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Software · head to head

Netlify vs WebStorm

Netlify logo

Netlify

Software

The fastest way to build the fastest sites

From
Free
Rated
-
WebStorm logo

WebStorm

Software

The JavaScript and TypeScript IDE

From
$12.9/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Netlify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Netlify the free tier is an individual account with 300 credits; team members require the Pro plan at $20 a month; WebStorm jetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
  • They diverge on capability: Netlify covers Continuous deployment, WebStorm covers Smart JavaScript editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Netlify and WebStorm actually diverge.

Attributes where Netlify and WebStorm differ
AttributeNetlifyWebStorm
Starting priceFree$12.9/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20142000

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Netlify

  • Continuous deployment
  • Instant rollbacks
  • Deploy previews
  • Split testing
  • Forms handling
  • Identity/Auth
  • Serverless functions
  • Edge handlers

Only in WebStorm

  • Smart JavaScript editor
  • TypeScript support
  • Node.js development
  • Modern framework support
  • Built-in debugger
  • Unit testing
  • Version control
  • Live templates

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Netlify

  • Hosting static sites and frontend frameworks with global CDN deliverynot WebStorm
  • Deploy previews on every pull requestnot WebStorm
  • Serverless functions alongside a static sitenot WebStorm
  • Netlify Database and Blob storage for small application statenot WebStorm

WebStorm

  • Web application developmentnot Netlify
  • React/Angular/Vue developmentnot Netlify
  • Node.js backend developmentnot Netlify
  • TypeScript projectsnot Netlify
  • Frontend testingnot Netlify

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Netlify

  • The free tier is an individual account with 300 credits; team members require the Pro plan at $20 a month
  • Everything is metered in credits, so bandwidth at 20 credits per GB and production deploys at 15 credits each consume the allowance in ways a bandwidth figure alone would not show
  • Compute is billed at 10 credits per GB-hour, so server-rendered work costs more than static hosting
  • Running past the allowance means buying credit packs, at $5 for 500 on Personal and $10 for 1,500 on Pro
  • AI inference is priced by model rather than at a flat credit rate

WebStorm

  • JetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
  • If the subscription lapses, use of new versions stops; JetBrains grants a fallback license only for the last version used while the subscription was active, per its published buy page.

Pricing, plan by plan

Netlify

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 100GB bandwidth
    • 300 build minutes
    • 1 concurrent build
  • Pro$19/month
    • 400GB bandwidth
    • 25,000 build minutes
    • 3 concurrent builds
  • Business$99/month
    • 600GB bandwidth
    • 35,000 build minutes
    • 5 concurrent builds
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom bandwidth
    • Custom build minutes
    • Unlimited concurrent builds

WebStorm

$12.9/month
  • Individual$12.9/month
    • Intelligent JavaScript & TypeScript editor
    • Debugging and testing
    • VCS integration
  • Organizations$25.9/month
    • All Individual features
    • Commercial use license
    • Centralized license management

Which should you pick?

Choose Netlify if

  • You need continuous deployment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want instant rollbacks.

Choose WebStorm if

  • You need smart javascript editor.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want typescript support.

Questions people ask

Is Netlify or WebStorm better?
Neither clearly leads. Netlify starts at Free and WebStorm at $12.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Netlify or WebStorm?
Netlify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Netlify and $12.9/month for WebStorm.
Does Netlify or WebStorm run on more platforms?
Netlify runs on Web. WebStorm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Netlify for free?
Yes. Netlify has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WebStorm starts at $12.9/month.
What is Netlify best used for?
Netlify is most often used for hosting static sites and frontend frameworks with global cdn delivery, deploy previews on every pull request, serverless functions alongside a static site, netlify database and blob storage for small application state. Of those, hosting static sites and frontend frameworks with global cdn delivery and deploy previews on every pull request are not what WebStorm is typically brought in for.
What can Netlify do that WebStorm cannot?
Netlify covers Continuous deployment, Instant rollbacks, Deploy previews, Split testing. WebStorm covers Smart JavaScript editor, TypeScript support, Node.js development, Modern framework support.

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