Is Netlify the best static file host?
Here I'll do a brief overview on Netlify, compare it to competitors (like Cloudflare pages) and answer the question: When it comes to static file hosts, which company should you choose?
The problem
Most of us have landing pages for our SaaS/other types of businesses.
90%+ of the time, those landing pages are static HTML/CSS webpages that need to be hosted somewhere.
The (inadequate) solutions
- Buying a $5+/mo VPS and put everything there. There's just one issue: maintenance:
- The VPS will probably run on a web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.) A web server is a software. Software needs updates and many of those updates are security updates.
So basically you need to check your VPS for security patches almost every month, because the last thing you want is someone breaking into your server and putting a backlink to a weird pr0n site so they rank higher on Google.
- Traditional web hosting. When you type something like "web hosting" onto Google, most of the results are about Wordpress hosting:
This is often an overkill for our indie needs, especially because we don't have a CMS and/or don't update our landing pages often.
Also, reliable web hosting solutions often cost $30+/mo.
I don't know about you, but I don't wanna pay $30+/mo for a hosting simple landing page.
I want something that is, well, free (or close to free) :)
The solution: Netlify (and other static site hosts)
When I found out about Netlify (and other static file hosts), one thing that struck me was going through their pricing pages:
I didn't see this "free"/$0 figure on ANY of the "ordinary" web hosts I've looked at (like Hostgator, Bluehost, etc.)
Why the free plan(s): (Mostly) because things there are static.
"Traditional" web hosts usually run on WordPress. WordPress is a (dynamic) software written in PHP. When you render an HTML page on WordPress, you're actually running a bunch of PHP code that will ultimately output the HTML that you see on your browser screen.
When you render an HTML page hosted on a static file host (like Netlify), you're basically getting what you requested: the HTML file itself.
No PHP logic to give you the header/footer/body of the page. Just a plain, simple HTML page. What-you-put-is-what-you-get.
This is why static file hosts provide a "free" tier. Because it's computationally (in)expensive for them to serve a page, compared to "traditional" web (i.e. Wordpress) hosts.
All of this makes static file hosts like Netlify the perfect hosts for something like a landing page.
My experience with Netlify
I started with Netlify by using their "manual deploy" option:
The way it works is pretty simple: I uploaded a folder containing my HTML/CSS/JS files. After this, I got back a link where I could access my website.
If you want to see a bunch of websites hosted on Netlify, just type "site:netlify.app" onto Google:
Notice there are over 6 million results. As you click around, you'll see that most of those pages are home/landing pages. Like this page of an Iranian sculptor. Or this site which has a curated list of book recommendations from Indie Hackers:
All of these sites are made with HTML (for the structure), CSS (for the looks) and JavaScript (for the dynamic functionality)
As you get more advanced with Netlify, you'll probably want to deploy your sites with Github so you sync your repository and your live site.
What about static site generators?
You can use static file generators like Hugo and Jekyll. Things are a bit more complicated (you'll have to configure your deployment settings) when you use static site generators, but it's nothing that you as a fellow IHer can't handle.
Netlify or Cloudflare Pages?
Those are pretty similar when it comes to hosting static pages.
Whether to choose one over the other comes down to 2 words: integration and pricing when it comes to going beyond static file hosting.
Let me explain.
Integration: At the time of this writing (September 2023), both Netlify and Cloudflare offer a suite of tools that go beyond static file hosting.
Things like serverless functions. Authentication. Firewall protection etc. You can even go deeper and learn that both Cloudflare and Netlify support different technology for their serverless functions, different authentication frameworks, etc.
Pricing: Both Netlify and Cloudflare have different pricing tiers for their "dynamic" features. These are some of Netlify's free tier limits at the time of this writing (September 2023):
In comparison, Cloudflare has 100,000 free serverless invocations per day.
To summarize, ask yourself: As I continue developing this site, what will I (likely) need? and then check whether Netlify or Cloudflare satisfies those needs better.
Stick to established static file hosts (if you wanna set-it-and-forget-it)
The reason you're probably choosing a static file host is because you have something that is:
a) Largely static.
b) You want to host reliably for a longer time period without getting downtime & price hikes.
When it comes to hosts on the internet, reliability = time the company has been alive.
Netlify was founded in 2014. Cloudflare was founded in 2009.
There's a decent chances both of these companies will still be alive 5 years from now.
Compare that to a website like this one (which was founded in 2021).
In general, I use this rule of thumb when deciding whether a software company is "established": Is there a Wikipedia page about that company that's more than a 200 words long? Netlify has it. Cloudflare has a pretty big one as well.
Question: What's your opinion: Is Netlify the best tool for static site hosting?
