Introduction

Self-hosting refers to the process of deploying web projects on cloud platforms without the need to configure and maintain a dedicated server infrastructure. This approach allows for automation of build, testing, and deployment processes, provides high fault tolerance, CDN support, and integration with serverless architecture.
This article presents an analytical overview of popular self-hosting platforms — Netlify and Vercel. It includes a comparative analysis based on key parameters, alternative solutions, and recommendations for selecting the most appropriate service depending on the type of project and operational requirements.

Definition and Key Characteristics of Self-Hosting

Self-hosting involves using cloud services that provide ready-made infrastructure for launching web applications. These platforms offer:

• Integration with version control systems (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
• Automated project building.
• CI/CD pipeline support.
• Hosting of static content.
• Support for serverless functions.
• Global content delivery via CDN. This approach is particularly relevant for frontend developers, startups, and small-scale projects where speed of deployment, ease of management, and scalability are critical.

Netlify: Overview of Capabilities

General Information
Netlify is one of the first platforms to popularize the JAMstack concept. It is designed for hosting static websites and applications, with extended capabilities provided by serverless functions and other tools.

Key Features

• Integration with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket.
• Automatic deployment upon repository push.
• Deployment previews.
• Serverless functions (Lambda-like).
• Global CDN.
• Form handling with spam protection.
• Free plan with limitations on traffic and build time.

Limitations

• Restrictions on free-tier build time and function call limits.
• Limited support for SSR and complex backend implementations.
• Less flexible caching system compared to competitors.

Vercel: Overview of Capabilities

General Information
Originally developed as a platform for Next.js applications, Vercel has evolved into a universal solution for hosting JavaScript- and TypeScript-based projects, including React, Vue, and Svelte.

Key Features

• Full support for SSR and SSG via Next.js.
• Edge Network — global content delivery with minimal latency.
• Edge Functions — lightweight serverless functions.
• Instant Preview — immediate preview of changes after commit.
• Integration with modern development tools such as Turborepo and Nx.
• Free plan with limitations on build time and request volume.

Limitations

Steeper learning curve for users not using Next.js.
Additional costs when using advanced SSR and Edge Function features.
Limited form-handling functionality compared to Netlify.

Pricing and Plans

Netlify
Free Plan: 300 build minutes/month, 100 function calls/day, 100 GB traffic.
Pro Plan: From $19/month — increased limits, team access, analytics.
Enterprise: Custom plans and configurations.

Vercel
Free Plan: 3,000 edge function executions/day, 1 TB traffic, 100 build minutes.
Pro Plan: From $20/month — more builds, private deployments, custom domain.
Enterprise: Custom plans and configurations.

Migration Between Platforms
From Netlify to Vercel:
Export environment variables.
Create a vercel.json file instead of netlify.toml.
Replace AWS Lambda functions with Edge Functions.
Use Vercel CLI for deployment.
From Vercel to Netlify:
Replace vercel.json with netlify.toml.
Rewrite Edge Functions to AWS Lambda format.
Reconfigure forms and domains.

Alternative Platforms

1. Render Supports Node.js, Python, Ruby, Java. Full-stack application hosting. More powerful free tier than competitors.
2. Cloudflare Pages Integration with Workers and Durable Objects. Excellent performance. Supports only static content and simple functions.
3. Firebase Hosting (Google) Ideal for Firebase backend integration. Suitable for SPAs and PWAs. Well-documented.
4. GitHub Pages Free static site hosting from GitHub. No CI/CD or advanced features.

[Conclusion and others](https://docs.theangmarcore.ru/others/archive-posts/websites-in-the-cloud

We will soon publish a huge article on selfhost infrastructure! ;)