GitHub Pages vs Netlify
GitHub Pages vs Netlify compared for European indie developers and small startups. Pricing, EU jurisdiction, GDPR posture, and why Runsite (an EU-registered PaaS in Frankfurt) is worth a look.
GitHub Pages vs Netlify: quick answer
GitHub Pages and Netlify both offer Git-push deploy workflows, but they differ where it counts. GitHub Pages and Netlify are both US-headquartered, so neither escapes US jurisdiction or the CLOUD Act, and neither runs EU-native infrastructure or offers hard spending caps. For European teams that need GDPR-compliant hosting in Frankfurt with predictable EUR billing and a permanent free tier, Runsite is the EU-native alternative to both.
// github pages problems → runsite solutions
Common GitHub Pages frustrations. 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.
// 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) |
// the other side
What about Netlify?
Netlify excels at static sites. Runsite handles everything else: backend, databases, and full-stack apps on EU servers.
// 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.
// 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 |
// in-depth comparison
How GitHub Pages and Netlify each compare to Runsite
GitHub Pages vs Runsite
You reach for GitHub Pages because it is the simplest way to get a static site online. You push HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to a repo, enable Pages, and you have a live site on a free github.io subdomain. For documentation, portfolios, and project landing pages, that is hard to argue with.
Then your project grows, and the constraints turn out to be fundamental: static files only, so no server-side code, no databases, no background workers. You run into the 1GB repository limit and the 100GB monthly bandwidth cap. GitHub's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit commercial use, and because it is 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.
Once 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.
Netlify vs Runsite
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 consider runsite
Beyond GitHub Pages and Netlify
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While GitHub Pages and Netlify default to US markets, Runsite is built exclusively for European developers. Frankfurt (eu-central) region, EU entity, EU jurisdiction, with no transatlantic transfers.
Real GDPR Compliance
EU-registered entity. Your data is governed by European law. No US jurisdiction, no CLOUD Act.
Predictable Pricing
No per-invocation charges, no surprise bills. Fixed plans with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts.
Common Questions
FAQ
Which is better for EU hosting, GitHub Pages or Netlify?
Neither GitHub Pages nor Netlify is EU-native. Both are US-based (GitHub Pages: a US Microsoft service; Netlify: US-headquartered) and route most traffic through US regions, with EU availability that is usually limited or gated behind higher tiers. Even when you can select a European region, the parent company stays subject to the US CLOUD Act, which can compel disclosure of EU customer data. For genuine EU data residency, an EU-registered platform is the safer choice: Runsite runs exclusively in Frankfurt (eu-central) under EU jurisdiction, with no transatlantic transfers and no CLOUD Act exposure — the kind of guarantee neither US provider can make.
Which has the better free tier, GitHub Pages or Netlify?
Free tiers on both GitHub Pages and Netlify change frequently and tend to share the same catch: compute that sleeps after inactivity, bandwidth or build-minute caps, or trial credits that expire after a fixed window. They are fine for quick experiments but rarely sustainable for an always-on hobby project. If a permanent free tier matters, read the current terms carefully. Limits are often buried in the pricing footnotes. Runsite takes the opposite approach: a free tier with no credit card and no expiry, designed to keep small projects online indefinitely rather than nudging you onto a paid plan.
Is GitHub Pages or Netlify GDPR-compliant?
Both GitHub Pages and Netlify can be configured to support GDPR-compliant workloads through a signed Data Processing Agreement (DPA) and EU region selection where available. However, as US-incorporated entities they remain subject to the US CLOUD Act regardless of where the data physically sits, which is a documented sticking point for European compliance and DPO review. For workloads where US jurisdiction is a hard blocker (public-sector, healthcare, or privacy-sensitive consumer apps), an EU-headquartered provider removes the ambiguity entirely. Runsite is EU-registered with data kept inside the EU, so GDPR posture is the default rather than a configuration exercise.
What is the cheapest way to deploy a side project, GitHub Pages or Netlify?
For a single small service, both GitHub Pages and Netlify can look inexpensive on paper. The headline price rarely matches the real bill. Per-service billing, metered bandwidth, build minutes, and add-ons for databases or key-value stores stack up quickly, and neither platform offers a hard spending cap to stop a surprise invoice. The cheapest predictable option is one with fixed monthly pricing and an enforced ceiling. Runsite bills in EUR from €5/month with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts, plus a permanent free tier, so a side project stays cheap by design, not by careful monitoring.
// explore alternatives
Try the European Alternative
Skip the GitHub Pages vs Netlify debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →