Netlify
A cloud platform for deploying static sites and JAMstack apps. Netlify auto-deploys on git push, with CDN, serverless functions, forms, and identity. Similar to Vercel but more static-site-focused. Great for Hugo, Gatsby, Astro, and plain static sites. Free tier.
Matt Biilmann, Christian Bach · Co-founded Netlify in 2014
- Static sites (Hugo, Astro, Gatsby).
- JAMstack apps with serverless functions.
- Sites needing forms/auth without a backend.
- Next.js SSR apps (use Vercel).
- Long-running servers.
- Heavy backend services.
Definition
Netlify is a deployment platform for static sites and serverless functions. Push to git → Netlify builds and deploys to a global CDN. Features: serverless functions, form handling, identity (auth), split testing, deploy previews. Free hobby tier.
Why it exists
To make deploying static sites and JAMstack apps as easy as git push, handling CDN, SSL, forms, and functions without a backend server.
How it works
Connect a git repo. On push, Netlify runs your build command, deploys the output (static files) to a global CDN. Serverless functions run on demand. Forms are handled by Netlify's backend. Each PR gets a preview deploy. Custom domains with auto SSL.
Scaling limits
Less optimized for Next.js SSR than Vercel. Serverless function limits (size, time). Free tier bandwidth/function limits. Not for long-running processes.
Cost shape
Free hobby tier (100GB bandwidth, 125k function calls). Pro $19/user/month.
Alternatives
- Vercel — Better Next.js support, similar features.
- Cloudflare Pages — Edge-first, generous limits.