Last reviewed: 2026-07-09
Static sites are the easiest projects to host for free: there is no long-running server, no database requirement, and no cold start for the final HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The real decision is usually about build limits, custom domains, previews and whether you might need functions later.
Use Cloudflare Pages when you want generous free static hosting with many builds, custom domains and edge delivery.
Use Netlify when deploy previews, Jamstack workflow and add-on ecosystem matter more than raw static limits.
Use Vercel when your static site is part of a frontend app workflow or may grow into a Next.js project.
Use GitLab Pages when your code already lives in GitLab and CI/CD-driven static publishing is the natural path.
Best overall free static host
Best for
Astro, Hugo, Vite, docs, marketing sites and static exports
Cloudflare Pages is especially strong for static output: the Free plan lists 500 builds per month, 100 custom domains per project and 20,000 files per site.
Best Jamstack workflow
Best for
Static sites that need deploy previews, forms, redirects, functions or a mature Jamstack dashboard
Netlify is a polished static hosting platform with Git-based deployments and a Free plan based on monthly usage credits.
Best frontend-app path
Best for
Static exports, React/Vite front ends and projects that may later become Next.js apps
Vercel's Hobby plan includes useful static deployment limits, preview deployments and a frontend-focused workflow.
Best for GitLab-first projects
Best for
Documentation, open-source projects and static sites that should be published from GitLab CI/CD
GitLab Pages is built into GitLab projects, so the same repository and pipeline can build and publish the site.
For a purely static site, start with the workflow rather than the brand name:
The main free-tier risks for static sites are not cold starts. They are build minutes, monthly credits, file count, site size, custom-domain limits and bandwidth.
If you are launching an Astro, Hugo, Vite or documentation site and do not already have a strong platform preference, try Cloudflare Pages first. It has a generous free static-hosting profile and a clear CDN-first model. Choose Netlify when editorial workflow, deploy previews and Jamstack integrations matter. Choose Vercel when the static site is part of a React or Next.js path. Choose GitLab Pages when the repository already lives in GitLab and CI/CD is the center of the workflow.
Free static hosting feels unlimited until the project grows in one of these directions:
If the site is mostly HTML, CSS, JavaScript and images, a free static host can be a long-term home. If the site starts needing authentication, background jobs, database writes or private APIs, pair it with a backend or move to a platform designed for full-stack workloads.
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
A self-hosted Cloudflare operations dashboard for managing multiple accounts, Zones, DNS, Workers, Pages and usage analytics behind Cloudflare Access.
Deploy free to
A realtime group chat example powered by Supabase Realtime and Row Level Security, with a React frontend you can ship to any static host.
Deploy free to
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
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
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
Cloudflare Pages is the strongest general-purpose pick when you want generous static limits. Netlify is excellent for Jamstack workflow, Vercel is strong for frontend app teams, and GitLab Pages is best when your project already lives in GitLab.
Yes, many free static hosts support custom domains. The exact limit and DNS workflow differ by provider, so check the service page before choosing a host for a production domain.
A static site itself does not sleep like an idle web service, because the built files are served directly from a CDN or static hosting layer. Dynamic functions attached to the site can have separate limits.
Avoid a free static host when you need server-side sessions, a private backend, guaranteed support, very large media files, high bandwidth, or dynamic workloads that exceed the platform's function limits.
Supabase