StaticHero vs GitHub Pages
StaticHero vs GitHub Pages
GitHub Pages is a free, reliable host for sites that live in a Git repository. StaticHero is for people who want to publish files directly — and need forms, analytics or privacy along the way.
- Best for (StaticHero)
- Drag-and-drop sites
- Best for (GitHub Pages)
- Open-source project docs that already live on GitHub
- Forms & analytics
- Built into StaticHero
- Facts checked
- October 2026
In short
GitHub Pages is best if your site already lives in a public GitHub repository and you’re comfortable with Git: it’s free, supports custom domains and builds Jekyll sites automatically. StaticHero is better if you want to publish by drag-and-drop or paste without Git, need built-in form handling, analytics, password protection or version rollback in a dashboard, or want to host from a private project without a paid GitHub plan.
Updated
At a glance
Both serve static files over HTTPS. The difference is the workflow: GitHub Pages publishes from a repository; StaticHero publishes from your desktop, browser or AI tool.
| StaticHero | GitHub Pages | |
|---|---|---|
| How you publish | Drag & drop, paste code, in-browser editor | Git push to a repository (or Actions workflow) |
| Git knowledge needed | No | Yes |
| Free plan | 1 site, 10 MB | Free for public repositories |
| Custom domain | Paid plans | Free |
| Contact forms | Built in (50/mo free) | Not included (third-party service) |
| Analytics | Built in, cookieless (paid) | Not included |
| Password protection | Yes (paid plans) | Not available for public Pages |
| Rollback | 3–200 versions, 1-click rollback | Revert commits in Git |
| Site size limit | 10 MB – 2 GB by plan | 1 GB published site |
| Bandwidth | Fair use | 100 GB/month soft limit |
| Commercial use | Allowed | Not intended as free hosting for online businesses or SaaS |
Competitor details checked October 2026 from public documentation and pricing pages. Plans change — please verify on GitHub Pages’s site.
Choose GitHub Pages if…
- Open-source project docs that already live on GitHub.
- You want free custom domains and you’re happy using Git.
- You rely on Jekyll building your site on push.
Choose StaticHero if…
- You don’t use Git, or the files came from a designer, template or AI tool.
- You need a contact form, analytics or a password without extra services.
- You want one-click rollback and an editor in the browser.
- You’re building client or business sites and want one dashboard for all of them.
Moving from GitHub Pages to StaticHero
- 01
Download your site
Clone the repository or download it as a ZIP from GitHub. For Jekyll sites, run
bundle exec jekyll buildand use_site/. - 02
Upload to StaticHero
Drop the folder or ZIP into a new site.
- 03
Move your domain
Update your DNS records to StaticHero and remove the CNAME file from the repo.
Workflow is the real difference
With GitHub Pages, your site is a repository. Every change is a commit, which is wonderful for developers and documentation teams and confusing for everyone else. StaticHero treats a site as a set of files you can drop, paste or edit — and still keeps a version history so nothing is lost.
Many developers use both: GitHub Pages for project docs, StaticHero for landing pages, client previews and things generated by AI tools.
Forms, analytics and privacy
GitHub Pages serves files and nothing else, so forms, analytics and access control require third-party services and scripts. StaticHero includes a form backend, cookieless analytics and password protection, configured from the same dashboard.
Is GitHub Pages free?
+
Yes, for public repositories on GitHub Free, and for private repositories on paid GitHub plans.
Can I use GitHub Pages and StaticHero together?
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Yes. Many people keep docs on GitHub Pages and host marketing pages or prototypes on StaticHero.
Does StaticHero deploy from GitHub?
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An official GitHub Action is in early access. Today you upload the build folder via the dashboard.
Your site could be live in the next minute.
One site free, forever. No credit card, no setup, no servers.