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ReviewsIs Netlify actually free?
How free88/100
Value8/10
How these scores work
Free Score (0–100) follows a fixed rubric: cards up front, auto-billing, hard time cutoffs, withheld core features, and paying with your data or attention all deduct points. 90–100 truly free · 70–89 free forever · 45–69 squeezed · 15–44 trial mechanics · under 15 fake or gone. Value (0–10) is editorial: real-world worth of the free offering measured against its paid equivalent. Full rubric on the methodology page.
Yes — Netlify's free tier hosts real websites with custom domains, HTTPS, and drag-and-drop deploys, no card required. Small sites can live here for years free.
What it’s worth
Comparable small-site hosting historically ran $5–10/month; this is genuinely $0.
What you get free
- Real website hosting with drag-and-drop or Git deploys
- Custom domains with free HTTPS
- A global CDN
- Form handling and previews in small doses
In practice: real production hosting — custom domain, HTTPS, global delivery — that many small sites never outgrow.
Drawbacks
- Bandwidth and build allowances are generous but real
- The dashboard assumes some technical comfort
Also paywalled
- Higher bandwidth and build minutes
- Team seats and access controls
- Analytics and support
Free facts
| Verdict | Free Forever |
| Card required | No |
| Auto-bills | — |
| Account | Required |
| Limits | Monthly bandwidth and build allowances |
| The real cost | An account. Generous limits most small sites never hit. |
The catch
Heavy traffic or big builds eventually hit the free allowances — which is a good problem, because it means people are visiting your site.
The smart play
- Drag-and-drop deploys need zero coding — netlify.com/drop
- Connect your own domain; free HTTPS is included with no upcharge
- The bandwidth meter only matters if a site goes viral — a good problem
Common questions
Does Netlify require a credit card?
No — Netlify does not ask for a card to use the free version. Auto-billing: —.
What are the limits of Netlify's free plan?
Monthly bandwidth and build allowances. Heavy traffic or big builds eventually hit the free allowances — which is a good problem, because it means people are visiting your site.
How do I use Netlify without paying?
Drag-and-drop deploys need zero coding — netlify.com/drop Connect your own domain; free HTTPS is included with no upcharge The bandwidth meter only matters if a site goes viral — a good problem
What does Netlify really cost?
An account. Generous limits most small sites never hit.
Why is Netlify free?
An account. Generous limits most small sites never hit. Comparable small-site hosting historically ran $5–10/month; this is genuinely $0.
Is Netlify still free?
As of our last check, yes. Yes — Netlify's free tier hosts real websites with custom domains, HTTPS, and drag-and-drop deploys, no card required. Small sites can live here for years free. Free tiers change without notice, which is why every page here carries the date it was checked.
More info — tap to expand
What the free allowances mean for a normal site
A typical small business or portfolio site uses a tiny fraction of the free bandwidth and build allotments. The limits exist for viral moments and heavy apps — if you hit them, your site is succeeding.
Deploying without touching code
netlify.com/drop accepts a dragged folder and publishes it in seconds; updating is dragging again. Add a custom domain in settings and HTTPS is issued automatically, free. This is the no-banner, own-your-files alternative to builder free tiers.
Last checked: August 2026site-wide date · Verdict: Free Forever — a real permanent free plan. signup and fair limits — but no clock and no card.
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