Netlify alternative
The Netlify alternative
for your whole stack.Selfhost.dev runs your whole stack, frontend, backend, and database, on one dedicated server you control: deploy from GitHub with auto-deploy and SSL, billed pay-as-you-go that pauses at zero. It is the full-stack Netlify alternative. Netlify is great for static and Jamstack frontends, but your backend, jobs, and database live elsewhere and function plus bandwidth costs add up; here it is one owned server and one predictable bill.
Jamstack frontends and real backends. On a server you control.
The short answer
Great for frontends.
Not for your whole backend.
- Your project is a static or Jamstack frontend and edge delivery is the priority.
- You want the polished Netlify build, preview, and forms workflow.
- You do not need a persistent backend, jobs, or a database on the same box.
- You want your frontend, backend, and database together on one server you control.
- You want predictable prepaid billing that pauses at zero, not function and bandwidth bill growth.
- You want dedicated managed databases (Postgres, MySQL, Redis, ClickHouse) with BYOC, plus a 150+ tool AI control plane.
Credit where due
What Netlify gets right.
Netlify pioneered the modern frontend build-and-deploy flow. For static and Jamstack sites it is fast and frictionless.
Static assets are served from a global CDN, close to your users.
Git-based builds, deploy previews, forms, and edge functions make frontend workflows smooth.
Where it falls short
Why teams outgrow
Netlify.
Backends, workers, and databases live elsewhere, so a full app means stitching together several services and bills.
Serverless function usage and bandwidth overages can grow unpredictably as traffic rises.
There is no real server to run a persistent backend on, and no bring-your-own-cloud.
Netlify-specific functions and add-ons make migrating away harder over time.
Side by side
Netlify vs Selfhost.dev.
| Feature | Netlify | Selfhost.dev |
|---|---|---|
| Jamstack / static frontend DX | Best in class | Solid, on your server |
| Global edge network / CDN | Yes, worldwide | Single-region server |
| Backend + long-running jobs on the same box | No | Yes |
| A real server you control | No | Yes, dedicated |
| Dedicated managed databases (Postgres, MySQL, Redis, ClickHouse) | Marketplace add-ons only | Full managed product |
| Bring your own cloud (AWS) | No | Yes, BYOC |
| Pricing model | Usage + bandwidth | Prepaid credits, pause at zero |
| AI / MCP control plane | None first-party | 150+ first-party tools |
Comparison reflects typical Netlify usage as of 2026. Features and pricing change often, so check the latest from each provider before you decide.
Why switch to Selfhost.dev
The control you want.
None of the operations.
Run your site, API, workers, and database on one project server instead of a frontend host plus external services.
A dedicated project server you can see and control, with live metrics and logs.
Dedicated managed PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, or ClickHouse with PITR and pooling on the SQL engines and Multi-AZ across all, or BYOC on your own AWS.
Prepaid credits with a visible balance, and resources that pause at zero instead of metering bandwidth against you.
Auto-deploy on push, PR previews, and SSL, on infrastructure you control.
Manage deploys, domains, and databases from your editor with 150+ MCP tools.
When a frontend host is not enough
Netlify shines for static and Jamstack sites. The moment you need a persistent backend, scheduled jobs, and a database, you are running several services. On Selfhost.dev those share one server, 40 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, that you control and can fill.
Worried about the switch itself? Apps move by pointing at your repo and pasting a .env. Databases move with standard tooling (dump and restore, or logical replication), and you can stand the new instance up and test it before flipping traffic. Nothing proprietary in, nothing proprietary out.
See the proof.
Being honest
Other Netlify alternatives.
We think Selfhost.dev wins when you want control, a managed database, and AI ops in one place. If your priorities differ, here are the honest options worth a look, or browse all our PaaS and self-hosting alternatives.
The other leading frontend cloud, especially for Next.js, with the same frontend-first scope.
Best for: Next.js and frontend cloud.
Strong edge hosting for static and edge-rendered sites if the edge is what matters most.
Best for: edge-first static sites.
A managed PaaS for full apps, easier for backends, but still hides the server.
Best for: full apps without managing a server.