Q:

I have a static website, I want to host it with one of these providers:

  1. GitHub Pages
  2. GitLab Pages
  3. Cloudflare Pages
  4. Netlify

Compare their free plans to me.

A:

Here’s a comparison of the free plans for hosting static websites on GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, Cloudflare Pages, and Netlify:

1. GitHub Pages

  • Storage: 1 GB per repository
  • Bandwidth: 100 GB per month
  • Custom Domains: Yes, with support for HTTPS using Let’s Encrypt
  • Build Minutes: No automated build system, you need to push pre-built static files
  • SSL/TLS: Automatic via Let’s Encrypt
  • Version Control: Git-based, works natively with GitHub repositories
  • Special Features:
    • Limited to public repositories (private repositories can use GitHub Actions to build and deploy but under separate limitations).
    • Jekyll integration for static site generation out of the box.

2. GitLab Pages

  • Storage: 10 GB per project
  • Bandwidth: 10 GB per month
  • Custom Domains: Yes, with HTTPS support
  • Build Minutes: 400 CI/CD minutes per month for free-tier users
  • SSL/TLS: Automatic via Let’s Encrypt or custom certificates
  • Version Control: Git-based, works natively with GitLab repositories
  • Special Features:
    • Built-in CI/CD pipeline with GitLab Runner for automatic deployment.
    • Can use any static site generator.
    • Supports both public and private projects.

3. Cloudflare Pages

  • Storage: No specific limit mentioned (subject to Cloudflare’s general use policies)
  • Bandwidth: Unlimited (subject to fair use policy)
  • Custom Domains: Yes, with automatic HTTPS via Cloudflare
  • Build Minutes: 500 build minutes per month for free-tier users
  • SSL/TLS: Full control over DNS and SSL/TLS using Cloudflare’s global network
  • Version Control: Integrates with GitHub and GitLab
  • Special Features:
    • Automatic CI/CD with GitHub/GitLab integration.
    • Cloudflare’s global CDN ensures low-latency delivery across the world.
    • Functions support (serverless) for advanced use cases like API routing.

4. Netlify

  • Storage: No specific limit (subject to fair use policy)
  • Bandwidth: 100 GB per month
  • Custom Domains: Yes, with free SSL using Let’s Encrypt
  • Build Minutes: 300 build minutes per month for free-tier users
  • SSL/TLS: Automatic via Let’s Encrypt
  • Version Control: Integrates with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
  • Special Features:
    • Integrated CI/CD pipeline with automatic builds.
    • Form handling, split testing, and analytics on paid plans.
    • Netlify Functions (serverless functions) are available even on the free tier.

Summary:

  • GitHub Pages is very simple and works best if your website is small and your workflow already revolves around GitHub. It’s ideal for basic, public-facing static websites.

  • GitLab Pages offers more generous storage and build minutes than GitHub Pages, and it has a built-in CI/CD pipeline, making it good for developers who want full control over the build and deploy process.

  • Cloudflare Pages provides unlimited bandwidth and a fast CDN, making it ideal for sites with potentially high traffic. The 500 build minutes are sufficient for moderately complex static websites.

  • Netlify is a great all-around option with decent build minutes and bandwidth, plus some extra features like serverless functions and more advanced CI/CD integration. It’s great for those who want flexibility and some more advanced features right out of the box.

Your choice should depend on whether you need a CI/CD pipeline (Cloudflare, Netlify, GitLab), higher bandwidth (Cloudflare), or more simplicity (GitHub).