Last reviewed: 2026-07-15
A custom domain makes a free-hosted project portable and credible. Static platforms commonly include domain attachment and managed HTTPS, but DNS verification, apex-domain rules and plan limits differ. The domain registration itself is normally not free.
Use Cloudflare Pages when Cloudflare already manages the domain or edge stack.
Use GitLab Pages for a static project whose repository and CI are in GitLab.
Use Netlify or Vercel for frontend projects that value previews and simple Git deployment.
Redirect the provider subdomain and set one canonical production hostname.
Best DNS-integrated option
Limit
Apex domains must be configured as a Cloudflare zone; custom-domain count follows current plan limits.
Pages connects custom domains to Cloudflare's DNS and certificate workflow.
Best GitLab project domain
Limit
The application remains static and is deployed through GitLab CI.
GitLab Pages supports custom domains, redirects and SSL/TLS for static output.
Best Jamstack domain workflow
Limit
Usage remains subject to the current plan's shared credits or allowances.
Netlify combines Git deployments, domain configuration, HTTPS and preview URLs.
Best Next.js domain workflow
Limit
Hobby limits and acceptable-use conditions still apply to the deployment.
Vercel gives Next.js projects production and preview deployments with domain management.
Update the framework’s production site URL, canonical tags, sitemap and social metadata. Redirect every provider hostname and old domain to the preferred HTTPS domain where the platform allows it. Verify both HTTP and HTTPS, www and apex, then submit the final sitemap to search engines.
A minimal, responsive, accessible and SEO-friendly Astro blog theme. Fully static output that deploys cleanly to any static host on a free tier.
Deploy free to
Archived Next.js subscription starter with Stripe, Supabase and Vercel deploy, now superseded by the newer Next.js SaaS Starter.
Cloudflare Pages NEW Cloudflare Cloudflare Pages is a JAMstack platform for frontend developers to collaborate and deploy websites on Cloudflare's global edge network.
Free tier
Unlimited bandwidth, 500 builds/month
Paid from $20/mo · 310+ cities
GitLab Pages NEW GitLab Inc. GitLab Pages publishes static websites directly from GitLab repositories using GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
Free tier
400 compute minutes/month, 10 GiB project storage, 1 GB maximum Pages site size
Paid from $29/user/mo · GitLab.com
Netlify Netlify Inc. Netlify is a web developer platform that multiplies productivity by unifying the elements of the modern decoupled web.
Free tier
300 credits/month on the free plan
Paid from $9/mo · Global CDN
Vercel Vercel Inc. Vercel is the platform for frontend developers, providing the speed and reliability innovators need to create at the moment of inspiration.
Free tier
100GB bandwidth, 100 deployments/day
Paid from $20/mo · 100+ edge
Usually no. The hosting platform may attach it at no extra cost, but domain registration and renewal belong to a registrar.
Either is valid. Choose one canonical hostname, redirect the other and use the canonical consistently in sitemap, metadata and analytics.
DNS and certificate validation can take time. Lower TTL before migration and keep the old deployment available until HTTPS works.
Supabase