Where should your site be hosted?

Technically speaking it is not so much hosting, but Functions as a Service (FaaS) you are choosing between.

Functions as a service, FaaS, is most likely the most interacted with serverless product on the market. Function execution platforms really gained rise as more people got tired of setting up full containerized environments for simple code execution. The costs, overall maintenance, and cascading consequences of failures meant more people were looking for a lean context to execute one-off workers in the cloud.

Source: [https://hasura.io/blog/choosing-a-faas-function-as-a-service-provider/] (https://hasura.io/blog/choosing-a-faas-function-as-a-service-provider/)

Fortunately, in front-end deployment, there are a number of hosting providers that are blurring the boundaries between host and FaaS provider which gives front-end developers an ever-expanding toolset without sacrificing focus. Today, the big vendors of note in this space are Vercel, Gatsby, and Netlify.

Source: [https://hasura.io/blog/comparing-serverless-functions-providers-vercel-vs-netlify-vs-gatsby-cloud/] (https://hasura.io/blog/comparing-serverless-functions-providers-vercel-vs-netlify-vs-gatsby-cloud/)

Netlify

Netlify takes a different approach to the USP by focusing on value-add. On top of serverless functions and edge execution, they additionally offer packaged auth, large object management, and form handling. These are very common use cases for serverless functions that are pre-made, qualifying Netlify as the most “FaaS platformesque” of the three.

Vercel

The Vercel functions USP can’t be properly explained without mentioning the powerhouse of frameworks that is NextJS. If you want to build a website with Javascript and Typescript, you won’t find a concept NextJS can’t handle. It is as simple as that. Being able to code API handlers, webhook handlers, and edge middleware – all within the same codebase as your website – with integrated local development, environment management, and deployment CLIs, Vercel is the Apple of FaaS providers. They simply get the ecosystem right.

Gatsby Cloud

Gatsby’s USP is that it is simple to integrate with. It scales well and is tailor-made to work with Gatsby websites. While that might sound limited, Gatsby single-handedly owns the brand game around static sites right now, with name recognition for anyone else in the static website space trailing by a mile. For customers dead set on Gatsby for a static site, Gatsby Cloud Functions will let them stay in that ecosystem without adding extra complexity.

Making a choice

Making a choice between these providers can be a difficult job. We mostly use Netlify. But based on your front-end platform, performance needs, and pricing another platform may be a better fit. Another consideration is if you would like us to maintain your website or if you wish for your website to be under complete management of your own people.

We can always help you to do the analysis that fits your use-case best. in most use-cases it is perfectly fine to choose Netlify.

Where should your site be hosted?

Netlify

Vercel

Gatsby Cloud

Making a choice

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