The Complete Static Website Guide | What are they, How to Create One and Publish them

Static Sites: How did it reach the current state?
What Is a Static Website?
Static vs Dynamic Websites
Hybrid Sites: Using Static and Dynamic Sites architecture together
Real-World Static Website Examples
Benefits of Static Websites
How to Build a Static Website (Step-by-Step)
Start Creating Your Website
Publish and Host your Website:
Static Site Generators & Headless CMS
Hosting Static Websites
Deploying Static Websites
- Drag-and-Drop / ZIP Upload
- Git-based CI/CD Deployment
Hosting Static Websites on AWS S3
- Basic S3 Static Website Setup
- S3 Pricing and Setbacks
SEO for Static Websites
Converting a Dynamic Site to Static
Adding Interactivity to Static Sites
Performance, Security & Maintenance
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
- Further Reading

Static websites have been widely used for a long time. They are easy to create and easy to publish as well. On top of that, they load quickly, improving the user experience.

This guide covers everything you need to know about static websites in 2026, from understanding core concepts to building, hosting, and optimising your own static site.

Static Sites: How did it reach the current state?

Static websites were most widely used in the early years of the World Wide Web. When Netscape Navigator first brought the internet to millions, websites consisted of simple HTML pages created with tools like Microsoft FrontPage. These pages were stored on servers and ready to deliver content instantly to any visitor who requested them.

As the web evolved, people wanted more interactivity, like forms to collect information, personalised content, user accounts, and dynamic features driven by databases. The dynamic website era began, dominated by Content Management Systems such as WordPress (which now powers nearly 50% of the market), Joomla, and Drupal.

But dynamic sites introduced problems. They’re slower than static sites because servers must generate pages for each visitor request. They’re more expensive to host because they require databases and application servers. And security became an issue too; server-side processing creates attack surfaces for hackers and malware that don’t exist with simple file serving.

Today, static websites are experiencing a remarkable renaissance. Modern static site generators combine the simplicity and speed of original static architecture with contemporary development workflows, creating sites that are fast, secure, and surprisingly powerful. As Google declared in 2015 that “speed is king” in search rankings, and Core Web Vitals became ranking factors, static sites gained renewed relevance.

The technology has matured dramatically. Static site generators now power some of the world’s most important digital properties: GitHub Pages (serving over 12 million developers), Mailchimp’s marketing site, and even the 2012 Obama presidential campaign website (which raised $250 million). In 2013, Healthcare.gov switched from a troubled CMS to a static architecture.

If you’re confused about where to start with Static Websites, you are at the right place.

What Is a Static Website?

A static website is a collection of web pages that are pre-built and delivered to visitors exactly as they’re stored on the server. Unlike dynamic websites that generate pages on the fly, static sites consist of fixed HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that don’t change unless a developer manually updates them.

When someone visits a static website, the web server simply retrieves the requested HTML file. It sends it directly to their browser without any database queries, server-side processing, or runtime content generation.

How Static Pages Are Served:

Files are created during a build process (usually by a static site generator)
The resulting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are stored on a CDN or web server
When a user requests a page, the pre-built file is delivered instantly
No server-side code executes during page delivery

This differs fundamentally from server-rendered pages, which query databases, process user sessions, and generate HTML dynamically for each request. While dynamic sites offer more flexibility for complex applications, static sites excel at speed, security, and simplicity for content-focused websites.

Static sites deliver the same pre-rendered content to every visitor, which is exactly what you want for portfolios, documentation, marketing pages, blogs, and informational content. Dynamic personalisation requires server-side processing, but modern static sites can add selective interactivity through client-side JavaScript and APIs without sacrificing their core performance advantages.

Want to understand how static CMS and SSG workflows fit together? Or ready to dive into hands-on building steps? We’ll cover both in detail below.

Static vs Dynamic Websites

The choice between static and dynamic architecture shapes your site’s performance, maintenance burden, and capabilities. Understanding when each approach makes sense will save you time, money, and headaches down the road.

