ArduMaker vs Netlify
Credits per deploy and traffic or a VPS that is always on?
Verdict
10–9 
ArduMaker wins
Criteria won: ArduMaker 5, Netlify 4. Tied on 5.
Only criteria that resolve to yes, partial or no are counted. Price has no single winner: it depends on each case.
Comparison table
| Criterion | ArduMaker | Netlify | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of service | VPS with panel and MCP | Frontend platform with CDN | Depends |
| Starting price | From €5.00/month, flat | Personal $9/month in credits | Depends |
| Root and SSH | Yes | No | ArduMaker |
| 24/7 processes (agents, bots, workers) | Yes | Partial · Background functions up to 15 min | ArduMaker |
| Deploy from Git | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Pull request previews | No | Yes | Netlify |
| Docker and one-click apps (n8n) | Yes | No | ArduMaker |
| Databases | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Custom domains and DNS | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Global CDN | Partial · Cloudflare proxy | Yes | Netlify |
| Backups | Yes | Partial · Saved deploys, data unclear | ArduMaker |
| Autoscaling | No | Yes | Netlify |
| Teams and permissions | Yes | Depends on plan · Unlimited members on Pro | ArduMaker |
| MCP and AI management | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Locations | Partial · Few locations | Depends on plan · Function region on Pro | Tie |
| Start for free | Partial · Free tools, paid VPS | Yes | Netlify |
Netlify publishes frontends with a global CDN, deploy previews and serverless functions, billed in credits. ArduMaker is a root VPS for APIs, databases and 24/7 workers at a flat price.
Quick summary
ArduMaker
- Who it is for: Anyone who needs more than a frontend: an API with its database, processes that never stop, n8n or an AI agent that operates the server.
- Biggest strength: Processes with no time limit and databases on the same server, at a price that does not depend on deploys, traffic or requests.
Netlify
- Who it is for: Frontend teams, agencies and site builders using Astro, Next.js, Gatsby or other frameworks who want to ship without servers.
- Biggest strength: Deploy previews per pull request with reviewer comments, a global CDN and a free plan to get started.
The main difference: Netlify runs your code in time-limited functions and deducts credits for every deploy, GB and request; ArduMaker gives you an always-on server where the backend lives with no clock and no meter.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-17
Key differences
Everything is measured in credits
Netlify's current plans charge in credits: 15 per production deploy, 20 per GB of bandwidth, 10 per GB-hour of compute and 2 per 10,000 requests; deploy previews are free. If a team on the Free plan uses up its 300 credits, projects pause until the next month. On ArduMaker the plan is flat: twenty deploys a day or a traffic spike do not change the bill.
Capped functions vs uncapped processes
A synchronous Netlify function runs for up to 60 seconds, a scheduled one up to 30 and a background function up to 15 minutes; for long flows there are Async Workloads, which resume step by step. On ArduMaker an API, worker or bot runs as a systemd service with no duration limit and with its own memory across requests.
Previews and review: its strong suit
Netlify creates a deploy preview for every pull request and reviewers leave comments on the page; Pro adds unlimited members. ArduMaker deploys a branch to a server: it does not create an environment per pull request.
The database: built in or on your server
Netlify Database is managed Postgres integrated into the platform, paid in compute and traffic credits. On ArduMaker you install PostgreSQL, MySQL or Redis on the VPS from the panel; they are not billed separately and the app reaches them over the local network.
Pricing and costs
On Netlify each plan comes with a monthly credit balance and everything draws from it: production deploys, bandwidth, function and database compute, requests and AI inference. As a calculation from the published rates: 20 production deploys use up the Free plan's 300 credits, and Pro's 3,000 equal about 150 GB of traffic if nothing else were consumed. On Personal and Pro you can turn on auto recharge; otherwise projects pause when the balance runs out. On ArduMaker you pay for the VPS plan and there is no meter per deploy, GB or request; what you do not get is the global CDN.
| Item | ArduMaker | Netlify |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | VPS from €5.00/month, flat price | Free (300 credits) or Personal $9/month (1,000 credits) |
| Production deploys | No charge per deploy | 15 credits each; previews use none |
| Traffic | No charge for traffic or requests | 20 credits per GB and 2 per 10,000 requests |
| Database | PostgreSQL, MySQL or Redis on the VPS at no extra charge | Netlify Database: uses compute and traffic credits |
| Team | Companies with admins and members; you pay per service, not per person | Pro from $20/month with unlimited members |
Assumptions: Netlify prices and credit rates checked on 2026-10-17 on netlify.com/pricing and its docs, in US dollars and excluding taxes. Deploy and GB equivalents are calculations from published rates, not measurements. Compared with ArduMaker's entry plan at list price.
Real-world scenarios
Marketing or documentation site with Astro
On ArduMaker: It is published as a static site from GitHub with a domain and SSL, served from the VPS.
