Netlify vs Cloudflare Pages for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Netlify Overview

Netlify was one of the first platforms to make JAMstack deployment simple. Connect a Git repo, configure your build command, and your site goes live on a global CDN. It pioneered the "push to deploy" workflow that every platform now copies.

What makes Netlify stand out are the built-in extras. Form handling catches submissions from static sites without a backend. Split testing lets you A/B test different branches. Deploy previews generate URLs for every pull request. Identity adds basic auth to any site. These features save solo developers from stitching together multiple services.

I used Netlify for years before exploring alternatives. The experience is polished and the documentation is clear. For a solo developer shipping a marketing site, blog, or documentation project, Netlify's free tier and built-in features cover most needs without any external services.

Cloudflare Pages Overview

Cloudflare Pages entered the hosting space later but brought a compelling value proposition: unlimited bandwidth on the free tier, backed by one of the largest edge networks in the world. Where other platforms meter your traffic, Cloudflare simply doesn't.

Pages integrates directly with Cloudflare Workers, giving you server-side logic at the edge. Need an API endpoint? Write a Worker function. Need key-value storage? Use KV. Need a SQL database? D1 is right there. The broader Cloudflare ecosystem means you can build a full application without leaving their platform.

I migrated a content site from Netlify to Cloudflare Pages after a traffic spike pushed me close to Netlify's bandwidth limits. On Cloudflare, that same traffic costs nothing. The deployment process is just as smooth, and the global performance is noticeably faster in regions where Cloudflare has a stronger edge presence.

Key Differences

Bandwidth pricing. This is the headline difference. Netlify's free tier includes 100GB bandwidth per month. Go over and you pay. Cloudflare Pages gives unlimited bandwidth for free. For blogs, documentation sites, or any project that could see unpredictable traffic, Cloudflare removes the risk entirely.

Built-in features. Netlify includes form handling, identity/auth, split testing, and large media support right out of the box. Cloudflare Pages is more bare-bones as a hosting platform. You need Workers for server-side logic and external services for forms. Netlify's all-in-one approach is genuinely convenient for simple projects.

Serverless functions. Netlify Functions run on AWS Lambda under the hood. They work well but have cold start latency and the execution environment is Node.js focused. Cloudflare Workers run on V8 isolates at the edge with near-zero cold starts. Workers are faster but have different constraints (no Node.js APIs, different runtime).

Build minutes. Netlify's free tier gives 300 build minutes per month. Cloudflare Pages gives 500 builds per month (not minutes, builds). For projects with frequent deploys, Cloudflare's model is more predictable. For projects with long build times, Netlify's minute-based counting can eat through your allowance quickly.

Edge computing ecosystem. Cloudflare has a massive advantage here. Workers, KV, R2 (object storage), D1 (SQLite database), Queues, and Durable Objects form a complete edge computing platform. Netlify has Edge Functions and Blobs, but the ecosystem is smaller. If you want to build beyond a static site, Cloudflare offers more tools.

Framework support. Both platforms support all major static site generators and frameworks. Netlify's build plugins add framework-specific optimizations. Cloudflare's build system is newer but supports the same frameworks. Neither has a significant advantage here for typical projects.

When to Choose Netlify

• You want built-in form handling without setting up a backend
• Split testing between branches matters for your project
• You prefer an all-in-one platform with less configuration
• Your traffic is predictable and stays under 100GB per month
• You value Netlify's mature ecosystem and extensive documentation

When to Choose Cloudflare Pages

• Bandwidth costs concern you and you want unlimited for free
• You want to leverage Cloudflare Workers for edge server logic
• You need the broader Cloudflare ecosystem (R2, KV, D1)
• Your site could experience unpredictable traffic spikes
• You want near-zero cold starts on serverless functions

The Verdict

Cloudflare Pages has become the stronger choice for most solo developers. Unlimited free bandwidth removes the biggest anxiety of hosting content sites, and the broader Cloudflare ecosystem gives you room to grow. Workers are faster than Netlify Functions, and the pricing stays lower as you scale.

Netlify still wins if you want built-in conveniences like form handling and split testing without extra configuration. For a simple marketing site or portfolio where you just want to deploy and forget, Netlify's all-in-one approach is easier.

My recommendation: Cloudflare Pages for new projects. The unlimited bandwidth alone justifies the switch, and the Workers platform gives you a path to adding server-side features without changing providers. Netlify is a fine choice, but Cloudflare offers more value for less money in 2026.