Difference between Static and Dynamic Websites

Static and dynamic websites differ primarily in when pages are generated. Static sites pre-build all pages during deployment, storing them ready to serve. Dynamic sites generate pages on demand, pulling data from databases and assembling HTML on the server. This fundamental timing difference creates cascading effects:

Render Timing: Static sites render once at build time; dynamic sites render on every request
Infrastructure: Static sites need only file storage and a CDN; dynamic sites require application servers, databases, and often caching layers
Features: Static sites handle simple content delivery brilliantly; dynamic sites excel at personalisation, user accounts, and complex interactions

When to Choose Static vs Dynamic:

Choose a static website when:

Content changes infrequently (weekly/monthly updates rather than real-time.
Your site focuses on information delivery rather than user-generated content
Performance and security are top priorities
Budget constraints favour lower hosting costs
You want simplified deployment and maintenance

Choose a dynamic website when:

Content changes constantly based on user actions or real-time data
You need user accounts, permissions, and personalised experiences
Complex business logic must execute server-side
You’re building a social platform, marketplace, or SaaS application

Still deciding on whether you should choose static website or dynamic? Check out our detailed Static vs. Dynamic website guide, which breaks down the differences and use cases to help you decide based on your specific goals and requirements.

Challenges with Dynamic Websites:

Content Management Systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal introduced powerful features but also significant complications:

Server resource requirements: Dynamic sites need databases (typically MySQL), application servers (PHP, Ruby, Python), and often multiple caching layers just to achieve reasonable performance
Response time delays: Every page request triggers database queries, template processing, and HTML generation that can create lag for some users.
Security vulnerabilities: Popular CMS platforms require constant monitoring and updates. WordPress’s widespread use makes it a constant target for attackers, requiring frequent security patches and plugin updates
Complexity for occasional users: Many site owners need to update content infrequently. The learning curve of CMS interfaces becomes a burden rather than a benefit, with users never achieving sufficient familiarity
Hosting dependency: Dynamic sites are tightly coupled to their hosting infrastructure, making provider changes difficult and time-consuming

Static sites sidestep all these issues. They serve pre-built HTML files that require minimal server resources and handle traffic spikes effortlessly. A static site withstands surges that would crash traditional dynamic infrastructure.

Hybrid Sites: Using Static and Dynamic Sites architecture together

Modern development increasingly blurs the static/dynamic boundary. You can build primarily static sites that incorporate dynamic elements:

Static front-end + API calls: Pre-build your marketing pages statically, then fetch personalised data client-side from APIs

Edge functions: Run serverless code at CDN edge locations for dynamic features without managing servers

Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR): Frameworks like Next.js let you rebuild individual pages on demand rather than the entire site

These hybrid approaches give you the benefits of static sites (speed, security, cost) while selectively adding dynamic capabilities where needed. For instance, an e-commerce site might serve product pages statically but handle checkout dynamically.

Real-World Static Website Examples

Static websites power more of the modern web than you might expect. With the global online market exceeding $10 trillion and growing, businesses of all sizes benefit from static architecture. Here are some examples of how static websites serve different needs:

1. Portfolio Websites

Portfolio sites showcase an individual’s or company’s work and expertise, making them ideal for freelancers, creatives, and professionals seeking to attract clients. These sites contain work samples displaying your finest accomplishments, highlight skills and services, and include testimonials from satisfied customers or logos of successful companies you’ve served. With the right tools, you can easily create a professional portfolio, which can be very effective in your job search.

2. Résumé, Project and Professional Profile Sites

Personal résumé websites offer a unique way to stand out in competitive job markets. They showcase skills and accomplishments in an impressive format, provide convenient access for employers, demonstrate personal branding, and allow easy updates in one centralised location. A simple HTML and CSS structure can create an effective professional presence that’s fast, secure, and always accessible.

3. Landing Pages

Single-page websites promoting specific products, services, or offers are essential marketing tools. Landing pages focus visitors’ attention on specific actions through clear calls to action, employ compelling visuals to generate leads and conversions, and serve as the cornerstone of effective marketing campaigns.

4. Microsites

Small, standalone websites dedicated to specific topics, products, or campaigns enable businesses to target niche audiences without overwhelming visitors with unrelated information. Microsites are separate from main websites to clarify and highlight focused messages, making them perfect for product launches or special promotions.

5. Documentation Websites

Technical documentation, API references, user guides, and manuals serve as centralised resources for product support. Well-written documentation is now part of product design. It helps sell products and keeps loyal customers returning. Static site generators like Docusaurus, VitePress, and Eleventy excel at creating searchable, organised documentation.

6. Marketing and Campaign Pages

Product landing pages, SaaS homepages, and campaign microsites benefit from the speed and reliability of static architecture. These sites deliver consistent messaging, load instantly, and handle traffic spikes during campaign launches without infrastructure concerns.

