GitHub Pages vs Zeit Now: What are the differences?

Introduction

GitHub Pages and Zeit Now are both popular platforms for deploying and hosting websites. While they serve a similar purpose, there are several key differences between the two.

1. Documentation and Support: GitHub Pages has extensive documentation and a large community, which makes it easy to find help and troubleshoot issues. Zeit Now, on the other hand, has a smaller community and lesser-known documentation, which can make it more challenging to find support when needed.

2. Deployment Workflow: GitHub Pages requires users to commit their code to a specific branch (usually the "gh-pages" branch) in order to deploy the website. Zeit Now, on the other hand, deploys automatically whenever there is a push to the master branch or when changes are made to a specific folder. This makes Zeit Now's deployment workflow quicker and more streamlined compared to GitHub Pages.

3. Server-side Rendering: Zeit Now supports server-side rendering out-of-the-box, allowing developers to easily build dynamic websites that generate content on the server before sending it to the client. GitHub Pages, on the other hand, is limited to static site hosting and does not support server-side rendering by default.

4. Customization and Flexibility: GitHub Pages provides more customization options for websites, allowing users to use custom themes, plugins, and build pipelines. Zeit Now, on the other hand, has a more opinionated and simplified approach, focusing on ease of use and simplicity rather than extensive customization.

5. Pricing and Infrastructure: GitHub Pages is free for public repositories, making it a cost-effective option for open-source projects. Zeit Now, on the other hand, offers both free and paid plans, with additional features and resources available for paid users. Additionally, GitHub Pages leverages GitHub's infrastructure, while Zeit Now has its own serverless infrastructure.

6. Integration with Other Services: GitHub Pages integrates seamlessly with other GitHub services, such as GitHub Actions and GitHub Gist, allowing for automated deployment and easy sharing of code snippets. Zeit Now, on the other hand, integrates well with Zeit's other services, such as Now for Realtime and Now for Databases, providing a more comprehensive development experience.

In summary, GitHub Pages and Zeit Now have different strengths and trade-offs. GitHub Pages offers extensive documentation, customization options, and integration with GitHub services, while Zeit Now provides a streamlined deployment workflow, server-side rendering, and a focus on simplicity. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs and preferences of the project and the development team.