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Cloudflare Pages vs. GitHub Pages vs. Vercel
Compare three code-first deployment platforms by commercial-use terms, static-site limits, and the practical work they ask of a small business.
Quick answer
For a commercial static business site, Cloudflare Pages is the clearest free-plan starting point in this comparison because it permits hosted projects, includes static asset delivery without per-request charges, and supports custom domains. GitHub Pages is strong for simple repository-based static sites but has service limits. Vercel Hobby is explicitly for personal, non-commercial use, so do not use that free tier for a business site.
Sources: Cloudflare, GitHub, Vercel
The practical comparison
This comparison is for code-based static sites. Prices and quotas are provider-published figures checked 15 July 2026 and may change.
| Provider | Best for | Starting cost | Key limitation | Scout verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Pages | A commercial static site with a technical publishing workflow. | Static asset requests are free and unlimited; Free allows 500 builds per month. | Pages Functions use Workers quotas; an apex custom domain requires Cloudflare nameservers. | Best free-tier fit here for a commercial static site when the DNS requirement is acceptable. |
| GitHub Pages | A small repository-based static site where the documented Pages limits are comfortable. | No separate hosting price is listed in the Pages limits; published sites have a 1 GB limit and a 100 GB/month soft bandwidth limit. | Repository visibility and account plan affect availability; Pages has documented soft build and bandwidth limits. | Good for a small, simple static site when GitHub is already your publishing workflow. |
| Vercel | A business willing to use an eligible paid plan for a modern web application workflow. | Hobby is US$0/month, but it is personal and non-commercial. Pro is listed at US$20/month plus applicable usage. | The free Hobby plan is not appropriate for a commercial business site. | Do not choose Hobby for a business. Budget for Pro only if Vercel’s workflow is the right fit. |
The commercial-use rule changes the shortlist
Vercel’s pricing page describes Hobby as a personal, non-commercial plan. That makes it the wrong free tier for a client or small-business website, regardless of technical convenience.
Cloudflare Pages and GitHub Pages are both capable of serving static sites. The better choice depends on how you publish, the limits you can live with, and the amount of platform administration you want to take on.
Sources: Vercel pricing and plan eligibility, Cloudflare Pages overview, About custom domains and GitHub Pages
Use a custom domain with the DNS requirements in mind
GitHub Pages supports apex and subdomain custom domains. Cloudflare Pages supports custom domains too, but an apex domain must be a Cloudflare zone using Cloudflare nameservers; a subdomain can instead point to the Pages site with a CNAME after it is associated in the Pages dashboard.
That DNS distinction matters if you want to keep a separate DNS provider. Decide it before moving nameservers or publishing email records.
Sources: About custom domains and GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages custom domains
Choose the platform that matches your maintenance capacity
These are deployment platforms, not do-it-for-you website builders. They suit a business that has a developer, a technical operator, or a stable site generator workflow. If nobody can safely update the site, a managed builder can cost less in staff time even when its subscription is higher.
Recheck platform limits before a launch or a major campaign. Cloudflare documents build, file, function, and redirect limits, while GitHub documents soft size, bandwidth, and build limits.
Sources: Cloudflare Pages limits, GitHub Pages limits
Sources checked 15 July 2026
Primary documentation used for this guide. Product terms, prices, and government rules can change, so follow the linked source for the current version.
- Cloudflare Pages overview · Cloudflare
- Cloudflare Pages pricing · Cloudflare
- Cloudflare Pages limits · Cloudflare
- Cloudflare Pages custom domains · Cloudflare
- GitHub Pages limits · GitHub
- About custom domains and GitHub Pages · GitHub
- Vercel pricing and plan eligibility · Vercel