7. Blog and Publication Sites

Content-focused sites using static site generators like Hugo, Jekyll, or Eleventy boost engagement with customers and prospects while improving SEO rankings. Blogs establish thought leadership, provide a foundation of customer and product information, and remain highly relevant for building audiences.

8. E-commerce Websites

Online platforms for buying and selling products can leverage static architecture for product catalogue pages, ensuring fast browsing experiences. Combined with dynamic checkout systems or platforms like Shopify and Snipcart, static e-commerce sites deliver speed where it matters most, like browsing and product discovery.

9. Event Websites

Conference sites, workshop landing pages, and event registration platforms benefit from the reliability of static hosting. Event websites feature schedules, speaker information, venue details, and registration functionality, handling traffic spikes when events are announced without crashes or slowdowns.

10. Educational Websites

Platforms for sharing courses, training materials, and learning resources generate additional revenue streams while helping customers. Online courses expand customer bases, and static architecture ensures course materials load quickly for learners worldwide.

11. Non-profit and Charity Websites

Organisations share missions, goals, and initiatives through static sites that encourage community support. These sites raise awareness, engage and mobilise supporters, accept donations through integrated services, and promote transparency and trust.

12. Community and Membership Websites

Static front ends, combined with authentication services, create exclusive platforms for members. Job boards connect employers with candidates, membership sites monetise premium content, and community platforms foster engagement through forums and user-generated content while maintaining the benefits of static site performance.

Websites that already use Static Site architecture:

Some of the world’s most important digital properties leverage static site architecture:

GitHub Pages: The largest developer community, with over 12 million users, uses Jekyll to serve documentation and project sites statically
Mailchimp: The popular email marketing platform’s main website is built with Middleman, a static site generator
Nest: The innovative home automation company (acquired by Google) runs on static architecture
Obama 2012 Campaign: The presidential campaign website was entirely static and successfully raised $250 million in donations while handling massive traffic
Healthcare.gov: After initial CMS troubles in 2013, the site switched to a static architecture for improved reliability and performance

These examples demonstrate that static sites aren’t limited to small projects; they scale to handle millions of users while maintaining exceptional performance and reliability.

These aren’t the only use cases; you can do much more using static sites. Companies ranging from startups to enterprises use static sites across these categories. The approach scales from simple one-page résumés to massive documentation sites with thousands of pages, handling millions of visitors without infrastructure complexity.

Explore more static website use cases to see what’s possible.

Benefits of Static Websites

Static websites offer compelling advantages that explain their resurgence in modern web development. These benefits compound over time, making static architecture increasingly attractive as your site grows.

Speed & Core Web Vitals

Static sites are inherently fast because they skip server-side processing entirely. When a user requests a page, the CDN delivers a pre-built HTML file directly from an edge location near them. This speed advantage creates three critical benefits:

1. Better User Experience: Visitors expect instant page loads. Slow websites cause impatience and abandonment. You’ve experienced this yourself when visiting sites that take a long time to load, or when you have to wait a long time after a certain interaction.

2. Higher Conversion Rates: Fast loading directly translates to more sales, contacts, and goal completions. Even 100-millisecond delays measurably reduce conversion rates.

3. Improved Search Rankings: Google declared “speed is king” in 2015, making it a core ranking factor. Sites with excellent Core Web Vitals scores rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic.

Static architecture delivers on all three:

Lightning-fast Time to First Byte (TTFB): No database queries or template rendering delays
Predictable performance: Every page load follows the same optimised path
Excellent Core Web Vitals scores: Static sites naturally excel at Google’s LCP, INP, and CLS metrics
Global CDN distribution: Content served from locations closest to users
Pre-rendered content ready to serve: Unlike dynamic sites that generate pages on demand, static pages are waiting for visitors

Security

Static sites have a dramatically smaller attack surface than dynamic alternatives. With no server-side code execution, databases, or admin panels exposed to the internet, you eliminate entire categories of vulnerabilities:

No SQL injection risks: There’s no database to compromise
No server-side code exploits: No PHP, Python, or Ruby vulnerabilities to patch
Reduced DDoS impact: CDNs absorb traffic spikes that would overwhelm application servers
Minimal maintenance burden: Fewer moving parts mean fewer security updates

Cost Efficiency

Hosting static sites costs dramatically less than dynamic alternatives. You’re paying for simple file storage and CDN bandwidth rather than running application servers 24/7:

