GitLab Pages vs Netlify: What are the differences?

Introduction

GitLab Pages and Netlify are both website deployment platforms that offer hosting services for static websites. While they share some similarities, there are key differences between the two. Below are six key differences between GitLab Pages and Netlify.

1. Hosting Platform: GitLab Pages is specifically designed for hosting websites that are connected to GitLab repositories. It is seamlessly integrated into the GitLab workflow, allowing developers to easily publish and update their websites directly from their repositories. On the other hand, Netlify is a standalone hosting platform that can be used with any Git provider or even without Git. It offers more flexibility in terms of source control and can be easily integrated with various Git services.

2. Build and Deployment Process: In GitLab Pages, the build and deployment process is managed using GitLab CI/CD pipelines. Developers can define custom build scripts using Docker containers or predefined templates to automatically build and deploy their websites whenever changes are pushed to the repository. Netlify, on the other hand, simplifies the build and deployment process by automatically detecting changes in the project repository and triggering the build process. It also provides a visual interface to configure build settings without requiring any specific knowledge of CI/CD pipelines.

3. Custom Domain Support: Both GitLab Pages and Netlify support custom domains for websites. However, Netlify provides more advanced options for managing custom domains. It offers features like domain aliases, redirects, and HTTPS certificates for custom domains, making it easier to configure and manage domain settings.

4. Branch-based Deployments: GitLab Pages allows developers to configure different branches of their repository to be deployed to separate websites. This means that each branch can have its own website URL and content, allowing for easy testing and previewing of changes before merging them into the main branch. Netlify also supports branch-based deployments, allowing developers to create separate previews for each branch. However, this feature is only available in their paid plans.

5. Forms and Serverless Functions: Netlify provides built-in support for serverless functions and form handling. Developers can easily create serverless functions using JavaScript, Go, Ruby, or Python, and integrate them with their website. Netlify Forms allows developers to collect form submissions directly on their website without requiring any server-side code. GitLab Pages does not provide built-in support for serverless functions or form handling, although these features can still be implemented using external services or custom server-side code.

6. Pricing and Billing: GitLab Pages is a free feature included in every GitLab account, with no additional cost for hosting static websites. On the other hand, Netlify offers both free and paid plans. Their free plan includes generous limits, while paid plans provide additional features and higher performance options. Pricing for custom domains and other advanced features may vary between the two platforms.

In Summary, GitLab Pages is tightly integrated with GitLab repositories and provides advanced branch-based deployments, while Netlify offers more flexibility in terms of source control and provides advanced features like form handling and serverless functions. Both platforms support custom domains, but Netlify offers more advanced options for managing domain settings. Netlify also provides a visual interface for configuring build settings and simplifies the build and deployment process.