When you collaborate with clients on projects like ecommerce websites or online portfolios, it can be a lot. There are looming deadlines, endless revisions, and tons of last-minute changes. That’s why developers need a cloud hosting platform they can rely on; one that works efficiently, deploys code changes fast, and easily integrates with all your dev tools.
That’s where Netlify comes in. Trusted by thousands of agencies worldwide, our free tier lets you deliver production-quality sites without upfront risk and costs. Whether you’re a freelancer or part of an established agency, Netlify supports fast deployments, flexible workflows, and professional client collaboration.Our free cloud hosting service allows you to deliver production-grade output without the upfront costs.
It supports fast deployments, flexible workflows, and a polished developer experience. Here’s how it supports efficient development and client collaboration:
How free cloud hosting improves client project workflows
Many businesses don’t have the budget to host a website that isn’t even live yet. As a workaround, dev teams are forced to set up clunky local demos, share files and screenshots manually for client approval, or worst of all, pay out of pocket for a temporary website host. Not only are these options a hassle for devs, but they also slow down the feedback cycle with the client.
A free cloud hosting platform helps eliminate these obstacles. You get a place to host your project, even during early development stages or prototyping, and you get to do it without financial pressure or worrying about a complicated infrastructure. It gives you an opportunity to run all kinds of tests and see previews of what the actual site will look like, so there’s no need for screenshots and complex stacks.
Why use Netlify’s free cloud hosting service for your projects
Netlify’s cloud hosting and automation platform has plenty of premium packages for big dev teams working on complex infrastructures with large enterprises. But there’s also a free tier that has everything a developer needs to service a client smoothly and professionally.
When you deploy the project you’re building for a client onto our cloud hosting network, there’s no upfront cost to deploy. You can give your client a working version in a live preview environment of the site or app and let them test the functionality in a production-like environment.
And when your client’s page is live and has higher bandwidth demands, you can then upgrade to the paid plan without migrating the entire site’s infrastructure to another hosting platform. You cut down on costs while delivering a speedy, high-quality project, by using Netlify’s automated build and deploy pipeline.
Key features of Netlify’s free hosting service
But what exactly makes Netlify’s free cloud hosting great for client projects? Here are just some of the many features you and your clients will find helpful.
Custom domains for a professional touch
Using a branded domain name during development gives your client a clearer view of the final product. Netlify lets you connect a custom domain to your client project, even if the site isn’t live yet. That means you can deploy product-grade URLs without having to work with a DNS provider. This makes your projects, even just prototypes, look professional and polished, allowing you to build trust with your clients.
Deploy previews for easy reviews
When you host your project on Netlify, you don’t have to stage a server or take dozens of screenshots to manually send your WIP to the client. Netlify provides live preview links that you can easily send to your clients to get them to see where the project is at. All they have to do is click on the link, test out certain elements as if it were a production-level site, validate all the live changes, and leave actionable feedback. This streamlines the review process and keeps feedback cycles short.
Automatic deployments from Git pushes
Netlify has integrations with Git repos that automatically update and deploy changes to your site whenever you push new commits. Because we take care of continuous deployment, you don’t have to go through the hassle of manually changing the site’s infrastructure. As a result, you get faster iteration cycles, fewer mistakes, and changes are visible immediately with zero downtime. Clients can also see these changes quickly, helping your client see changes as soon as they happen.
Built-in HTTPS for secure connections
Secure, encrypted sites build trust between you and your client. Netlify includes automatic SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt on the free plan, ensuring secure HTTPS connections without manual configuration.
Because it’s built into our system, you don’t have to manually generate certs or spend extra money on third-party SSL.
Rollback options with instant changes
Did you make a mistake in your latest deployment, or did a bug ruin your styling? You can revert a project to a previous successful build through Netlify’s one-click rollbacks. That means if you have a bad build, you can instantly “undo” it without any downtime or scrambling for emergency patches.
Site analytics for insightful learnings
Netlify offers site analytics as a paid add-on that can be enabled even on the free tier. This allows you to see metrics such as traffic, page views, reach, top locations, and top sources, all built into the platform. With this feature, you don’t have to rely on third-party tools like Google Analytics.
You can use these insights to send reports to your client to show them how the page is performing. The data can also be useful for A/B testing and optimizing the site as you go.
When is it time to upgrade to Netlify Pro?
While our free cloud hosting service already has everything you need to prototype and launch client websites and apps, you always have the option to upgrade to Pro to improve collaboration scale the project. You may want to upgrade if your project requires:
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Need more bandwidth or build minutes: The free tier includes generous limits for most client projects, but paid plans dramatically increase both bandwidth and build minutes for high-traffic sites or projects with frequent deployments.
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Need to password-protect your projects: The Pro plan supports password-protected sites for added privacy during development.
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Have an organization-owned private Git repo: If your dev team works with an organization that has a private Git repo, our Pro plan allows you to connect it to Netlify.
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You’re working with a larger dev team: The Pro plan has plenty of team-focused features, such as audit logs and shared environment variables. It helps teams stay coordinated through shared configuration and logging tools.
Level up your client projects with Netlify
When you’re working on collaborative projects, you can’t afford to miss deadlines and disappoint clients with buggy work and manual screenshots.
Help your prototypes reflect production quality and make it easier for clients to give feedback by hosting your projects on Netlify’s free cloud hosting service. It supports faster deployment and rapid iteration, and keeps your websites safe and secure, all for free.
Netlify’s cloud hosting can improve how you deliver and iterate on client work. Start building on Netlify’s free tier and streamline your next client project.