Static websites have become more popular than ever. Although the concept has been around since the beginnings of the internet (remember the first in-browser HTML static websites?), it lost popularity to the dynamic sites of the early 2000s and 2010s. However, in late 2010 and 2020, static websites are back with a vengeance because they’re fast to load and easy to make.
If you're building a modern website or application using static site generators, finding the right hosting service is crucial for delivering a fast, reliable, and secure user experience. As an API-based CMS with a composable architecture, ButterCMS works seamlessly with these static hosting providers to give you the best of both worlds.
Let's explore the top five static website hosting services and what makes each one unique. Whether you're a solo developer working on a side project or part of a larger team building an enterprise application, this comparison will help you find the perfect static web hosting solution.
Before diving into the details, here's a quick overview of the benefits and how these five web hosting services compare:
|
Provider |
Free plan |
Best for |
Deployment |
Custom domains |
Best feature |
|
Vercel |
Yes (hobby) |
Next.js projects |
Git, CLI |
Yes |
Optimized for frontend frameworks |
|
Netlify |
Yes |
Headless architecture |
Git, drag-and-drop |
Yes |
Integrated form handling |
|
GitHub Pages |
Yes (unlimited) |
Documentation sites |
Git |
Yes |
Simplicity and GitHub integration |
|
Heroku |
Yes (limited) |
Full-stack applications |
Git, container |
Yes |
Wide range of pricing plans |
|
Digital Ocean |
No (starts at $5/month) |
Complex infrastructure |
Git integration, manual |
Yes |
Complete infrastructure control |
Vercel is a cloud platform specifically designed for frontend developers and teams. The company was founded by the creators of Next.js, making it optimal for Next.js applications.
Automatic HTTPS with auto-renewed SSL certificates
Global CDN for maximum performance and availability
Real-time analytics and experience scores
Serverless functions for backend functionality
Preview deployments for every git branch
Free tier: Hobby account for personal projects with unlimited static sites
Pro plan: $20/month for teams up to 10 members
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Seamless GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket integration |
It can get expensive for teams |
|
Excellent developer experience with preview deployments |
More complex than simpler solutions like GitHub Pages |
|
Optimized for modern frontend frameworks |
Limited customization for build processes |
|
Generous free plan for individuals |
Higher learning curve for beginners |
Learn how to build a static website with ButterCMS, Next.js, and Vercel: start building.
Netlify is an all-in-one platform for automating web projects. The platform provides all the core functionality needed by modern web applications and simplifies the workflow for developers.
Deploy previews for pull requests
Built-in form handling
Split testing capabilities
Server-side analytics
Edge functions for improved performance
Continuous deployment with Git
Free tier: Up to 3 team members, 100GB bandwidth/month
Pro plan: $19/month for up to 3 team members, 400GB bandwidth
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Easy-to-use interface for both developers and marketers |
Bandwidth limitations on free tier |
|
Excellent form handling for static sites |
Analytics feature costs extra |
|
Drag-and-drop deployment option |
Build minutes can be limiting for complex projects |
|
Great documentation and community |
Less optimized for certain frameworks compared to Vercel |
Learn how to build a serverless, SEO-friendly React blog with Netlify: start learning.
GitHub Pages is a free hosting platform provided by GitHub, the hosting company that provides source code hosting for software developers. It's a straightforward solution primarily designed for project documentation and simple websites.
Free hosting with no bandwidth concerns
Direct integration with GitHub repositories
Support for custom domains
Built-in support for static site generators
Simple CNAME configuration
Free: Completely free for public repositories
Team: $4/user/ month
Enterprise: Starting from $21/ user/month
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Completely free with no hidden costs |
Limited functionality compared to dedicated hosting platforms |
|
Perfect integration with GitHub workflow |
Not ideal for complex websites or applications |
|
Simple setup for developers already using GitHub |
Lacks advanced features like serverless functions |
|
Great for documentation sites |
Limited control over build processes and configurations |
Heroku is a cloud application platform that enables developers to build, run, and operate applications entirely in the cloud. While not primarily designed for a static site CMS, it offers flexible static web hosting capabilities for various application types.
