Should you build your own Netlify?
Web hosting platform for static sites, functions, forms, and deploy previews
Static hosting and functions are easy to assemble, but Netlify's value is Git-based deploys, previews, forms, redirects, edge functions, and managed platform reliability.
ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.
Build me a personal static-site deploy pipeline to replace Netlify, running on my own
VPS. Requirements:
- A small deploy service: Node + Express receiving a GitHub webhook on localhost, with
Caddy in front serving the built sites over HTTPS.
- On push to main: pull the repo into /srv/sites/<repo>/, run the build command from a
per-site config (sites.json: repo, branch, buildCmd, outputDir), and atomically swap a
`current` symlink to the new build.
- Keep the last 5 builds per site on disk so rollback is `deployctl rollback <site>`, a
one-line CLI.
- Branch previews: pushes to other branches deploy to <branch>.<site>.mydomain.com via a
Caddy wildcard route.
- Build logs go to /srv/sites/<repo>/logs/<timestamp>.log; `deployctl status` lists
sites, last deploy time, and pass/fail.
- Webhook secret and tokens in .env. The service binds to localhost behind Caddy; no
accounts, no telemetry.
- Out of scope: CDN/edge functions, form handling, and team features. This is one VPS,
not a global network. Skip the dashboard UI, the CLI is enough.
- README: the Caddy config snippet, GitHub webhook setup, and the wildcard DNS record
previews need.The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running. · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR
What would building your own look like?
Deploy static builds from git, serve via CDN/reverse proxy, add forms/functions, and create preview URLs.
What you will need
- VPS or cloud static hosting
- CI/CD
- domain/DNS
- SSL
- serverless or container functions
- monitoring
They pay because simple sites still need dependable CI/CD, routing, and previews.
xdeploy previews
xCDN/edge functions
xforms
xrollbacks
xteam workflows
xuptime/support
Prefer something ready-made?
Netlify FreeThe same service covers a small production site indefinitely: Git deploys, previews, functions, forms, TLS, and 300 monthly credits.Free↗License, setup, and limitations for each alternative.
How much does Netlify cost?
- Monthly billing
- $20/mo$20/mo
- Per year
- $240/yr$240/yr
- On a Brazilian card, with 3.5% IOF
- R$105/moR$1,254/yr
Saved to My list. You will see a notice on this site when the price changes.
You complete the purchase on Netlify’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | 300 credits/month hard cap; 1 member; 1 concurrent build; 1-day observability/analytics history. |
| personal | $9/workspace≈ $9 | - | 1,000 credits/month; 1 member; 1 concurrent build; 1 preview server; 7-day web analytics. |
| pro 3,000 credits | $20/workspace≈ $20 | - | 3,000 credits/month; unlimited members; 3 concurrent builds; 30-day analytics; no monthly-credit rollover. |
| pro 5,000 credits | $33/workspace≈ $33 | - | 5,000 credits/month; unlimited members; 3 concurrent builds; unused monthly credits roll for 1 additional cycle. |
| pro 10,000 credits | $63/workspace≈ $63 | - | 10,000 credits/month; unlimited members; 3 concurrent builds; unused monthly credits roll for 1 additional cycle. |
| pro 15,000 credits | $95/workspace≈ $95 | - | 15,000 credits/month; unlimited members; 3 concurrent builds; unused monthly credits roll for 1 additional cycle. |
| pro 20,000 credits | $126/workspace≈ $126 | - | 20,000 credits/month; unlimited members; 3 concurrent builds; unused monthly credits roll for 1 additional cycle. |
| enterprise | custom | - | Custom credits, seats, builds, security, SLA and support. |
Free tier300 credits/month hard cap, 1 member, 1 concurrent build, and 1-day observability/analytics history
Billing termsmonthly only for current credit-based self-serve plans; no public annual plan
Additional costsProduction deploys cost 15 credits, compute 10 credits/GB-hour, bandwidth 20 credits/GB and web requests 2 credits/10,000. Pro auto-recharge is $10/1,500 credits; extra concurrent builds cost $40/month and extra preview servers $15/month. Changing a Pro credit tier deletes unused plan and rollover credits.
verified 2026-10-20 · source ↗
Is it cheaper to build or buy Netlify?
Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.
Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.
Starting hours estimated from the analysis (multi-day). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).
Can I rebuild Netlify?
Kinda. The core of Netlify is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: deploy previews, CDN/edge functions. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Netlify cost?
Netlify costs about $20/mo (Pro, checked 10/20/2026), which is $240 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Netlify?
Honestly: deploy previews; CDN/edge functions; forms; rollbacks; team workflows; uptime/support. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Netlify?
Yes: Netlify Free (The same service covers a small production site indefinitely: Git deploys, previews, functions, forms, TLS, and 300 monthly credits.) The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.