November 14, 2025 · MarketReviews Team
🌐 How to Deploy a Website in 2025 (GitHub Pages, Netlify, and Vercel Guide)
So you’ve built your website — but how do you put it online for the world to see?
In 2025, deploying a website is easier than ever. You can publish static sites, personal portfolios, or web apps for free, using powerful platforms like GitHub Pages, Netlify, and Vercel.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll cover:
- The concept of website deployment
- How to deploy a site with each major free platform
- Key differences between GitHub Pages, Netlify, and Vercel
- Pro tips for custom domains, SSL, and CI/CD workflows
🧭 Table of Contents
- What Does “Deploy a Website” Mean?
- Before You Start: Prerequisites
- Option 1: Deploy with GitHub Pages (Free & Simple)
- Option 2: Deploy with Netlify (Beginner-Friendly)
- Option 3: Deploy with Vercel (For Modern Frameworks)
- GitHub Pages vs Netlify vs Vercel (2025 Comparison)
- Connecting a Custom Domain
- Using HTTPS (SSL Certificates)
- CI/CD: Automatic Redeployment Made Easy
- Common Deployment Errors (and Fixes)
- FAQs
- Conclusion: Your Website, Live in Minutes
🌍 What Does “Deploy a Website” Mean?
Deployment means taking your local project files (HTML, CSS, JS, images, etc.) and publishing them on a web server so they can be accessed via a URL.
For example:
Local file → index.html
Online → [https://yourname.github.io/](https://yourname.github.io/)
In 2025, developers and designers deploy websites using hosting platforms that automate this process — no manual server setup required.
🧰 Before You Start: Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have:
- A complete website folder (
index.html, CSS, JS, etc.) - A GitHub account (for GitHub Pages)
- Basic familiarity with git or drag-and-drop upload
- Optional: a custom domain name if you want your own
.com
⚙️ Option 1: Deploy with GitHub Pages (Free & Simple)
GitHub Pages is one of the easiest free options for hosting static websites — perfect for portfolios, documentation, or personal projects.
Step 1: Create a Repository
- Go to https://github.com/new
- Name it
<username>.github.io(replace<username>with your GitHub username) - Click Create Repository
Step 2: Upload Your Files
You can either:
- Drag and drop your site files into the repo manually, or
- Push them via Git:
git init git add . git commit -m "Initial commit" git branch -M main git remote add origin https://github.com/<username>/<username>.github.io.git git push -u origin main
Step 3: Enable GitHub Pages
- In your repository, go to Settings → Pages
- Under “Build and Deployment”, choose
mainbranch →/root - Save — GitHub will automatically deploy your site
✅ Your site will be live at:
https://<username>.github.io/
Official Docs: GitHub Pages Guide
🚀 Option 2: Deploy with Netlify (Beginner-Friendly)
Netlify is a no-code, drag-and-drop hosting solution that supports continuous deployment directly from GitHub.
Step 1: Sign Up
Go to https://app.netlify.com/signup and log in with GitHub or email.
Step 2: Connect Your Repository
- Click “Add New Site” → “Import an Existing Project”
- Choose your GitHub repo and branch
- Netlify auto-detects your build settings (e.g. React, Astro, HTML)
Step 3: Deploy
Click Deploy Site — within seconds, your project is online at:
https://your-site-name.netlify.app/
Step 4: Add a Custom Domain (Optional)
- In the dashboard, go to Domain Settings → Add Custom Domain
- Enter your purchased domain (e.g., myportfolio.dev)
- Update DNS records (Netlify provides instructions)
Step 5: Enable HTTPS
Netlify provides free SSL via Let’s Encrypt.
✅ Ideal for portfolios, landing pages, and static front-ends.
Official Docs: Netlify Docs
⚡ Option 3: Deploy with Vercel (For Modern Frameworks)
Vercel is built for Next.js, React, and modern frameworks — but also works for static sites.
Step 1: Sign In
Visit https://vercel.com/signup and connect your GitHub or GitLab.
Step 2: Import Project
Click “New Project” → “Import Git Repository”.
Vercel automatically detects:
- Next.js, React, Vue, or Astro apps
- Static sites with
index.html
Step 3: Configure & Deploy
- Select your repository and branch
- Click Deploy
- Done! Your site is live at:
https://your-project-name.vercel.app/
Step 4: Add Custom Domain
- In Settings → Domains → Add
- Add your custom domain and verify DNS
- SSL activates automatically
✅ Ideal for devs using frameworks, APIs, or SSR apps.
Official Docs: Vercel Deployment Guide
⚖️ GitHub Pages vs Netlify vs Vercel (2025 Comparison)
| Feature | GitHub Pages | Netlify | Vercel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free + Pro plans | Free + Pro plans |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Supports Frameworks | Static only | React, Vue, Svelte, etc. | Next.js, React, Astro |
| Custom Domain | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Build from Git | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Portfolios, docs | Static sites, JAMstack | Full-stack apps |
🧠 Verdict:
- Beginners → GitHub Pages
- Designers/marketers → Netlify
- Framework developers → Vercel
🔗 Connecting a Custom Domain
If you own a domain (e.g., myname.dev):
- Buy it from a registrar like Namecheap or Google Domains.
- Add DNS records from your hosting provider’s instructions.
- Wait up to 24 hours for propagation.
All three platforms (GitHub, Netlify, Vercel) provide built-in SSL.
🔒 Using HTTPS (SSL Certificates)
Modern browsers mark non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure.” Thankfully, all three hosting services automatically issue SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt.
If you’re self-hosting, check out Let’s Encrypt’s official docs.
🔁 CI/CD: Automatic Redeployment Made Easy
CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment.
Whenever you:
- Push new code to GitHub,
- Netlify or Vercel automatically redeploy your site.
This means your site always reflects the latest version of your codebase.
🧩 Common Deployment Errors (and Fixes)
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Not Found | Wrong build path | Check your index.html location or build folder |
| Site not updating | Cache issue | Clear browser cache or Netlify build cache |
| Custom domain not working | DNS not propagated | Wait 24 hours / check via whatsmydns.net |
| Build failed | Missing dependencies | Run npm install before deploy |
| SSL error | Mixed content | Use https:// for all assets |
❓ FAQs
1. Can I deploy dynamic (backend) sites on these platforms? Yes — Vercel and Netlify support serverless functions. GitHub Pages only supports static sites.
2. Are all these platforms free? All three offer free tiers, ideal for small projects and portfolios.
3. Which one is best for beginners? GitHub Pages — simple, reliable, and no build config required.
4. Can I use custom domains like .com or .dev?
Absolutely! You just need to configure DNS properly.
5. How long does deployment take? Usually under 1 minute for static sites, 1–3 minutes for framework builds.
🏁 Conclusion: Your Website, Live in Minutes
Deploying a website in 2025 doesn’t require servers or complex setups anymore. With tools like GitHub Pages, Netlify, and Vercel, you can go from a local folder to a live URL in minutes — completely free.
Whether you’re a developer, designer, or student, learning how to deploy your projects is a skill that’ll make your work truly visible to the world.
So take that project off your laptop — and put it online today. 🌍🚀