Netlify vs Render

The OG Jamstack host meets the developer-friendly cloud that actually makes sense, if you can stomach the price. Here's our take.

Netlify

Nice Pick

The OG Jamstack host. Solid but Vercel has the edge.

Pros

• Great free tier
• Form handling
• Split testing
• Mature platform

Cons

• Slower builds
• Less Next.js focus
• DX slightly behind

Render

The developer-friendly cloud that actually makes sense, if you can stomach the price.

Pros

• Predictable pricing
• Managed databases
• Background workers
• Dead-simple deployment from Git with zero config
• Automatic SSL and scaling that just works
• Clean, intuitive UI that doesn't make you want to scream

Cons

• Slower deploys
• Less innovation
• Basic DX
• Pricing can get steep fast for anything beyond hobby projects
• Limited customizability compared to AWS or Kubernetes

The Verdict

Use Netlify if: You want great free tier and can live with slower builds.

Use Render if: You prioritize predictable pricing over what Netlify offers.

The Bottom Line

Netlify wins

The OG Jamstack host. Solid but Vercel has the edge.