Side by side
Easel vs Netlify
Both stand on preview environment software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APIWeb
Choose Easel if your JavaScript team wants GitHub-based previews and production deployment, with CDN delivery and deployment observability. Look elsewhere if you need custom domains or cannot join a private beta.
Visit Easel
Free plan APIWeb
Netlify combines app development, deployment previews, backend features, and global delivery. Its hard limits and account-wide pause behavior make usage planning important.
Visit NetlifyThe facts
| Easel | Netlify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Web | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Personal: $9 a month |
| Plans published | 3 | 9 |
| Maker | Not published | Netlify |
| Website | easel.sh | netlify.com |
| On preview environment software | #8 of 38 | #12 of 38 |
Easel: what it does well
- Preview URLs are generated for each Git push.
- Deployments can be promoted as immutable releases.
- Global CDN includes managed TLS and framework-aware caching.
- Observability includes logs, spans, OpenTelemetry, and function metrics.
- Security options include WAF rules and DDoS mitigation.
What to know first
- The service is in private beta.
- Hobby usage is capped by monthly allowances.
- Unused included usage does not roll over.
- Custom domains are not available.
Netlify: what it does well
- Agent Runners can create projects from prompts.
- Includes serverless functions, databases, authentication, and storage.
- Creates preview URLs for branches, pull requests, and agent runs.
- Global edge network has 100+ locations.
- Free plan includes 300 monthly credits.
What to know first
- Free-plan monthly limits are hard limits.
- Reaching usage limits pauses a site until the next billing cycle.
- One project's overage can pause all account projects.
- Free plan includes one concurrent build and one team owner.
Alternatives to Easel Alternatives to Netlify The whole list