We’ve come a long way since the internet came into being, and the credit for all that goes to the tech geeks and developers who devoted their time and efforts to making the digital world smarter and more efficient.
The internet today has become an inseparable part of our day-to-day lives, and websites are what we’d call key elements of the internet. There are tons of websites on the internet, and behind them are hard-working developers.
Netlify offers a website hosting platform and some serverless backend services for web applications. Netlify can be called an initiative to aid developers in their job as it primarily is a website hosting and automation platform that lets developers build, test, and deploy websites along with many other features.
It is one of the best web development platforms ever to exist, and the main reason behind that is the productivity multiplier it provides, which is one of its greatest selling points.
Yes, that’s right. Netlify is known for providing the best possible ways to multiply productivity while ensuring that web development is carried on smoothly and without any obstruction.
This article will examine some of the best Netlify alternatives and why they’re needed while learning more about such service providers.
So without any further delay, let’s jump right into it.
How does Netlify work?
There is a sequence to how automation works and how websites are hosted on Netlify, and this is the section we’re going to learn more about it.
Here is the breakdown of a general hosting process in Netlify:-
1. Netlify uses your source code from your GitHub repository by running a build process to render all of it in static HTML.
2. Netlify is known for providing a faster-loading website. The reason behind it is that after running the build process mentioned above, Netlify then runs and distributes content across a large CDN to provide a pre-built static website.
The distribution materials and the CDN chosen are fine, which helps in the process. How this whole thing works can be understood by learning that rather than loading the site every time someone accesses the page, they find a pre-loaded version which greatly lowers the overall load.
3. A vast number of delivery networks are used as a platform for deploying HTML, CSS & JS generated in the process. Thus, whenever someone attempts to access your website, the geographically closest data center is chosen, and the static files are presented to you.
Now that we’ve learned the fundamental framework Netlify works on let’s discuss the need for Netlify alternatives.
Need for Netlify Alternatives
The main reason behind the need for Netlify alternatives is the need itself. Countless web developers and developing companies rely on Netlify and similar service providers. The insanely high demand for such service providers caused the rise of many Netlify alternatives.
Some of these alternatives may offer more features than Netlify, while others may be lacking in comparison. That is why we’ve shortlisted some of the best Netlify alternatives of all time based on functionality and features.
So let’s look at some of the best Netlify alternatives without delay.
Best Netlify Alternatives – Our Top Pick👌
This section will examine 11 alternatives to Netlify we’ve handpicked for you. These alternatives have been picked with keeping the functionality they provide in mind.
So without any further ado, let’s begin.
1. Cloudflare CDN
Content delivery network(s) or CDN have geographically distributed server groups that work in sync to provide a fast internet/internet service delivery.
A CDN service provider’s worth is determined by the efficiency and speed of its functionality, which is precisely the field where the Cloudflare CDN excels.
Be it static or dynamic content delivery, Cloudflare CDN makes sure to deliver it at an insane speed without any compromises whatsoever.
It is a feature-packed service provider, making it a rival of Netlify and a suitable alternative.
The features Cloudflare CDN offers allow users to easily automate workflows with super-precise control over caching and purging of the content.
Cloudflare CDN has been around for a while, and as a result, it has established a global network that ensures super fast delivery of static content.
One of the best perks of using Cloudflare CDN is that you get to experience greatly optimized services. It optimizes content devices, browsers, and bandwidth, making it clear that Cloudflare CDN specializes in performance optimization.
Their latest cutting-edge technology, paired with the globally spread vast network, allows faster loading of websites, which is a key element in attracting traffic.
Cloudflare CDN uses the Argo Smart routing feature to ensure rapid and smooth static and dynamic content delivery.
The API-first Cloudflare network, precise control over content caching & purging, and unmatched optimization make Cloudflare CDN one of the best alternatives to Netlify.
2. Amazon Cloudfront – Netlify alternatives For Low-Latency CDN
With the demand for web services to accelerate the delivery of static & dynamic web content more than ever, many known brands and companies are jumping into the field and coming up with their hosting and automation services. Amazon is one of them.
Amazon Cloudfront is a well-established website hosting and automation service that uses the finest technologies to ensure rapid and hassle-free delivery of static and dynamic web content.
Be it HTML, CSS, Java, or picture files, with Amazon Cloudfront, all of them will be quickly delivered across a network that is spread all across the globe.
Amazon Cloudfront has edge sites and data centers established worldwide that ensure super-fast transmission of data and web content of static and dynamic types.
The way Amazon Cloudfront works to provide data insanely fast is interesting. Upon a request for static or dynamic content from the user, the request is transferred to the lowest latency edge location, which does the rest of the job i.e. providing it to the user as fast as possible.
Cloudfront excels at the distribution of content, and that is because each request is directed to the edge location over the AWS backbone network.
Despite the insane delivery speed, there is no compromise with performance whatsoever, making Amazon Cloudfront one of the best web hosting and automation platforms.
