Netlify

VPS & hostingStatic webLevel: EasyFree plan

Netlify

4.0/52dm rating

Easy for static sites; note that credits are deducted per deploy.

A deployment platform for static websites and Jamstack: drag and drop a folder or connect Git to get a live site, with forms, serverless functions and SSL.

Official site How to use it

Overview

Netlify is a hosting and deployment service for modern websites, strong for static sites, sites built with static site generators and frontend apps. You can connect a Git repo to build automatically on every push, or simply drag and drop a built folder into the web interface.

Beyond hosting, Netlify comes with custom domains with SSL, preview links for each change, serverless functions, file storage and basic firewall rules. It is a lightweight choice for landing pages, blogs, product documentation or a small business's showcase website.

Like Vercel, Netlify is not a VPS: it is not for running n8n, a self-managed database or always-on containers. Netlify now charges through a credit system, where each production deploy, bandwidth and function runtime all consume credits.

Highlights

Very fast deployment

Connect Git or drag and drop the build folder to put the website online, with no server configuration.

Unlimited preview links

Every pull request gets its own preview so the whole team can review before release.

Custom domain and SSL

Attach the business domain and have HTTPS certificates issued automatically.

Serverless functions and storage

Functions, blob storage and a database are available to add server-side processing when needed.

Credit-based billing

The free plan has a monthly credit allowance, easy to estimate for low-traffic sites.

What it's for

Event and course landing pages

Quickly build a signup page, receive forms and update content through Git.

Blog or product documentation site

Use Astro, Hugo or a similar framework to create light, fast static pages.

Showcase sites for agency clients

One site per client, with preview links for clients to approve before going live.

AI interface prototypes

Put a frontend demo online in minutes to gather client feedback.

How to use it

1
Create an account and choose a deploy method
Sign up for Netlify, then connect a Git repo or drag and drop the build folder in the web interface.
2
Install the Netlify CLI
Requires Node.js 18.14.0 or later; install globally to use the netlify command in any folder.
$npm install -g netlify-cli
3
Log in
The command opens the browser to authorize the CLI, and the token is saved for later.
$netlify login
4
Deploy a draft
The first time, the CLI asks you to pick an existing site or create a new one, then returns a preview link.
$netlify deploy
5
Release to production
When the draft looks good, push it to the official address and attach your custom domain.
$netlify deploy --prod

Video guides

4 ways to deploy a new Netlify site
Netlify

Netlify Tutorial - How to build and deploy websites using Netlify
freeCodeCamp.org

Real-world example

Illustrative scenario

A handmade pottery shop in Bat Trang wants a website showcasing its products but has no server administrator. A freelancer builds a static site with Astro, connects the GitHub repo to Netlify and attaches the shop's domain. Whenever product photos need changing, the owner sends the images, the freelancer updates them and sends a preview link for approval, and only then releases the official version.

Tips & notes

Track monthly credits
Each production deploy also costs credits, so batch several changes into one release rather than deploying continuously.
Optimize images and static files
Bandwidth is charged in credits per GB; compressing images and using modern formats saves a lot.
Use tokens in CI
On build servers, store the token in the NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN variable instead of logging in interactively.
Enable basic firewall rules
Use rate limiting on forms and endpoints to limit spam and bots.

FAQ

How is Netlify different from Vercel?

Both deploy frontends from Git. Vercel is tightly tied to Next.js, while Netlify is strong for static sites and has a very simple drag-and-drop deploy.

Can I run n8n on Netlify?

Not suitable. n8n needs an always-running process, so put it on a VPS such as DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Vultr or Railway.

What happens when the free credits run out?

According to the pricing page, the Free plan has a fixed credit allowance; to use more you need to upgrade to a paid plan and can buy extra credit packs.

Do I need to know programming?

Dragging and dropping an existing HTML folder does not require it, but to build and update through Git you should have someone with basic coding knowledge.