Netlify →
Deploy Beyond Jamstack in Europe
Netlify excels at static sites. Runsite handles everything else: backend, databases, and full-stack apps on EU servers.
Best Netlify alternative: quick answer
The best Netlify alternative depends on your stack, but for EU-based indie developers and small startups, Runsite is the strongest option: GDPR-compliant hosting in Frankfurt (eu-central), predictable EUR pricing with hard spending caps, and a permanent free tier that needs no credit card. Unlike Netlify, your data never leaves the EU or falls under the US CLOUD Act, so compliance is the default rather than a configuration step.
// comparison
Runsite vs Netlify
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff, just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Netlify |
|---|---|---|
| Backend Hosting | ✓ Full containers, any stack | Serverless functions only |
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | ✗ CDN edge only |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity, full compliance | ✗ US company |
| Docker Support | ✓ Any Dockerfile | ✗ Not supported |
| Managed Database | ✓ PostgreSQL from €5/mo | ✗ Not available |
| Static Hosting | Via S3 + CDN | ✓ Excellent |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | ✓ Generous for static |
Pricing and feature details verified June 2026. Always confirm current rates on Netlify’s official pricing page.
// in-depth comparison
Netlify vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Your side project began as a static Astro site, then someone asked for a contact form, and now you need a backend. That is where many teams hit the edge of what Netlify does well. Netlify essentially created the Jamstack deployment category, and for static sites, SPAs, and projects built with Gatsby, Hugo, or Astro, its build pipeline and global CDN are excellent. The free tier for static hosting is genuinely generous, and deploy previews and split testing are well-implemented.
Backends are the sore spot. Netlify Functions are serverless with a 10-second execution limit, there are no managed databases, and compute runs on US-based infrastructure. Grow past static content and you stitch together Netlify for frontend, a separate provider for your API, and another for your database. Runsite hosts full-stack applications on one platform: Docker containers for any backend, managed PostgreSQL, and S3 storage, all in EU data centers.
If your project has outgrown Jamstack constraints and you want one platform for frontend, backend, and database with GDPR compliance built in, Runsite consolidates what would be three separate services.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
Full-Stack Hosting
More than static sites. Deploy Django, FastAPI, Express, Go: any stack in Docker containers.
True EU Hosting
Netlify's CDN is global but compute is US-based. Runsite runs everything in EU data centers.
Managed Databases
PostgreSQL and Redis included. No need to set up external database providers.
// netlify problems → runsite solutions
Common Netlify frustrations. Sound familiar?
Every Netlify frustration, solved.
Netlify problem
"Netlify can't host my backend"
Netlify Functions are limited to 10-second execution. Long-running APIs need a separate hosting provider.
Runsite solution
Persistent containers for any backend
Run long-lived processes, WebSocket servers, background workers: anything Docker can run.
Netlify problem
"No managed databases"
Netlify doesn't offer databases. You need PlanetScale, Supabase, or AWS RDS on top.
Runsite solution
PostgreSQL + Redis included
Managed databases on the same platform. One bill, one dashboard, one support channel.
Netlify problem
"Compute runs in the US"
Netlify Functions run in US regions by default. EU users get higher latency.
Runsite solution
EU-only compute and storage
Everything runs in our Frankfurt (eu-central) region. Sub-20ms for users in DACH and Benelux, single-digit ms within Germany.
// 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 // same platform, other angles
Keep exploring
Go Full-Stack in Europe
Backend hosting, databases, and EU compliance in one platform.
Start Free on Runsite →