TL;DR
Vercel for Next.js applications. Netlify for JAMstack and static sites. Cloudflare Pages for cost-effective global hosting.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Vercel | Netlify | Cloudflare Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free-$20/mo | Free-$19/mo | Free |
| Best for | Next.js | JAMstack | Static/global |
| Edge functions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bandwidth | 100GB free | 100GB free | Unlimited free |
| Build minutes | 6K min/mo | 300 min/mo | 500 builds/mo |
1. Vercel
Created by the Next.js team. Best-in-class Next.js support, preview deployments, analytics, and edge functions. The default hosting choice for modern React/Next.js apps.
2. Netlify
Pioneer of JAMstack hosting. Great for static sites, Gatsby, Hugo, and Astro. Form handling, split testing, and edge functions. Slightly less Next.js-optimized than Vercel.
3. Cloudflare Pages
Free unlimited bandwidth on Cloudflare's global network. Fast builds, Workers integration, and at-cost pricing. Best value for static sites and global performance.
How We Chose These Tools
We deployed identical apps on each platform, comparing build speed, performance, pricing, and developer experience.
Key Takeaways
- Next.js app: Vercel.
- Static site on a budget: Cloudflare Pages.
- JAMstack with forms: Netlify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch hosts later?+
Yes — all three deploy from Git. Migration takes hours, not weeks.