Netlify helped popularize the JAMstack architecture when it launched in 2014, and has since grown into one of the most important platforms for modern web development. Co-founded by Mathias Biilmann (who coined the term JAMstack), Netlify provides a comprehensive platform for building, deploying, and scaling web applications. The workflow is Git-centric: push code to GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, and Netlify automatically builds and deploys your site with instant rollbacks if something goes wrong. Deploy previews create a unique URL for every pull request, enabling visual code review. Netlify Functions provide serverless backend capabilities powered by AWS Lambda, while Edge Functions run on Deno Deploy for sub-millisecond response times at the edge. The platform includes built-in form handling, identity/auth, analytics, split testing, and a CMS for content management. Netlify's free tier is generous: 100 GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes, and 125,000 serverless function invocations per month. Their global CDN serves content from 150+ edge locations. Netlify acquired Gatsby in 2023, adding React-based static site generation to their platform. While Netlify excels for static sites and JAMstack applications, it's also capable of handling full-stack Next.js, Astro, Remix, and SvelteKit applications. The platform is best for frontend developers and teams building modern web applications with Git-based workflows.
Add a benchmark URL in admin and run the provider benchmark cron to display measured speed, security, and availability signals here.
Push to deploy with automatic builds, deploy previews for every PR, and instant rollbacks — the gold standard for CI/CD.
100 GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes, and 125,000 function invocations free monthly — enough for most personal projects.
Deno-powered edge functions provide sub-millisecond response times at 150+ global locations.
Forms, identity, analytics, split testing, and CMS built into the platform — fewer third-party services needed.
First-class support for Next.js, Astro, Remix, SvelteKit, Gatsby, Hugo, and dozens more frameworks.
100 GB free bandwidth can be exceeded by popular sites. Additional bandwidth at $55/100 GB is pricey.
Free tier build minutes (300/mo) can be restrictive for large monorepos or sites with complex build processes.
Serverless functions have cold starts and execution limits that may not suit real-time or long-running workloads.
No support for PHP, Ruby, or traditional server-side hosting — JAMstack and modern frameworks only.