GitHub Pages vs Netlify: Comparing Free Static Site Hosting

When it comes to hosting static websites for free, GitHub Pages and Netlify are the two most popular options. Both platforms offer generous free tiers, automatic deployments, and custom domain support. However, they differ significantly in features, flexibility, and use cases.

This guide provides a detailed comparison to help you choose the right platform for your project.

Overview

GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages is a free static site hosting service provided by GitHub. It serves websites directly from a GitHub repository and is tightly integrated with the GitHub ecosystem. It's particularly popular for project documentation, personal portfolios, and Jekyll-based blogs.

Netlify

Netlify is a dedicated web hosting and automation platform built specifically for modern static sites and serverless applications. It offers a broader feature set than GitHub Pages, including serverless functions, form handling, and advanced deployment options.

Feature Comparison

Feature GitHub Pages Netlify
Price Free Free tier available
Custom domains Yes Yes
HTTPS/SSL Yes (Let's Encrypt) Yes (Let's Encrypt)
CDN Fastly Netlify Edge
Build minutes 10 builds/hour 300 minutes/month
Bandwidth 100 GB/month 100 GB/month
Serverless functions No Yes (125k requests/month)
Form handling No Yes (100 submissions/month)
Deploy previews No (manual setup) Yes (automatic)
Split testing No Yes
Instant rollbacks No Yes
Build plugins No Yes
Identity/Auth No Yes (1,000 users)

Deployment and Build Process

GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages offers two deployment methods:

  1. Direct deployment: Serve files directly from a branch (usually main or gh-pages)
  2. GitHub Actions: Custom build workflows with more control

Pros:

  • Native Jekyll support without configuration
  • Seamless integration with GitHub repositories
  • Simple setup for basic sites

Cons:

  • Limited to Jekyll for automatic builds (without Actions)
  • No built-in build environment for other frameworks
  • Requires GitHub Actions for custom build processes
# GitHub Actions workflow for non-Jekyll sites
name: Deploy
on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
jobs:
  build-and-deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '20'
      - run: npm ci && npm run build
      - uses: actions/deploy-pages@v4

Netlify

Netlify provides automatic builds for virtually any static site generator:

Pros:

  • Auto-detects frameworks and configures builds
  • Built-in support for Hugo, Eleventy, Next.js, Gatsby, and more
  • No need to write CI/CD pipelines
  • Build plugins extend functionality

Cons:

  • Build minutes are limited on the free tier
  • Complex builds may consume minutes quickly
# netlify.toml - simple configuration
[build]
  command = "npm run build"
  publish = "_site"

Winner: Netlify — More flexible build system with automatic framework detection.

Custom Domains and SSL

GitHub Pages

  • Supports custom domains via CNAME file or repository settings
  • Automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt
  • DNS configuration required at your registrar
  • No built-in DNS management

Netlify

  • Supports custom domains with easy configuration
  • Automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt
  • Optional Netlify DNS for simplified management
  • Automatic certificate renewal and provisioning

Winner: Tie — Both offer free SSL and custom domain support. Netlify's DNS management is a convenience, not a necessity.

Deploy Previews

GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages does not offer built-in deploy previews. To preview pull requests:

  • Set up a separate staging branch
  • Use GitHub Actions to deploy to a preview URL
  • Requires manual configuration

Netlify

Netlify automatically creates deploy previews for every pull request:

  • Unique URL for each preview (e.g., deploy-preview-42--yoursite.netlify.app)
  • Preview link posted as a comment on the pull request
  • No configuration required

Winner: Netlify — Automatic deploy previews are invaluable for team collaboration.

Serverless Functions

GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages does not support serverless functions. For backend functionality, you must use external services:

  • AWS Lambda
  • Cloudflare Workers
  • Vercel Functions
  • Third-party APIs

Netlify

Netlify Functions provide built-in serverless capabilities:

// netlify/functions/hello.js
exports.handler = async (event, context) => {
  return {
    statusCode: 200,
    body: JSON.stringify({ message: "Hello from Netlify!" })
  };
};

Access at: /.netlify/functions/hello

Free tier includes 125,000 function invocations per month.

Winner: Netlify — Built-in serverless functions eliminate the need for external services.