The availability of static and dynamic data is made more functional by forming their copies and storing them in edge locations, serving them upon request with great speed and efficiency, thus reducing overall load.
3. HubSpot CMS Hub
Like Netlify, HubSpot CMS Hub is a great web content management tool that lets you build a website efficiently. The best part about using the service is that you gain access to some of the most useful website-building tools to ensure that your website is complete and feature-packed.
The HubSpot CMS Hub boasts unique features like website migration, conversation platforms, multi-language content creation, etc.
While using the HubSpot CMS Hub, developers will get the latest SEO recommendations and suggestions that will aid them in improving their sites.
Regarding customization, HubSpot offers several pre-built website themes with custom development options. It also lets you track visitors, which can be used to track and boost growth. CMS Hub is based on the CRM platform and is a hub for marketers and developers.
Developers get many options, including designing web pages for a specific purpose or optimizing for a certain device. This vast functionality of HubSpot CMS Hub is one of its best perks and undoubtedly its biggest selling point.
It has an easy-to-use interface that is great for beginners. The various features of HubSpot CMS Hub make the tool of great use for marketers and developers.
They can tailor the site as per their needs or choices whenever they want, and the optimized service of CMS Hub ensures that it happens without any issues.
It also offers features such as drag and drops editor, adaptive testing, and contact attribution reporting, making it an ideal alternative to Netlify.
4. Pantheon – Netlify alternatives for High Impact Websites
Among the many web management platforms on the internet, there are a few platforms for open-source websites, and Pantheon is one of them.
Pantheon is special because it is a web operation platform for Drupal and WordPress open source sites that is an app-specific PaaS provider.
That’s not all there is to what makes Pantheon special. Its apps are delivered as software-as-a-service.
Pantheon is based on the Google Cloud Platform and boasts all of the tools professional developers use to build practice websites. These tools include staging environments, version control, workflow, and backups.
It is greatly efficient at cost-cutting, and it improves productivity as well. WordPress and Drupal open-source websites can be managed and worked on many different platforms.
Still, Pantheon outclasses them in every term, and most of its credit goes to the highly functional features Pantheon offers to its developers.
It lets you build, manage and scale your websites across your domains and brands. It has a well-established network across the globe that allows seamless and fast delivery of static and dynamic web data; it is also entirely safe to use.
It is currently in development for free, and with more features than most of its rivals, fast content delivery, precise content control, optimized services, a user-friendly interface, and elements that increase productivity, Pantheon is surely one of the best alternatives to Netlify out there on the internet.
5. Webflow
Webflow is probably one of the unique web management and hosting platforms. Writing codes do website development, and web developers are people who are well versed in coding.
However, this Netlify alternative lets you create fully customized websites without writing code. Isn’t that insane?
With that intro, you probably have guessed it by now. Yes, that’s right, Webflow is a platform for people unfamiliar with codes to develop a website.
The user interface of this web development platform is quite beginner-friendly, and the platform offers various customizations for web development.
Using Webflow, even people unfamiliar with coding can quickly develop great-looking and fully functional websites. Webflow offers features are no less than any other web development or web management platform.
Webflow puts together animation, design, content management, and other crucial web-building elements together in one place, and that is how it aids people unfamiliar with coding and designing a website in a short period.
Webflow offers built-in SEO tools, flexible integrations, content updates, and enhanced functionality. As far as customization is concerned, Webflow offers you a lot of options that you can choose from.
This allows you to choose a theme that suits your site and speaks for your business or idea.
Numerous development features without the need for coding and vast customization options make Webflow a preference for a lot of companies & web developers out there, and highly optimized performance with proper functionality makes Webflow a great alternative to Netlify.
6. GitHub Pages
GitHub Pages is a static site hosting service that pulls HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files directly from a GitHub repository runs them through a build process at command, and then publishes a website. This process is exactly how Netlify works.
The unique part about using GitHub Pages to host and publish a website is that you can use the github.io domain (GitHub’s domain) or rely on your custom domain.
Websites published using GitHub Pages are privately published by an organization with managed users. These sites are publicly accessible regardless of whether the site’s repository is secret or internal.
Suppose the site is published from an internal repository. In that case, you get an option for managing access restrictions for your project site, which is a great feature for keeping your site safe as it is available for public access initially.
Privately publishing sites protect sensitive material from a site’s repository before publication.
GitHub Pages is a dedicated web development platform that works similarly to Netlify and is a great alternative to Netlify as well.
7. GitLab
GitLab differs slightly from other web hosting and automation service providers mentioned in this article. GitLab is primarily an online Git archive. It is a DevOps framework that aids developers in managing every aspect of a project.
It is a platform that allows teams to collaborate and improve ways to create better software or site. This greatly improves overall productivity.
This web development platform also has a premium version that offers more features and functionality. It is a feature-packed archive that includes issue tracking and open and private directories.
