How to Deploy a Static Site to Netlify in 10 Minutes
Netlify hosts static sites and front-end apps with automatic builds, free TLS, and a global CDN. Connect a Git repo and every push becomes a deploy with its own preview URL.
What Kinds of Sites Does Netlify Host?
Anything that builds to static files: Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Next.js in static export, React SPAs, plain HTML. It also runs serverless functions and edge functions, so light backend logic is possible without a separate server.
How to Deploy Your Site
- Sign up at netlify.com with GitHub, GitLab, or email.
- Click Add new site and choose Import an existing project, then pick your repo.
- Set the build command (e.g.
npm run build) and publish directory (e.g.dist). - Click Deploy. First build takes a minute or two.
- Or skip Git entirely: drag a folder of files onto the dashboard for an instant deploy.
How Do You Add a Custom Domain and SSL?
Go to Domain settings, add your domain, and point DNS at Netlify’s nameservers or add the A/CNAME records they show. Netlify provisions a Let’s Encrypt certificate automatically within minutes. HTTPS is on by default — there is no setting to enable.
Is Netlify Free?
Yes, the Free plan includes 100 GB of bandwidth and 300 build minutes per month, with unlimited sites and automatic deploys. That covers most personal projects and landing pages. Paid Pro starts around $19/month and adds more bandwidth, password protection, and background functions.
| Plan | Bandwidth | Build minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 100 GB/mo | 300/mo |
| Pro | 1 TB/mo | 25,000/mo |
What Are the Common Pitfalls?
Bandwidth overages on the free plan can pause your site until the next cycle — a viral page can burn 100 GB in a day. Build minutes run out if you deploy constantly. And large images should be optimized before upload; Netlify serves them fine but your bandwidth budget pays for the size.
Is Netlify Right for Your Project?
Great for static sites, JAMstack apps, and docs. If you need long-running servers, websockets, or heavy background jobs, look at a platform like Render or a VPS. Netlify is built around the static-and-functions model.
Quick Summary
- Netlify deploys static sites from Git or drag-and-drop.
- Free plan: 100 GB bandwidth and 300 build minutes monthly.
- Custom domains get free automatic SSL.
- Bandwidth overage can pause a free site.
- Best for static/JAMstack; use another host for long-running servers.