CDN + storage vs app servers: Often 10-100x cheaper than traditional hosting
Free tiers available: Many platforms offer generous free hosting for static sites
Predictable scaling costs: Pay only for bandwidth used, not idle server capacity
No database costs: Eliminate database hosting and maintenance fees
Minimal maintenance costs: Static servers are essentially file storage services requiring little to no maintenance
Reduced bandwidth usage: No back-and-forth server communication that slows dynamic sites

Environmental Benefits

Static websites are not just cost-efficient, they’re also planet-friendly. Because static servers are more efficient than dynamic alternatives, they consume less electricity and generate less heat.

Lower energy consumption: Pre-built pages require no processing power at request time
Reduced carbon footprint: Less electricity means reduced carbon generation
Efficient caching: Content delivered from CDN edge locations reduces data transfer distances
No idle server resources: Unlike always-running application servers, static hosting only serves files when requested
Sustainable scaling: Growing traffic doesn’t require proportionally more server infrastructure

For environmentally conscious businesses and individuals, choosing static architecture represents a tangible way to reduce your website’s environmental impact while maintaining excellent performance.

Scalability & Reliability

Static sites scale effortlessly because they’re just files on CDNs. There’s no server capacity to outgrow or database connections to exhaust:

Instant global scaling: CDNs handle traffic spikes without configuration changes
No server capacity planning: Add millions of visitors without infrastructure changes
Higher uptime: Fewer components mean fewer failure points
No cold starts: Unlike serverless functions, static files are always ready

SEO Advantages

Search engines love fast, reliable sites with clean HTML, exactly what static architecture delivers for SEO:

Speed boosts rankings: Fast Core Web Vitals directly impact search positions
Crawl budget efficiency: Search bots crawl more pages when sites respond quickly
Clean HTML structure: Static sites typically have cleaner, more semantic markup
Reliable availability: High uptime means search engines can always access your content

Simple to Maintain

Static sites require less ongoing maintenance than dynamic alternatives. Version control handles your entire site, deployments are atomic, and there’s no server configuration to manage:

Git-based workflow: Track every change, roll back easily, preview branches
Simplified debugging: Fewer moving parts mean easier troubleshooting
No runtime dependencies: No need to patch server frameworks or database versions
Straightforward backups: Your entire site is just files in version control

How to Build a Static Website (Step-by-Step)

Now that you know the benefits of static sites, it is time we build one! Building a static website has become remarkably straightforward thanks to modern tools. This process works whether you’re creating a simple portfolio or a complex documentation site.

Before writing code, map out your site’s information architecture and gather design inspiration. This planning phase prevents costly restructuring later and ensures your site accomplishes its goals.

Define Your Purpose and Audience:

Determine website purpose: What do you want to accomplish? Sales? Information sharing? Portfolio showcase?
Identify your audience: Who will visit your site? Understanding your audience shapes content and design decisions. For example, if your website is to showcase your work to clients or recruiters, you showcase the work you have done in the past and include links to other relevant social media or job sites they can find you at.
Set measurable goals: Define success metrics like conversions, engagement, and page views.

Create Your Design Foundation:

Build a mood board: Create a collage of images, textures, colours, and typography that captures your desired aesthetic. This serves as a visual reference throughout development
Gather inspiration: Research competitor sites, design blogs, and industry-leading examples to understand current styles and best practices
Define brand elements: Document your colour scheme, typography choices, logo usage, and overall brand identity.
Collect or create media: Gather high-quality images, videos, icons, and other assets aligned with your mood board vision

Plan Content Structure:

Define page hierarchy: Homepage, main sections, individual content pages
Sketch navigation: How will visitors move through your content?
Plan content types: Blog posts, portfolio items, product pages, etc.
List required features: Contact forms, search, comments, analytics
Research SEO keywords: Identify terms your audience uses to find content like yours

Document Your Plan:

Create a design scrapbook (physical or digital) containing your mood board, brand guidelines, and content outline. Reference this throughout development to maintain consistency. Update it as you add new resources or refine your vision.

This planning phase prevents the need for restructuring later and helps you choose appropriate tools.

Start Creating Your Website

Create Your Website using HTML, CSS and JS:

Open your code editor and start working on your code. You can also use Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots if you are a beginner to get you kick-started on making your website. You can use Claude to create your first website, or you can use Codeium AI if you want to work with AI in your programming app. You can use Replit AI to code online if you don’t have a setup on your computer. You can also use Static Site Generators to create your website.

