Netlify vs Arweave

Netlify and Arweave aren't direct competitors, but teams comparing web hosting options weigh Netlify's subscription CI/CD platform against Arweave's pay-once permanent decentralized storage. This guide breaks down pricing, features, and when each makes sense.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Netlify

Git-based hosting and CI/CD for modern web apps

$0 - $19+/member/month

Strengths

+Git push-to-deploy with automatic CI/CD
+Serverless functions and edge functions built in
+Global CDN with free SSL and custom domains

Weaknesses

-Costs scale fast with bandwidth and build minutes
-Centralized infrastructure (built on AWS)
-Hosting stops if you stop paying or your account is suspended

Best for

Teams building and iterating on dynamic web apps who want CI/CD, previews, and serverless functions without managing infrastructure.

Arweave

Pay once, store your site permanently on a decentralized network

Pay-per-uploadone-time, per GB stored

Strengths

+One-time payment covers 200+ years of storage (endowment model)
+Fully decentralized and censorship-resistant
+No recurring hosting bill or surprise overage charges

Weaknesses

-No CI/CD, team roles, or deploy previews out of the box
-Requires setting up a crypto wallet and buying AR tokens
-Static content only — no native server-side rendering

Best for

Teams or individuals who want a static site, archive, or dataset stored permanently and resistant to takedown, and don't need active CI/CD workflows.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Netlify	Arweave
Deployment model	Git-based CI/CD, auto-deploy on push	Manual upload via CLI (arkb, ArDrive)
Free tier	Yes, 100GB bandwidth/month	None — every upload costs AR tokens
Pricing model	Monthly subscription per member	One-time pay-per-byte at upload
Data permanence	Hosted as long as account is active/paid	Permanent, backed by 200+ year storage endowment
Serverless functions	Yes, Netlify Functions and Edge Functions	Limited, experimental via AO compute layer
CDN	Global CDN included	Served via gateways (arweave.net, ar.io)
Custom domains + SSL	Free, one-click setup	Possible via ArNS or gateway DNS, more manual setup
Build system	300 free build minutes/month, paid tiers above	None — you build locally then upload
Team collaboration	Team roles, deploy previews, audit log	No native team/permission system
Decentralization / censorship resistance	Centralized (AWS-backed)	Fully decentralized network
Dynamic content / SSR	Full support	Static only
Versioning / rollback	One-click rollback to prior deploys	All versions permanent on-chain, no deletion

The Verdict

Netlify and Arweave aren't really substitutes — Netlify is a hosting and CI/CD platform, Arweave is a permanent storage protocol. If your team needs active development workflows, previews, and serverless functions, stick with Netlify. Only move to Arweave if permanence and censorship-resistance matter more than convenience and active tooling.

How to switch from Netlify to Arweave

1Export your build output from Netlify: download a ZIP of your current deploy from the Netlify dashboard's Deploys tab, or run your local build command to regenerate the static HTML/CSS/JS files.
2Set up an Arweave wallet (e.g. via ArConnect) and fund it with AR tokens from an exchange like Uphold or Binance.
3Install the ArDrive CLI or arkb, then upload your build folder as a manifest transaction to the Arweave permaweb.
4Configure ArNS or a gateway (arweave.net, ar.io) to give your site a readable name instead of a raw transaction ID.
5Rebuild your CI/CD by scripting GitHub Actions to run your build and then call arkb/ArDrive for upload on every push, replacing Netlify's automatic git-deploy.
6Test the live site through the gateway URL, update your DNS/CNAME records, and decommission the Netlify site once traffic is confirmed working.

Netlify vs Arweave: common questions

How do I export my site from Netlify to migrate to Arweave?+

Your source code already lives in your Git repository, so start there. For the built static output, download a ZIP of any deploy from the Netlify dashboard's Deploys tab, or run your build command locally (e.g. `npm run build`) to regenerate the same HTML/CSS/JS files ready for upload.

What do I lose by switching from Netlify to Arweave?+

You lose git-push deploys, deploy previews, one-click rollbacks, serverless functions, and team role management — Arweave has none of these natively. You'll need to rebuild your deploy pipeline yourself with scripts calling the ArDrive CLI or arkb.

Is Arweave's free tier enough for a small team?+

There is no free tier on Arweave — every upload requires AR tokens paid upfront based on file size. For a small static site (a few MB), the one-time cost is typically just a few dollars, but you need a funded wallet before you can deploy anything.

Does Arweave integrate with tools like GitHub Actions or a CMS?+

Not natively, but you can wire it up: use GitHub Actions to run your build step, then call the ArDrive CLI or arkb to upload the output as part of the workflow. Headless CMS integrations exist community-side (e.g. via ArDrive SDK) but require custom scripting versus Netlify's plug-and-play CMS integrations.

Is Arweave cheaper than Netlify over time?+

For a low-traffic static site that rarely changes, yes — you pay once and never again, versus Netlify's recurring $19+/member/month on paid plans. But if you update content frequently, each new version is a new permanent upload cost, and you lose the bandwidth/CDN convenience baked into Netlify's price.