Netlify vs Fly.io for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Netlify Overview

Netlify made deploying static sites so simple that it changed how we think about frontend hosting. Connect your GitHub repo, configure a build command, and your site is live on a global CDN. Preview deployments for every pull request, built-in form handling, and serverless functions for light backend work. For static content, the developer experience is excellent.

I've had Netlify projects running for over a year on the free tier without issues. The 100GB bandwidth and 300 build minutes cover most solo projects easily. When you need a contact form, Netlify handles it without a separate backend. When you need a redirect, you drop a _redirects file and it works. Simple stuff done simply.

The limitations show up when you need more than static hosting. Netlify's serverless functions have cold starts, execution time limits, and no persistent connections. If your project outgrows JAMstack, you'll need to bring in another platform for the backend.

Fly.io Overview

Fly.io takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of hosting static files on a CDN, it runs your application in lightweight VMs (called Machines) distributed across data centers worldwide. You package your app in a Docker container, and Fly deploys it close to your users. Your API can run in Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Chicago simultaneously.

I tested Fly.io for a side project that needed low-latency API responses across different regions. The flyctl CLI is well-designed, and deploying a Dockerfile was straightforward after the initial setup. The free tier gives you enough resources for small projects, though the pricing model takes some getting used to.

Fly.io's learning curve is steeper than managed platforms. You're working with Machines, volumes, internal networking, and a CLI-first workflow. It's not hard, but it's more hands-on than clicking "Deploy" on Netlify. For solo developers who are comfortable with Docker and CLIs, it's powerful. For those who just want a site live, it's overkill.

Key Differences

Deployment model. Netlify deploys static assets to a CDN. Fly.io runs your application in containers at the edge. These are entirely different paradigms. Netlify is for content you build once and serve. Fly.io is for applications that need to run code on every request.

Global distribution. Both serve content globally, but differently. Netlify caches your static output at CDN edges. Fly.io actually runs your backend code at edges. If your API needs to be fast everywhere, Fly.io's approach wins. If you're serving HTML and CSS, Netlify's CDN is more efficient.

Database and storage. Fly.io can run Postgres, Redis, and persistent volumes alongside your app. Netlify has no native database support. For full-stack projects, Fly.io is self-contained. On Netlify, you'd need Supabase, Neon, or another managed database.

Pricing at rest. Netlify's free tier costs nothing for a deployed static site that gets no traffic. Fly.io Machines can be set to auto-stop when idle, but persistent services like databases still accumulate costs. For projects that sit idle between bursts of traffic, Netlify is cheaper.

CLI vs dashboard. Netlify's dashboard is polished and handles most tasks. Fly.io is CLI-first. You'll spend most of your time in the terminal with flyctl. Some developers prefer this. Others find it tedious for simple operations.

Serverless vs persistent. Netlify functions are request-response only. Fly.io runs persistent processes, so you can handle WebSockets, background jobs, and long-lived connections. If you need a real backend, not just API endpoints, Fly.io is the platform.

When to Choose Netlify

• You're deploying a static site, blog, or client-rendered SPA
• Simplicity matters more than infrastructure control
• Built-in form handling replaces the need for a backend
• Your backend exists elsewhere and you only need frontend hosting
• You want zero cost for low-traffic projects

When to Choose Fly.io

• You're running a full-stack app that needs global low-latency
• Your backend needs persistent connections like WebSockets
• You want your API running in multiple regions close to users
• You're comfortable with Docker and CLI-based workflows
• You need co-located databases and application servers

The Verdict

Netlify and Fly.io overlap very little in practice. Netlify is a static site platform with serverless extras. Fly.io is an edge application platform for running real backend services globally.

If your project is a frontend that consumes an external API, Netlify is the easier and cheaper choice. The free tier is hard to beat for static content, and the deploy experience is best-in-class.

If you're building something that needs a backend, especially one that should be fast for users in different regions, Fly.io offers capabilities that Netlify simply doesn't have. The tradeoff is more complexity and a steeper learning curve.

For most solo developers, the decision comes down to whether your project needs a persistent backend process. No backend? Netlify. Backend? Look at Fly.io, Railway, or Render depending on how much infrastructure control you want.