On Netlify: Its home turf: deploy on every push, a preview per pull request and a global CDN, often within the free plan.
Node.js API with sessions and open connections
On ArduMaker: It runs as a systemd service that never switches off, with PostgreSQL and Redis on the same VPS.
On Netlify: It can be wrapped in functions, but each request is capped at 60 seconds and there is no shared memory between runs.
Processing uploaded files for several minutes
On ArduMaker: A worker picks jobs from a queue and processes them with no time limit.
On Netlify: A background function can last up to 15 minutes; beyond that, the job is split into steps with Async Workloads.
AI agent or bot that must stay connected
On ArduMaker: It stays on as a service and an agent over MCP can check its logs or restart it.
On Netlify: There are no persistent processes: it would have to work through webhooks or live with another provider.
Frontend on Netlify with your own backend
On ArduMaker: The API, database and n8n live on the VPS, published on a subdomain with SSL.
On Netlify: The site stays on Netlify with its previews and CDN; it just points to the API URL.
When Netlify is the better fit
- Static sites and frontends with a global CDN, without thinking about servers.
- Deploy previews per pull request with reviewer comments, ideal for agencies and clients.
- A free plan to get started and unlimited members on Pro.
- Forms, edge functions and a database built into the same platform.
- Instant rollback to an earlier deploy, using no credits.
When ArduMaker is the better fit
- APIs, workers, bots and agents that run 24/7 with no time limit.
- A flat price: neither deploys, traffic nor requests draw down a balance.
- Root and SSH to install system dependencies a function cannot have.
- Docker and n8n in one click, with PostgreSQL and Redis on the same server.
- An AI agent over MCP manages the whole server, plus domains and email.
How to migrate from Netlify to ArduMaker
Moving a site from Netlify to a VPS makes sense when the project is no longer just a frontend or when you prefer a fixed cost. The most common path is moving functions into your own API and, if you like, the site too.
- Review netlify.toml: Note the build command, publish folder, per-context variables, redirects, headers and the functions the project uses.
- Export variables: List the variables with netlify env:list or from the dashboard and load them into ArduMaker's deploy configuration, separating build-time and runtime ones.
- Turn functions into routes: Each function in netlify/functions becomes a route of an API (for example, with Express or FastAPI) running as a service on the VPS. Forms need their own endpoint.
- Bring the data: If you use Netlify Database or another Postgres, dump it with pg_dump and restore it into PostgreSQL on the VPS. Files in Netlify Blobs are copied to disk or to your storage.
- Deploy from GitHub: Link the repo to the VPS: ArduMaker detects a Vite static site, Node or other formats and proposes build and start.
- Redirects and headers: Rules from _redirects and netlify.toml move to the domain's nginx configuration or into your app.
- Domain, DNS and SSL: Publish the domain on the VPS. If you use Netlify DNS, you can change only the records pointing to the site or move the nameservers to an ArduMaker zone. The certificate is issued when you activate the domain.
- Verify with a way back: Test on a subdomain first and keep the Netlify site live until everything responds. If something fails, switch DNS back.
Frequently asked questions
How far does Netlify's credit-based free plan go?
The Free plan includes 300 credits a month. At the published rates, a production deploy uses 15, each GB of traffic 20 and every 10,000 requests 2. It is enough for a small site; if credits run out, projects pause until the next cycle.
What happens if my team runs out of credits on Netlify?
On Free, projects pause until the next cycle. On Personal and Pro the Owner can turn on auto recharge, which adds credits when you hit the limit; it is off by default.
Can I run a Node.js or Express backend on Netlify?
You can adapt it to functions, but each synchronous request is capped at 60 seconds and there is no process that keeps state or open connections. For a classic backend, a server such as an ArduMaker VPS is more direct.
Does Netlify have a database?
Yes. Netlify Database, available since April 2026 on credit-based plans, is managed Postgres built on Neon and billed in compute and traffic credits. It also offers Netlify Blobs for object storage.
Is ArduMaker good for a static site?
Yes: you link the repo, ArduMaker detects the static site and publishes it with a domain and SSL. It is served from your VPS, without a global CDN or per-pull-request previews; if those matter most, Netlify is the better fit.
Can I use Netlify and ArduMaker together?
Yes, and it is common: the frontend stays on Netlify with its previews, and the API, database and automations live on the VPS, published on a subdomain such as api.yourdomain.com.
Sources
Netlify data checked on 2026-10-17 on its official pages. Prices change: confirm them before deciding. Logos belong to their owners and are shown only to identify each service.
- Netlify: precios y planes
- Netlify Docs: cómo funcionan los créditos
- Netlify Docs: configuración y límites de funciones
- Netlify Docs: Async Workloads
- Netlify Docs: Netlify Database
- Netlify Docs: registrar y comprar un dominio
- Netlify Docs: roles y permisos
- Netlify Docs: servidor MCP y configuración de agentes