When it comes to hosting frontend projects, two platforms regularly stand out — GitHub Pages and Vercel. Both are popular among developers for deploying static or framework-based sites quickly.
However, they cater to different needs:
- GitHub Pages is a straightforward, free hosting service tightly integrated with GitHub repositories.
- Vercel, created by the team behind Next.js, offers advanced features like serverless functions, edge deployment, and automatic scaling.
This guide compares their speed, pricing, features, and developer experience to help you choose the right one for your next project.
See Also: Cloudflare Pages vs Netlify: Which Is Better for Static and Jamstack Hosting?
GitHub Pages vs Vercel
| Feature | GitHub Pages | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Type | Static hosting (HTML, CSS, JS only) | Static & dynamic hosting with Edge and Functions |
| Deployment Workflow | Git push to main branch | Git integration with auto deploys & previews |
| Framework Support | Jekyll natively; others via build step | Full support for React, Next.js, Svelte, etc. |
| Free Tier & Pricing | 100% free, limited bandwidth | Free tier + usage-based Pro plans |
| Performance | Basic CDN via GitHub’s network | Global edge network optimized for speed |
| Best For | Simple static sites, portfolios, docs | Modern frameworks & production-grade apps |
Hosting & Performance
GitHub Pages was built for static websites — it serves prebuilt HTML, CSS, and JS directly from your repo’s /docs folder or gh-pages branch.
It’s perfect for portfolios, project documentation, and personal blogs. Performance is reliable but basic — it doesn’t support serverless functions or dynamic rendering.
Vercel, on the other hand, delivers content through a global edge network optimized for performance. It supports both static and hybrid rendering (ISR, SSR) and provides Edge Functions for dynamic logic.
If you’re running a Next.js site or any React-based SPA, Vercel automatically optimizes builds and caching out of the box.
See Also: Netlify vs Vercel: Which Is Better for React & Next.js
Developer Experience
GitHub Pages shines for simplicity. You can deploy a site directly from your repository — no dashboard required. It’s integrated tightly with GitHub Actions, so you can automate builds with workflows that publish static files on push.
Vercel, however, focuses on automation and developer productivity. With just one click, you can connect a GitHub repo, and every branch or pull request automatically generates a preview deployment.
Its dashboard provides build logs, analytics, environment variable management, and instant rollbacks. For teams building modern web apps, this seamless workflow saves hours.
Pricing and Scalability
GitHub Pages is completely free — no usage fees, bandwidth charges, or tier limits. That said, it has restrictions:
- No built-in analytics
- Limited to static content (no backend or dynamic rendering)
- No custom CI/CD beyond GitHub Actions
Vercel offers a free tier suitable for personal projects, and its Pro and Enterprise plans add enhanced bandwidth, analytics, and team collaboration features. It scales automatically as traffic grows, making it better for production-grade apps that demand uptime and flexibility.
See Also: Hosting Cost Comparison: Free vs Paid vs Cloud
Framework and Integration Support
GitHub Pages supports Jekyll out of the box, but you can host other static frameworks (like Astro, Hugo, or Gatsby) by building them locally and pushing the output. For React and Next.js, you’ll need a manual build pipeline with GitHub Actions.
Vercel detects frameworks automatically — React, Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Remix, Astro, and more. It provides zero-config builds, routing, and environment variable management. For most modern web stacks, Vercel “just works.”
Pros and Cons
GitHub Pages – Pros
- 100% free hosting for static sites
- Simple setup and Git-based deployment
- Perfect for documentation and portfolios
GitHub Pages – Cons
- No serverless or backend support
- Manual build setup for most frameworks
- Basic performance and analytics
Vercel – Pros
- Edge-optimized global performance
- Automatic deploy previews and rollbacks
- Built-in support for frameworks like Next.js
- Serverless functions and environment management
Vercel – Cons
- Usage-based billing at scale
- Overkill for simple static sites
Verdict
If you want a lightweight, free option to host static HTML, CSS, or documentation, GitHub Pages remains unbeatable for simplicity and reliability. But if you’re building React or Next.js applications that require speed, scalability, and modern developer tools, Vercel is the superior choice.
In short:
- Choose GitHub Pages for simplicity, open-source projects, or documentation.
- Choose Vercel for production apps with dynamic rendering, previews, and edge performance.