GitHub Pages →
Full-Stack Hosting Beyond Static
GitHub Pages hosts static files. Runsite hosts actual applications — APIs, databases, background workers, and more.
// comparison
Runsite vs GitHub Pages
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | GitHub Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Backend/API Hosting | ✓ Full containers, any language | ✗ Static files only |
| Databases | ✓ Managed PostgreSQL from €5/mo | ✗ Not available |
| Docker Support | ✓ Any Dockerfile | ✗ Not supported |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | ✗ US company (Microsoft) |
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | ✗ Global CDN, no region control |
| Commercial Use | ✓ Allowed | ✗ Explicitly prohibited |
| Static Site Hosting | Via S3 + CDN | ✓ Free, simple |
| Price | Free tier + from €5/mo | ✓ Free (public repos) |
// in-depth comparison
GitHub Pages vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
GitHub Pages is the simplest way to get a static site online. Push HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to a repo, enable Pages, and you have a live site with a free github.io subdomain. For documentation, portfolios, and project landing pages, it is hard to argue with free and instant.
The constraints are fundamental: static files only. No server-side code, no databases, no background workers. The 1GB repository limit and 100GB monthly bandwidth cap restrict growth. GitHub's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit commercial use. And as a Microsoft-owned US service, there is no EU data residency option. Runsite deploys full-stack applications — any language in Docker containers with managed PostgreSQL, S3 storage, and all compute in EU data centers.
If your project has grown beyond static HTML and you need server-side logic, a database, or EU-compliant hosting for a commercial product, Runsite is the natural next step. The free tier lets you transition without upfront cost.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
Run Actual Applications
GitHub Pages serves HTML. Runsite runs Django, FastAPI, Express, Go — any stack in Docker containers with persistent storage.
Databases Included
Need a database? GitHub Pages can't help. Runsite offers managed PostgreSQL with auto-backups starting at €5/mo.
Commercial Use Allowed
GitHub Pages explicitly prohibits commercial use. Runsite is built for production workloads and SaaS applications.
// github pages problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every GitHub Pages frustration, solved.
GitHub Pages problem
"GitHub Pages can't run my API"
It serves static files only. No Node.js, no Python, no server-side code. You need a separate backend provider.
Runsite solution
Full-stack hosting, one platform
Deploy your frontend and backend together. Run any language in Docker containers with databases and storage.
GitHub Pages problem
"I can't use it for commercial projects"
GitHub Pages Terms of Service prohibit using it for online businesses, e-commerce, or SaaS.
Runsite solution
Built for production and SaaS
Runsite is designed for production workloads. Deploy commercial apps with full EU compliance.
GitHub Pages problem
"1GB size limit and 100GB bandwidth"
GitHub Pages limits repos to 1GB and bandwidth to 100GB/month. Growing projects hit these limits fast.
Runsite solution
No artificial limits
S3-compatible object storage for assets. Compute and bandwidth that scale with your needs.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live — in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central Go Beyond Static Files
APIs, databases, and Docker containers. Free tier included.
Start Free on Runsite →