Netlify

What is Netlify?

Netlify is a hosting platform built around the Jamstack model: git-connected deploys, global CDN distribution, and serverless functions for anything that needs a backend. It was one of the first platforms to make "push to git, get a live preview URL" the default workflow, and it's broadened since into a fuller platform with edge functions, forms, and now a built-in Postgres offering.

Key features

• Git-based deploys with automatic preview URLs for every branch and pull request
• Serverless and edge functions for backend logic without managing a server
• Built-in form handling and identity/auth tooling for simpler sites that don't want a separate backend
• Recently added a native Postgres database option, extending it past pure static/frontend hosting
• Broad framework support beyond static sites, including Next.js and other SSR frameworks

Who it's for

Static sites, marketing pages, and frontend-heavy apps that want fast git-based deploys and preview URLs without much backend complexity. For a framework-specific app that leans heavily on server-side rendering and edge runtime features, a platform built around that framework specifically often has tighter integration.

Pricing

Free tier for personal and small projects, with paid plans scaling by build minutes, bandwidth, and team features.