A Netlify alternative for pages, not platforms
BetaDrop is a free Netlify alternative for plain static pages: drag a .zip of built files — or a single index.html — and get a live HTTPS URL in seconds. No build pipeline to configure, no deploy minutes, and no credit meter to watch.
Netlify is a genuinely capable platform, and for an application — builds, deploy previews, serverless functions — it earns its complexity. What changed is the free tier's shape: new accounts since late 2025 draw from a monthly pool of credits that deploys, bandwidth and functions all spend together. For an app team that is a reasonable model. For one static page that changes twice a year, it is a meter attached to a file — and that is the case this page is about.
BetaDrop vs Netlify
| Feature | BetaDrop | Netlify |
|---|---|---|
| How a page goes live | Drag a .zip or index.html | Git integration or drag-and-drop, then a deploy |
| Build pipeline | None — you upload built files | Full CI: build image, minutes, config |
| Free-tier model | Flat limits, no meter | 300 credits/month (new accounts, 2026): a deploy spends 15, bandwidth 20 per GB |
| Free per-deploy size | 100 MB | No fixed per-deploy size; deploys spend credits |
| Free storage | 1 GB | 10 GB |
| Free-tier site lifetime | 30 days + 1 free renewal, permanent on paid | No expiry, within the credit allowance |
| Serverless functions | No — static files only | Yes |
| Deploy previews | No | Yes |
| Custom domain on free | Not yet — free HTTPS subdomain today | Yes |
| HTTPS | Automatic | Automatic |
Netlify figures reflect the credit-based free plan for accounts created after September 2025, as published August 2026; accounts older than that keep the legacy 100 GB / 300-build-minute plan. Pricing models shift — check Netlify's own pricing page before deciding on numbers alone.
When Netlify is the better choice
- Your site has a build. React, Vite, Hugo, Astro with CI on every push — Netlify runs the build; BetaDrop deliberately runs none.
- You need functions or forms. Anything server-side rules out a static-only host by definition.
- Deploy previews per pull request. A genuinely great workflow BetaDrop does not have.
- A custom domain on the free tier, today. Netlify has it; BetaDrop doesn't yet.
What a page-not-platform actually looks like
The clearest example is the trio every app-store submission needs — live URLs a reviewer will open: a privacy policy, a support page, and an account-deletion page. Three HTML files, no build, no functions, traffic measured in reviewer visits. Zip them, upload once, paste three URLs into App Store Connect and Play Console — done before a build pipeline would have finished configuring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Netlify still free?
Yes, but the shape changed. New accounts get a monthly allowance of credits rather than flat quotas: deploys, bandwidth and functions each spend from the same pool, so a page that redeploys often or gets a traffic spike consumes the month's allowance in ways the old 100 GB plan didn't. It remains a generous platform — the point is that free now requires keeping an eye on a meter.
When is BetaDrop the better choice over Netlify?
When you don't need a platform. Netlify earns its complexity for apps: build pipelines, deploy previews, serverless functions, redirect rules. For a static page that changes twice a year — a privacy policy, a support page, release notes, a demo — that machinery is overhead, and a credit meter is a strange thing to think about for one HTML file. BetaDrop is one upload and a URL.
Does BetaDrop run my build?
No, and deliberately: you upload the built output — the dist, build or out folder as a zip, or a single index.html. That removes build minutes, build images and build failures from the picture entirely. If you need a hosted build pipeline, Netlify genuinely is the better tool.
Does BetaDrop hosting expire?
Free sites stay live for a fixed window with one free renewal, then park — files are kept, and the URL comes back on renewal or upgrade; paid plans keep sites permanent while subscribed. Netlify's free sites do not expire, though heavy months can exhaust the credit allowance. Different trade-offs: a time window you can see versus a meter you have to watch.
Can I use a custom domain?
Netlify supports custom domains on the free tier, including HTTPS. BetaDrop free sites live at yourname.betadrop.site with HTTPS configured; custom domains are planned for the paid Studio tier but not available today. If that is the deciding feature, Netlify wins the row.