For all of my frontend I use AWS Amplify. Just plugin your github repo and it will create everything for you - CDN, CI/CD, etc... Price is very competitive with Netlify, Vercel, etc.
I've hosted a bunch of side projects on both Netlify and Vercel and found them very comparable. Depending on your tech stack one might be slightly better than the other. For instance, I host anything I build using Next JS on Vercel as they are the folks behind Next and therefore have very tight integrations. Really can't go wrong with either though.
Hi @zerotousers, in two weeks from now, we will be launching our free Static site solution at Kinsta(currently in beta for the testers) Would you be interested in giving it a try? We would love to hear your feedback and see how we can improve it day by day. Thanks, Tom
Interesting read! As a non techie, I wonder if/how custom domains are supported by netlify, and if a search function is available. For the next posts..
Very informative and knowledgeable article .
What about Vercel?
I've used Netlify, but I can't decide if I want to switch to Vercel yet.
Speed is a big consideration.
Cloudflare is a better option compared to Netlify because I haven't had the chance to explore Netlify yet. In addition, Cloudflare offers a range of additional features such as DNS management and enhanced security.
Ah, the age-old question of whether Netlify reigns supreme as the ultimate host for static files! Well, let's chat about that in plain English.
You see, Netlify does have quite the reputation in the web hosting world, and for some good reasons. First off, it's incredibly user-friendly. If you're not a tech whiz, fear not; Netlify's got your back. It makes the process of hosting static files as easy as pie.
Now, what really sets Netlify apart is its sweet bag of features. It not only hosts your files but also offers things like continuous deployment. Fancy term, right? It means your site gets updated automatically whenever you push changes to your code repository. No manual fuss.
Plus, there's this thing called "CDN" (Content Delivery Network). Netlify's got a speedy one. This means your static files are distributed across the globe, so no matter where your audience is, your site loads fast. And in today's impatient internet world, speed is golden.
But, hold on a sec! Is Netlify the absolute best? Well, that's a matter of perspective. It's awesome for static files, no doubt. But if your project involves more dynamic content or heavy databases, you might need to look elsewhere.
In the grand scheme, Netlify is like a trusty steed for static files, especially for smaller sites, blogs, and portfolios. It's simple, feature-packed, and speedy. So, if that sounds like your cup of tea, saddle up and give it a whirl! 🚀
How is it compare to firebase?
I like netlify. Too bad it is not popular.
Vercel is actually the best one 😅
big fan of cloudflare pages personally
Netlify is the best static file host depends on your specific needs and preferences. Netlify is a popular choice for hosting static websites and applications, and it offers a range of features that make it a strong contender in the field. However, whether it's the best option for you depends on several factors:
Ease of Use: Netlify is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with version control systems like Git. If you value simplicity and ease of deployment, Netlify may be a great choice.
Performance: Netlify provides content delivery through a global network of servers, which can result in fast loading times for your site. If performance is a priority, Netlify's CDNs can be a significant advantage.
Scalability: Netlify offers scalable infrastructure, making it suitable for projects of varying sizes. Whether you're running a personal blog or a large-scale application, Netlify can handle it.
Developer Tools: Netlify provides a range of developer-friendly tools, including serverless functions, form handling, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. These can be valuable features for many projects.
Pricing: While Netlify offers a free tier, pricing can become a concern as your site or application scales. Be sure to consider your budget and how Netlify's pricing model aligns with your needs.
Ecosystem: Consider the broader ecosystem of services and tools that you may need. Netlify has a strong ecosystem, but depending on your project requirements, you may find other platforms or services more suitable.
Support and Documentation: Evaluate the quality of support and documentation available. Netlify has an active community and good documentation, which can be a significant asset when you encounter issues.
Security: Ensure that the hosting provider meets your security requirements. Netlify takes security seriously, but your specific project might have unique security considerations.
Ultimately, the "best" static file host varies from one project to another. It's a good idea to assess your specific needs, budget, and technical requirements, and then compare Netlify with other hosting providers to determine which one aligns best with your goals. You may also want to consider trying out a few options to see which one works best for your particular use case.
Using chatgpt isn't the best way to contribute to this community.
Netlify is widely regarded as one of the leading options for hosting static files, particularly for static websites and web applications. It offers a range of features that make it a popular choice, including:
Ease of Use: Netlify's user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Git repositories make it accessible to developers of all levels.
Automation: Netlify provides continuous deployment and automated build processes, making it effortless to update and deploy changes to your static site.
Performance: With a global content delivery network (CDN) and automatic asset optimization, Netlify helps ensure fast loading times for your static content.
Scalability: Netlify can handle traffic spikes with ease, making it suitable for both small personal websites and large-scale applications.
Free Tier: Netlify offers a free plan with generous resource limits, making it an attractive choice for those on a budget.