
- Automatic escaping
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Mustache -
Best forModel-driven generation of varied text artifacts
- Better than Mako:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.6
An open-source, model-centric generator for traceable text artifacts across destinations.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Epsilon EGL
Mako Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Mako?
Jinja: #1 in our Template Engine Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Jinja gives Python applications inheritance, configurable rendering, and compilation in an open-source engine.
Is there a free alternative to Mako?
Yes. Jinja, Twig, Handlebars.js, Thymeleaf and Apache FreeMarker have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Mako alternatives?
HTML escaping is available but is not applied automatically by default; Templates can contain Python logic, which may not suit teams seeking a restricted syntax; Self-hosted deployment puts operation within the team's environment.
How do I switch from Mako?
Export your data from Mako (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Mako.
How to Switch from Mako
- Export your data from Mako (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Mako.
Mako vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Rendering mode | Syntax model | Template inheritance | Automatic escaping | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Mako | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | No | 6.6 |
| 1 | Jinja | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Twig | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Handlebars.js | Yes | Free | Logic-based | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 4 | Thymeleaf | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 5 | Apache FreeMarker | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 6 | Apache Velocity | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | No | 8.9 | |
| 7 | Go text/template | Yes | Free | Logic-based | Yes | No | 8.8 | |
| 8 | Smarty | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | No | 8.7 |
| 9 | Acceleo | Yes | Free | Logic-based | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 10 | Genshi | Yes | Free | Logic-based | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 11 | Template Toolkit | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | 8.4 | ||
| 12 | ERB | Yes | Free | Code-generation | 8.3 | |||
| 13 | Latte | Yes | Free | Server | Logic-based | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 14 | Mustache | Yes | Free | Logic-less | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 15 | Epsilon EGL | Yes | Free | Logic-based | 8.0 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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