[Review · Static / JAMstack Hosting]

GitHub Pages

Free static hosting on the world's biggest code host

[01] Verdict

GitHub Pages is like that low-key gem for developers who don't want to empty their pockets. It's free as air if you're working with public repositories, giving you soft limits like 1GB storage per site and 100GB of bandwidth a month. So unless you're pulling in serious traffic, you ain't gotta worry about hitting those caps.

The cool part is how easy it is to get your site live. Just push your code with a `git push`, and you're up. If you're running more than just Jekyll, GitHub Actions lets you play with any static generator like Hugo or 11ty. And yes, you can rock a custom domain with free HTTPS thanks to Let's Encrypt.

Now, Microsoft owns GitHub, so if that's a dealbreaker for you, keep it in mind. And if you need private repos, you're gonna have to pay for a GitHub plan. The default Jekyll setup feels a bit old school, and there's no serverless or dynamic mojo here. But for a free deal, it's pretty chill.

[03]

What works, what doesn't.

8 findings
+ Pros
  • Totally free for public repos
  • Easy deploy with `git push`
  • Supports custom domains with free HTTPS
  • GitHub Actions for flex with static generators
– Cons
  • No serverless or dynamic features
  • Private repo Pages needs a paid plan
  • Jekyll integration feels outdated
  • Owned by Microsoft (if that bugs you)
[04]

Pricing receipts.

Published rate
Monthly
Free/ mo
Intro price
Yearly
Free/ yr
First-year intro
[05]

What's being said.

12 mentions · May 17
Community sentiment
positive
Reddit, Hacker News, Trustpilot. Not used to score the provider — see methodology.
Blogpositive
The Pros & Cons of Using GitHub Pages - Kevin Sweet

"GitHub Pages is FREE! Fast CDN - They use Fastly as their CDN, one of the best around. Built-in CMS."

Read source
Redditpositive
Does GitHub Pages still hold up for modern static workflows? - Reddit

"GitHub Pages is still a powerhouse! It actually uses its own global network to keep things snappy. For most sites, it is plenty fast."

Read source
Hacker Newspositive
GitHub Pages – Usage Limits - Hacker News

"GitHub Pages is a great service. It's saved me in a whole number of smaller projects."

Read source
Hacker Newspositive
Downgraded my website to GitHub pages; couldn't be happier

"Downgraded my website to GitHub pages; couldn't be happier."

Read source
Redditpositive
GitHub Pages : r/webdevelopment - Reddit

"GitHub Pages is excellent for simple static sites, but if you need any dynamic functionality, better performance, or advanced features, Netlify."

Read source
Hacker Newspositive
Show HN: I built a free astro and tailwind static site for GitHub pages

"This is a demonstration of how good of a site can I build essentially 100% for free + free hosting."

Read source
Blogpositive
What is GitHub Pages: A Review of Deployment Features - Bejamas

"GitHub Pages is an easy way to go live with a static website if you already use GitHub to host the repository."

Read source
Redditpositive
I'm really sorry for this question but I'm an overwhelmed old man that ...

"GitHub pages if you want to just do some html and css. Incredibly straightforward and if your site gets more complex you can use templating."

Read source
Blogmixed
Pros and Cons of Using GitHub for Hosting Your Website | Git Hosting

"GitHub offers an easy way to publish static websites through GitHub Pages, but like any platform, it has both strengths and drawbacks."

Read source
Blogmixed
GitHub pages drawbacks and concerns seen from a noob in jekyll - Jekyll Talk

"I like GitHub because it is easy to upload your site using atom or their GitHub desktop program, keep it in sync and easy to use."

Read source
Blogmixed
Blogging on GitHub Pages: The Pros and Cons

"Your website will be static, which is the big limitation (it is really more of a paradigm shift than a limitation)."

Read source
Redditnegative
Is it a good idea to host my website on GitHub Pages? - Reddit

"GitHub Pages is not intended for or allowed to be used as a free web-hosting service to run your online business, e-commerce site, or any other website."

Read source
Ready to try GitHub Pages?

Skip the teaser pricing.

We get a commission if you sign up via this link. Our score doesn't move because of it.

Visit GitHub Pages
[06]

Closest alternatives.

jamstacks
CDN-first static hosting, pennies per GB
Static sites free, paid backend without the AWS tax