Choose a Static Site Generator

Static Site Generators (SSGs) transform templates and content files into production-ready HTML. You can choose one that fits your needs.

Select a Template & Design System

Designing and building a website from scratch is difficult, time-consuming, and requires significant skill. Static website templates dramatically simplify the creation of professional-looking websites, and choosing the right template is crucial to success.

What Are Static Website Templates?

Static website templates are pre-designed web pages you can customise to suit your needs. Many are available for free, designed by professional designers who also use templates. Templates save time, reduce costs, and reduce frustration while delivering impressive results.

Benefits of Using Templates:

Fast loading speed: Templates are optimised for the static architecture’s inherent speed
Easy to customise: Simply replace text and images—formatting is handled for you
Cost-effective: Many excellent templates are free; premium options cost far less than a custom design
Wide variety: Thousands of templates available for every business niche and style
Responsive design: Professional templates work across all devices automatically

How to Choose the Right Template:

1. Determine Your Needs

What is your website’s purpose?
What kind of content will you deliver?
Who is your target audience?
Narrowing options makes selection manageable

2. Consider the Design

Look for templates matching your business niche’s typical style
Choose designs that suit your brand, products, and audience tastes
Seek pleasing designs with functional layouts
Remember that visitors judge your site’s appearance immediately

3. Check for Responsiveness Ensure the template looks right on desktops, smartphones, tablets, and TVs. Mobile-first design is now standard for modern templates so keep that in mind while you choose.:

4. Consider the Features

Verify the template supports your required technical capabilities
Check for form support, CMS compatibility, and integration options
Ensure navigation structure suits your content organisation
Look for SEO-friendly markup and semantic HTML

Author Content & Metadata

Static sites typically use Markdown files with frontmatter for content:

-–
title: “My Blog Post”
date: 2025-12-15
tags: [web development, static sites]
description: “A comprehensive guide to…”
-–

# My Blog Post

Your content here…

This separation of content (Markdown) from presentation (templates) makes editing straightforward and enables non-technical contributors.

Generate Build & Test Locally

Run your SSG’s build command to generate the final HTML:

Build locally: Test the complete site on your machine
Check for broken links: Use link checkers to catch errors
Test responsive design: Preview on various screen sizes
Validate HTML/CSS: Ensure clean, standards-compliant code

Publish and Host your Website:

Once your website is ready, it is time to share it with the world. You can publish it within just a few seconds. You can read about hosting your website in the upcoming section.

Once satisfied, you’re ready to deploy. Need more detailed guidance? Our complete guide to building a static website covers everything from installing tools to advanced optimisation.

Static Site Generators & Headless CMS

Static Site Generators (SSGs) are the engines that power modern static websites, while headless CMS platforms provide user-friendly content management interfaces. Understanding how they work together helps you choose the right tools.

How SSGs Work

Static Site Generators follow a simple but powerful process:

Read content files: Markdown, JSON, or YAML files containing your content
Apply templates: Combine content with HTML templates using a template language
Process assets: Optimise images, compile CSS/JavaScript, minify files
Output HTML: Generate final HTML files ready for deployment

This build-time processing means your site is pre-optimised before users ever visit. Modern SSGs build sites in seconds or minutes, even for thousands of pages.

When to Add a Headless CMS

While editing Markdown files in a code editor works well for developers, non-technical team members need a better content authoring experience. Headless CMS platforms provide:

Visual editing interfaces: WYSIWYG or block-based editors for content creation
Content modelling: Define structured content types with custom fields
Editorial workflows: Draft/review/publish workflows with user permissions
Media management: Image libraries with automatic optimisation
Preview capabilities: See changes before publishing
Multi-user collaboration: Teams can work simultaneously without Git conflicts

Consider a headless CMS when multiple people need to contribute content or when non-developers manage your site.

