What is Netlify?
Netlify is a platform for building, deploying and hosting web apps, marketing sites, ecommerce stores and internal tools. You can start from an AI prompt via Agent Runners, push code from Git, use the CLI, or drag and drop a project folder. Every path leads to the same project and workflow.
Each change gets a private Deploy Previews URL before it goes live, and you can roll back any deploy in one click. The platform includes serverless functions, instant databases, file storage, built-in auth, image optimization, form handling and an AI Gateway for connecting to major AI models, all on a global edge network with automatic HTTPS.
Key features
- Deploy from AI prompt (Agent Runners), Git, CLI or drag and drop
- Deploy Previews with a private URL for every change
- Serverless Functions and API endpoints at the edge
- Netlify Database and Blob storage for data and files
- AI Gateway for connecting apps to major AI models
- Built-in identity, automatic HTTPS and DDoS protection
Who is it for
- Web developers
- Product teams prototyping AI features
- Marketers running campaign and landing pages
- Ecommerce and SaaS teams
How to get started with Netlify
- Create an account at netlify.com and log in to the dashboard
- Choose your path: AI prompt, Git connection, folder drag-and-drop, or CLI
- Deploy the project and check the preview at the Netlify address
- You want to quickly deploy a web page or app without managing servers
- You work in a team and need deploy previews for every pull request
- You are building an AI-powered app and need model access via AI Gateway
- You need a Polish-language interface, which the platform does not offer
- You plan heavy usage and your budget does not allow paid plans beyond the 300-credit free limit
Pros and cons
- Same workflow and infrastructure from first prototype to global traffic
- Roll back any deploy in one click
- 99.99% uptime on global edge network
- Costs are metered in credits (compute, bandwidth, requests), so usage can be harder to predict
- AI inference costs depend on the AI model used
Netlify pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD / month | 300 credits/month, private by default until you publish |
| Personal | 9 USD / month | 1,000 credits/month, 1-day observability, priority email support |
| Pro | 20 USD / month | Unlimited members, monthly credits from plan (3,000 to 20,000 credits/month tiers), 3+ concurrent builds, 30-day analytics |
Prices copied from Netlify pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is Netlify free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: build and deploy free forever, deploy from AI, Git or API, unlimited deploy previews, custom domains with SSL, functions and AI models, Netlify Database and Blob storage, global CDN, 300 credits per month.
Netlify alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Replit | 20 USD/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 Emergent | 17 USD/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 Base44 | 16 USD/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 LangChain | 39 USD/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform | 0,75 USD | ? | Website & app builders |
 Lovable | 25 EUR/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
FAQ
What is Netlify used for?
Web hosting and deployment platform that lets you build with AI or code and ship apps to a global CDN in seconds.
Is Netlify free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: build and deploy free forever, deploy from AI, Git or API, unlimited deploy previews, custom domains with SSL, functions and AI models, Netlify Database and Blob storage, global CDN, 300 credits per month.
How much does Netlify cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 9 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Netlify alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Replit, Emergent, Base44, LangChain, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (netlify.com).