As far as the other features of this web development platform are considered, most of them are greatly helpful in the development process itself.
GitLab is known for reducing product life cycles which causes productivity to grow and ultimately results in more customer satisfaction. All of this combined makes GitLab a great alternative to Netlify.
8. Heroku
Heroku is yet another web hosting and developing unique platform in this list of the best alternatives to Netlify. Heroku is a cloud application platform known for its wide support for various coding languages.
Heroku supports the development of web applications written in Rails, Ruby, Node.js, Java, Python, Scala, and Clojure. Along with the development tools, it also offers features for deploying and scaling web applications.
Heroku is a powerful platform that focuses on allowing developers to create attractive applications by providing them with great features and functionality.
It executes an application source code by retrieving the required dependencies related to the frameworks and languages used in an app after being published.
In terms of functionality and features, Heroku outperforms many of its rivals as it is a web development platform designed by the developers for developers. One more unique perk that you gain when using Heroku is the perk of extra security.
Yes, that’s right, Heroku allows you to handle environment-specific configurations distinctively from your source code for security purposes and easier portability.
9. CircleCI
CircleCI is the world’s largest shared continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform. Well-known companies like Spotify and BuzzFeed use it to enhance their market game.
CircleCI uses the methodology of continuous integration rather than requiring every developer in a team to work individually on their code and combine all of them in the end.
The continuous integration methodology implies that every developer works on their codes and can integrate them into the main framework simultaneously.
This method is greatly efficient and boosts productivity a lot. CircleCI allows developers to save a lot of their precious time by using the continuous integration method and also aids the team in automating several processes.
CircleCI is known for its efficient work cycle, a priority for many developers. The learning curve of this Netlify Alternative is much less steep when you compare it with its rival web development platforms.
The users can also integrate it with their GitHub or BitBucket directories that authorize code runs independently.
CircleCI is a feature-packed platform for deploying and testing websites efficiently, which is precisely why we consider it one of the best alternatives to Netlify.
10. Render
Render is a fairly new competitor in naming the best web development platforms. Found in April 2019, Render is as good as you’d expect a veteran and established web development platform to be.
To provide developers with a cheaper way of deploying apps in the cloud, Render is home to many web development and website deployment tools.
Render allows you to deploy web apps, static web pages, Dockerfiles, APIs, and even PostgreSQL databases to the cloud.
You get the option of launching your site directly from GitHub/GitLab, then encrypting it using a free SSL and publishing it across a globally established CDN.
It is a great cost-effective platform as well. You get the option of only paying for the services you make use of every month. Render allows easier creation of a PostgreSQL database in less than 60 seconds, and this database will be stored on an SSD for more speed and durability.
One of the unique features of Render is that it performs daily database backups that stay intact for a while. With optimized and cheap services, quality features, efficient functionality, and a friendly user interface, Render is one of the best alternatives to Netlify.
✅FAQ
Are Netlify And Github the Same?
Netlify and Github are similar, but Netlify is equipped for production sites using modern tooling. If you want to deploy previews, updates, or scale your site, it will be much easier through Netlify.
What Are Some Of The Alternatives To Netlify?
There are various alternatives to Netlify, including Cloudflare CDN, Amazon CloudFront, Pantheon, Webflow, HubSpot CMS Hub, Fastly, Cloudways, and Platform.sh, Umbraco, GitLab, etc.
Is Netlify Good For Web Hosting?
This is the most popular way to build, deploy and scale modern web applications. This application is quite powerful, with simple workflows that make it easy to integrate or choose the tools and then collaborate with their team to deliver the best online experiences faster.
Is Netlify Free Of Cost?
Netlify has a free plan with various benefits like deploying a site onto a global edge network, live site preview, instant rollback, and deploying dynamic and static serverless functions.
Suppose you want added features like password protected site, 1TB bandwidth, audit logs along with 7-day history, email support, email, slack notifications, and shared environment variables.
In that case, you can go for the Pro plan costing $19 per month per member. They also have a business plan costing $99 per month per person.
What Is Netlify Used For?
Netlify is a platform for developing highly-performant and dynamic websites, e-commerce stores, and various web applications.
Netlify saves time and money by unlocking new levels of team productivity and uniting an extensive ecosystem of technologies, services, and APIs into a single workflow.
What Type Of Hosting Is Netlify?
Netlify is a web hosting and automation platform that helps increase developer productivity. Netlify also offers a faster way to ensure more performance, scalable, and secure websites and applications.
Verdict
This article taught us about Netlify, its workings, and the need for Netlify alternatives. However, currently, there are numerous web deployment, development, and automation platforms out there that offer great functionality, fast services, and cost-efficient as well.
With the ever-growing demand for web development platforms, the need for a Netlify alternative grew more prominent.
The platforms listed in this article are shortlisted based on their functionality and the features they offer while contributing to overall productivity.
With that being said, we’ll be wrapping this article up with a hope that this article was of help to you.