Code rollback capabilities
Extensive monitoring and metrics
Continuous delivery integration
Support for multiple programming languages
Managed container system
Free tier: Basic features with dyno sleeping after 30 minutes of inactivity
Eco and Basic: $5 and up per month
Production: ~$0.035/hour and up (max of $25/month and up)
Advanced: ~$0.347/hour and up (max of $250/month and up)
Enterprise: Custom pricing
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Excellent for applications that need both static and dynamic components |
Not primarily designed for static websites |
|
Good monitoring and metrics |
Free tier has significant limitations (dyno sleeping) |
|
Supports multiple programming languages |
More convoluted setup for static sites |
|
Simple scaling options |
Less supportive for frontend-focused projects |
Digital Ocean is a cloud infrastructure provider that offers App Platform, a PaaS solution that allows developers to build, deploy, and scale applications. Compared to other services, it provides more control over your infrastructure.
Security protections against DDOS and other attacks
Intuitive dashboard for infrastructure management
High availability options
Marketplace with one-click installations
Complete infrastructure control
Starter: Free for static sites with limitations (3GB bandwidth, 100 builds/month)
Basic: $5 – $12/month per app for more resources
Professional: $12 – $50/month for production applications
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
More control over infrastructure |
Steeper learning curve than simpler platforms |
|
Scalable for growing applications |
Free tier has significant limitations |
|
Good integration with GitHub |
Requires more technical knowledge |
|
Reliable performance and uptime |
Higher costs for advanced features |
Not sure which one to choose?
Each option offers different advantages for content management, development workflow, and site performance.
Static site generator vs. CMS: Which is right for you
Looking for the perfect static web hosting solution? I get it. With so many options, it can feel overwhelming to choose. As someone who's spent their fair share of time deploying sites on these platforms, let me share what I've learned.
Here's my honest take on which static site hosting works best for different situations:
GitHub Pages is the clear winner for beginners. I've found it incredibly simple to use. You can have your site up and running in minutes. Its direct integration with GitHub repositories means that if you can push to Git, you can deploy a website. The free tier makes it perfect for developers just starting with static sites, and the straightforward documentation walks you through every step.
Netlify's free tier offers an excellent balance of features and cost. With generous bandwidth allowances, form handling, and continuous deployment from Git, it provides tremendous value without spending a penny. In my experience, for most personal projects and small businesses, Netlify's free tier offers everything you need to get started.
Vercel takes the crown for performance. Its global CDN, automatic image optimization, and serverless functions are specifically designed to deliver lightning-fast experiences. I've found that for Next.js and React applications in particular, Vercel's optimization is unmatched, making it the go-to choice for developers prioritizing speed and user experience.
Digital Ocean provides the most flexibility for scaling complex applications. While I haven't personally used this platform for static hosting, its reputation for providing complete control over infrastructure and the ability to integrate with various services makes it ideal for growing projects with changing requirements. The scalability options make it worth considering for long-term projects.
Are you watching your budget? Don't worry. You don't need to break the bank for quality hosting. I've tried most of these services myself and can help you get the most bang for your buck.
GitHub Pages tops my list. It's completely free with no bandwidth caps. I've used it for personal projects and portfolios with great success. Your code must be public unless you have a paid GitHub account.
Netlify's free tier balances cost and features with an intuitive interface. With 100GB monthly bandwidth and support for three websites, it costs nothing while offering built-in form handling that's perfect for business sites.
Vercel's hobby tier offers performance-optimized hosting for free. It also includes unlimited websites, automatic SSL, and preview deployments, which are premium features at no cost.
If you can spend a little, Heroku's $7/month hobby plan stays active without sleeping after inactivity periods. It's less intuitive for static sites though.
Digital Ocean's $5/month starter plans provide excellent value when you need more control and scalability, though I haven't personally used it for static hosting.
On a budget. GitHub Pages is your free BFF, but watch out for those commercial use limits!
User-friendly. Netlify and Vercel are like the cool kids of hosting; they are easy to use and packed with features.
Feeling techy. DigitalOcean lets you flex those dev muscles with more control.
Need to grow. Consider how each option scales with your ambitions.
Remember, it's like picking the perfect pair of shoes: comfort, style, and fit matter. Try on a few free tiers, see what feels right.
The good news is that working with a composable architecture like ButterCMS means you can seamlessly integrate with any of these hosting solutions. We are spread-agnostic towards infrastructure providers, so we've built our headless CMS to work well with all of them.
Whatever you choose, we've got you covered. Book a free demo to see how ButterCMS's API-first approach works with your static hosting solution.
