vs
GitHub Pages vs Netlify: which free plan?
Netlify has fewer strings attached on its free plan (score 100 vs 88). GitHub Pages can still be the better choice for the cases below.
Both checked against their official pricing pages on 1 Nov 2026.
| Type | Repo static hosting | Static + serverless |
|---|---|---|
| Free-tier score | 88 / 100 | 100 / 100 |
| Card to sign up | Not required | Not required |
| Free plan ends | Never | Never |
| Sleeps when idle | No | No |
| Commercial use | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Own domain on free | Yes | Yes |
| Free subdomain | *.github.io | *.netlify.app |
| Free limits |
|
|
| The catch | On a free account the repo must be public, and GitHub says Pages is not meant for online shops or SaaS. | Every production deploy costs 15 credits, so about 20 deploys a month uses the whole free allowance before any traffic. |
| Paid from | $4/mo (GitHub Pro (Pages from private repos)) | $9/mo (Personal) |
| Source | Official pricing for GitHub Pages (opens in a new tab) | Official pricing for Netlify (opens in a new tab) |
Which one should you pick?
Pick GitHub Pages if…
- your project is: portfolios, docs and project sites
Pick Netlify if…
- it is for a business or paid product
- your project is: small static sites that deploy occasionally
Questions
Which is better for free, GitHub Pages or Netlify?
Netlify has fewer strings attached on its free plan (score 100 vs 88). GitHub Pages can still be the better choice for the cases below.
Does GitHub Pages or Netlify need a credit card?
GitHub Pages: no. Netlify: no.
What is the catch with GitHub Pages and Netlify?
GitHub Pages: On a free account the repo must be public, and GitHub says Pages is not meant for online shops or SaaS. Netlify: Every production deploy costs 15 credits, so about 20 deploys a month uses the whole free allowance before any traffic.