Vercel is the go-to for Next.js, but if you just need free static site hosting without framework lock-in, HTMLaunch gets you live in seconds with a single GitHub sign-in.
| Feature | HTMLaunch | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free – always | Free (non-commercial only) |
| Setup time | ~30 seconds | 5–15 minutes |
| Sign-in | One-click GitHub | ✓ GitHub / GitLab + project setup |
| CLI required | ✗ No | ✓ vercel CLI |
| Multi-file / ZIP upload | ✓ Yes | ✗ Git-based only |
| Custom domain | ✗ Not yet | ✓ Yes |
| Works inside Claude | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Open source | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
One-click GitHub sign-in, no Git knowledge needed. Vercel ties every deployment to a GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket account and requires you to create a project, link a repo, and configure build settings. HTMLaunch takes a single GitHub sign-in click, with no project setup, no repository to create, no Git commands. Your files deploy straight to your own GitHub account, so you own everything with zero vendor lock-in.
Truly free for any use. Vercel’s free Hobby plan explicitly prohibits commercial use. If you’re building a landing page for a client, a small business site, or a paid product, you technically need Vercel Pro ($20/month). HTMLaunch has no usage restrictions.
Plain HTML, no framework needed. Vercel is optimised for Next.js and framework-based projects. If you’re deploying a simple HTML page, a student project, or an AI-generated site, HTMLaunch is purpose-built for that workflow without the overhead.
AI-native deployment. HTMLaunch works directly inside Claude and other AI tools. Generate a site from a prompt and deploy it in the same conversation. No context-switching to a separate platform.
Next.js and React frameworks. Vercel is built by the creators of Next.js. If your project uses server-side rendering, API routes, or incremental static regeneration, Vercel is the natural home for it.
Edge functions and serverless. Vercel’s edge network runs server-side code globally with near-zero latency. HTMLaunch is purely static, so there’s no compute layer.
Preview deployments and team workflows. For teams that need automatic preview URLs on every pull request, branch-based environments, and role-based access, Vercel’s git integration is hard to beat.
One-click GitHub sign-in. Your files, your account. Live in 30 seconds.
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