Hosting#
The SSG build output (ssg/build/) is a plain static HTML/CSS/JS folder — deployable anywhere that serves flat files.
GitHub Pages#
Free for public repos. Push the build/ folder to gh-pages branch or use GitHub Actions to deploy automatically.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Free, fast CDN, custom domain support | No server-side logic; HTTPS can be fiddly with custom domains |
| Tight GitHub integration (Actions, deploy from repo) | Build step required per deploy |
Cloudflare Pages#
Free tier: Unlimited bandwidth, unlimited requests, 500 builds/month, 1 build concurrency
Cloudflare’s static site hosting with global CDN (330+ cities). Supports Hugo natively — connect your Git repo and it builds and deploys automatically.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Generous free tier, global CDN, HTTP/3, Brotli | Builds can be slow on free tier (1 concurrency) |
| Automatic HTTPS, custom domains, DDoS protection | Tied to Cloudflare ecosystem |
| Direct upload (drag-and-drop via CLI or dashboard) |
Netlify Drop#
app.netlify.com/drop — drag your build/ folder onto the browser and get a live URL in seconds. No Git repo, no CLI, no config.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Fastest deploy: drag, drop, done | No build step on their side — your folder must be pre-compiled |
| Free SSL, CDN, form handling, redirects | Tie to Netlify for updates (re-drag for each change) |
| Instant rollback, branch deploys |
Best for demos, one-off deployments, or when you want zero setup.
Static.app#
static.app — drag-and-drop a ZIP archive or folder to go live instantly. Free SSL, built-in code editor, form data collection, and privacy-friendly analytics.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Free tier (1 site, 50 MB storage, SSL, subdomain) | Free plan is limited to 1 site |
| One-click deploy (drag ZIP, no CLI or Git needed) | Static host only — no server-side logic |
| Built-in editor, forms, analytics, media storage | 50 MB max per file on free plan |
| Paid plans from $6/mo (custom domains, API, MCP) |
Best for quick sites, landing pages, and when you want a built-in toolchain (editor, forms, analytics) out of the box.
Firebase Hosting#
Google’s static + dynamic hosting. Integrates with Firebase Functions for server-side logic.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Free tier (10 GB storage, 360 MB/day bandwidth) | Free tier bandwidth is low for production |
| One-command deploy via Firebase CLI | Requires Google account and project setup |
| Cloud Functions integration for APIs | Heavier tooling than alternatives |
Linode (Akamai)#
Cloud VMs — not static hosting. You manage the server (nginx, Apache, etc.) to serve the build/ folder.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Full control over the stack (server, headers, caching) | Requires sysadmin knowledge |
| Cheap entry ($5-10/month for a basic VM) | You handle SSL, updates, uptime monitoring |
| Can host multiple sites on one box | Overkill for a static site alone |
Lightsail#
AWS’s simplified VPS. Same concept as Linode — a VM you configure to serve static files.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Predictable pricing ($3.50-10/month) | More complex than serverless hosting |
| Integrated with AWS ecosystem (RDS, S3, etc.) | You still manage the web server and SSL |
| Fixed monthly cost, no surprise bills | Overkill for static files only |
Quick Comparison#
| Service | Type | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Pages | Static hosting | Yes (public repos) | Open-source projects, docs |
| Cloudflare Pages | Static hosting | Yes (generous) | Most static sites |
| Netlify Drop | Static hosting | Yes | Quick demos, one-off deploys |
| Static.app | Static hosting | Yes (1 site, 50MB) | Quick sites, landing pages |
| Firebase Hosting | Static + Functions | Yes (limited) | Apps needing backend logic |
| Linode | VPS | No ($5+/mo) | Full server control |
| Lightsail | VPS | No ($3.50+/mo) | AWS integration |