What is Netlify?
Netlify is a cloud hosting platform that makes it easy to publish websites and web apps without touching a server. You connect your code repository (or just drag and drop a folder), and Netlify handles everything else — building your site, serving it globally, and keeping it fast with a built-in CDN.
It was one of the first platforms to popularize the "JAMstack" approach: pre-built HTML files served from a CDN, with dynamic features handled by APIs. If your project is a static site, a simple landing page, or a front-end app that talks to external APIs, Netlify is one of the easiest places to put it.
Why use it?
Netlify shines brightest for beginners and for projects that don't need a heavy backend. Here's what makes it stand out:
Zero-friction deploys. You can literally drag a folder onto the Netlify dashboard and have a live URL in under a minute. No command line, no configuration files required.
Forms for free. One of Netlify's most underrated features: add netlify as an attribute to any HTML form and Netlify automatically captures submissions. You get an inbox in your dashboard and optional email notifications — no server, no database, no Zapier required.
Branch previews. Every time you push a new branch or open a pull request on GitHub, Netlify builds a unique preview URL. Share it with a client or teammate before merging. This alone saves hours of back-and-forth.
Generous free tier. The free Starter plan includes 100GB of bandwidth per month, 300 build minutes, and unlimited sites. For most personal projects and small apps, you'll never pay a cent.
Free vs Paid
| Feature | Free (Starter) | Pro ($19/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Sites | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | 100 GB/month | 1 TB/month |
| Build minutes | 300/month | 25,000/month |
| Form submissions | 100/month | 1,000/month |
| Branch previews | Yes | Yes |
| Background functions | No | Yes |
| Analytics | No | Yes |
| Team members | 1 | Unlimited |
For hobby projects and early-stage apps, the free tier is more than enough. Upgrade when you start hitting bandwidth limits or need more form submissions.
Step-by-step setup
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Create an account. Go to netlify.com and sign up with your GitHub, GitLab, or email.
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Import your project. Click "Add new site" and choose "Import an existing project." Connect your GitHub account and select your repository.
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Configure your build. Netlify will try to auto-detect your framework. For a plain HTML site, leave the build command blank and set the publish directory to
.(or wherever yourindex.htmllives). For a Vite app, the publish directory is usuallydist. -
Deploy. Click "Deploy site." Netlify will build and publish your site. You'll get a random URL like
quirky-otter-abc123.netlify.app— you can rename this or connect a custom domain. -
Add a custom domain. Go to Site Settings > Domain management. Click "Add custom domain," enter your domain name, and follow the DNS instructions. HTTPS is added automatically.
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Enable form handling (optional). Add the
netlifyattribute to your HTML form tag:<form name="contact" method="POST" netlify>. Netlify detects this at build time and starts capturing submissions.
Common questions
Can I use Netlify with Next.js? Yes, but Vercel (made by the Next.js team) gives you a better experience for Next.js specifically. Netlify works well, but some advanced Next.js features like edge middleware or server actions may behave differently. For a straightforward Next.js site, it's fine.
What happens if I go over the free bandwidth limit? Netlify charges $55 per 100GB over the limit. You'll get a warning before this happens. Most small sites never come close.
Is Netlify good for apps that need a database? Netlify is a hosting platform, not a database. You'd pair it with something like Supabase or Firebase for data storage. Netlify handles serving your front-end; those tools handle your data.