Form Handling

GitHub Pages

No built-in form handling. Options include:

  • Formspree
  • Google Forms
  • Netlify Forms (even when hosted elsewhere)
  • Custom backend

Netlify

Built-in form handling with spam protection:

<form name="contact" method="POST" data-netlify="true">
  <input type="text" name="name" required>
  <input type="email" name="email" required>
  <textarea name="message" required></textarea>
  <button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>

Free tier includes 100 form submissions per month.

Winner: Netlify — Native form handling simplifies contact forms and surveys.

Performance

GitHub Pages

  • Served via Fastly CDN
  • Generally fast and reliable
  • Limited control over caching headers
  • No edge functions or optimization features

Netlify

  • Served via Netlify Edge (global CDN)
  • Automatic asset optimization
  • Configurable caching headers
  • Edge functions for personalization
# netlify.toml - custom headers
[[headers]]
  for = "/assets/*"
  [headers.values]
    Cache-Control = "public, max-age=31536000, immutable"

Winner: Netlify — More control over performance optimization.

Redirects and Rewrites

GitHub Pages

Limited redirect capabilities:

  • Jekyll plugins for redirects
  • Client-side JavaScript redirects
  • No server-side redirect configuration

Netlify

Comprehensive redirect and rewrite support:

# netlify.toml
[[redirects]]
  from = "/old-page"
  to = "/new-page"
  status = 301

[[redirects]]
  from = "/api/*"
  to = "/.netlify/functions/:splat"
  status = 200

# SPA fallback
[[redirects]]
  from = "/*"
  to = "/index.html"
  status = 200

Winner: Netlify — Essential for SPAs and URL management.

Version Control Integration

GitHub Pages

  • Exclusive to GitHub repositories
  • Deep integration with GitHub ecosystem
  • Works with GitHub Actions for CI/CD

Netlify

  • Supports GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
  • Also supports manual deploys and CLI
  • More flexible for teams using different platforms

Winner: Netlify — Supports multiple Git providers.

Ease of Use

GitHub Pages

Setup complexity: Low for Jekyll, moderate for other frameworks

Best for:

  • Developers already using GitHub
  • Simple Jekyll blogs
  • Project documentation
  • Personal portfolios

Netlify

Setup complexity: Low for all frameworks

Best for:

  • Teams needing deploy previews
  • Sites requiring forms or functions
  • Single-page applications
  • Projects needing advanced features

Winner: Tie — Both are easy to use; the winner depends on your needs.

Use Case Recommendations

Choose GitHub Pages If:

  1. You're building a simple Jekyll blog
  2. You want minimal configuration
  3. Your project is already on GitHub
  4. You don't need serverless functions or forms
  5. You prefer staying within the GitHub ecosystem

Choose Netlify If:

  1. You need deploy previews for pull requests
  2. You want built-in form handling
  3. You need serverless functions
  4. You're using a non-Jekyll static site generator
  5. You need advanced redirects or rewrites
  6. You want instant rollbacks
  7. You're working with a team

Migration Considerations

From GitHub Pages to Netlify

  1. Connect your GitHub repository to Netlify
  2. Configure build settings
  3. Update DNS records to point to Netlify
  4. Remove GitHub Pages configuration

From Netlify to GitHub Pages

  1. Ensure your site can build with GitHub Actions
  2. Create a deployment workflow
  3. Update DNS records to point to GitHub Pages
  4. Remove Netlify configuration

Cost Comparison for Scaling

When you outgrow the free tier:

Plan GitHub Pages Netlify
Free Unlimited $0
Pro/Team N/A (stays free) $19/member/month
Enterprise GitHub Enterprise Custom pricing

GitHub Pages remains free regardless of scale (within limits). Netlify's paid tiers add team features, more build minutes, and higher limits.

Final Verdict

GitHub Pages is ideal for:

  • Simple sites with minimal requirements
  • Jekyll users
  • Budget-conscious individuals
  • Projects that don't need backend features

Netlify is ideal for:

  • Modern web applications
  • Teams requiring collaboration features
  • Sites needing forms or serverless functions
  • Developers wanting maximum flexibility

For most modern static site projects, Netlify offers a superior developer experience with features like deploy previews, serverless functions, and form handling. However, GitHub Pages remains an excellent choice for straightforward sites, especially if you're already invested in the GitHub ecosystem.

Both platforms are production-ready and trusted by millions of developers. You can't go wrong with either choice.

If you need help deciding between GitHub Pages and Netlify, or require assistance migrating your site, contact us at [email protected]. We offer consulting services for a small fee to help you choose and configure the right hosting solution.