Popular Options for Static Site Generators:

Hugo: Fastest build times with an extensive theme library and powerful content organisation features
Jekyll: Native GitHub Pages integration with a huge plugin ecosystem, built on Ruby
Eleventy: JavaScript-based with zero configuration and support for multiple template languages
Next.js: React framework featuring image optimisation and hybrid static/dynamic rendering capabilities
Gatsby: GraphQL data layer with rich plugin ecosystem for React-based sites
Astro: Framework-agnostic approach with partial hydration and component islands architecture

Popular Options for Headless CMS Platforms:

Contentful: Enterprise-grade platform with robust API and excellent documentation
Sanity: Real-time collaboration features with flexible content models and portable content
Strapi: Open-source with self-hosted option, supports both REST and GraphQL APIs
Netlify CMS: Git-based, completely free, and integrates seamlessly with static sites
DatoCMS: Strong media handling with multi-language support and modular content structure

How to Choose Your Tools

When choosing your tools, here are a few things you should keep in check:

Language preference: Match your team’s programming language expertise
Build speed: Critical for sites with thousands of pages
Plugin ecosystem: Pre-built solutions for common features (RSS, sitemaps, etc.)
Community size: Larger communities mean better support and resources
Integration options: Does it work with your preferred CMS, hosting, or analytics?
Learning curve: Balance power with ease of learning

Want deeper comparisons? Check out our guides on the best CMS for static sites and what a static site CMS actually is.

Hosting Static Websites

Hosting a static website is dramatically simpler and cheaper than hosting dynamic applications. Modern static hosting platforms provide global CDN distribution, SSL certificates, and deployment automation.

What “Static Hosting” Means

Static hosting stores pre-built HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on a server (or CDN) and delivers them directly to visitors. Unlike dynamic hosting that requires application servers to generate pages on-demand, static hosting serves files exactly as they were created.

Static hosting platforms provide the infrastructure stack your site needs:

File storage: Platforms provide secure object storage that hosts all your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and media files with high reliability and availability
Global CDN: Content delivery networks cache your site across worldwide edge locations, serving content from servers closest to each visitor for faster load times
SSL certificates: Automatic HTTPS encryption with free certificates that renew automatically, keeping your site secure without manual intervention
Custom domains: Connect your own domain easily with built-in DNS management tools that handle all the technical configuration
Deployment automation: Git integration triggers automatic builds when you push code, or use drag-and-drop interfaces to upload files manually
Redirects & rewrites: Handle URL changes and create clean URLs without file extensions, preserving SEO and improving user experience
Form handling: Some platforms include serverless form processing that captures submissions without requiring backend code or databases

This managed infrastructure lets you focus on your site rather than server administration.

Features to look for when choosing a hosting provider:

When evaluating hosting providers, prioritise these features:

Automatic SSL/TLS: Free certificates with automatic renewal eliminate manual certificate management and keep your site secure indefinitely
Custom domain support: Easy domain connection with DNS management simplifies setup and lets you use your own branded domain instead of subdomains
Password protection: Restrict access during development or create members-only sections without a complex authentication infrastructure
Form handling: Built-in form submission processing eliminates the need for separate backend services or custom serverless functions
Redirects/rewrites: Manage URL structure changes and create SEO-friendly URLs, preserving link equity when restructuring your site
HTTP/2 or HTTP/3: Modern protocols improve performance through multiplexing and better compression compared to older HTTP/1.1
Bandwidth/build limits: Understanding plan limitations helps you choose appropriate tiers and avoid unexpected charges as traffic grows

Top Hosting Providers in 2026

Tiiny Host

Best for: Rapid deployment without Git or complex configuration

Tiiny Host offers the simplest static hosting experience. Upload a ZIP file, and your site is live instantly. Perfect for portfolios, documentation, landing pages and quick prototypes.

Instant preview URLs: Share sites immediately with custom subdomains
Password protection: Built-in access control for private sites
Custom domains: Connect your domain easily or purchase one at a very cost-effective price
Free tier: Get started without a credit card
Built-in analytics: Get analytics when you upgrade to one of the plans and stop worrying about having to integrate other tools.
Link Tracking: Lets you attach unique parameters to create utm links to share with people
Git-based deployment: While popular for its upload and publish method, Tiiny host also supports git-based deployment
Password Protection: Has the option to password-protect your sites if sharing with only a few people.

Try Tiiny Host →

Netlify

Best for: Developer-friendly workflow with excellent DX

Netlify pioneered the “Jamstack” hosting approach and offers powerful features for static sites:

Git-based deployment: Automatic builds from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket
Deploy previews: Every pull request gets a preview URL
Serverless functions: Add backend functionality without servers
Form handling: Built-in form processing and spam protection
Split testing: A/B test different versions of pages
Free tier: 100GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes/month

Vercel

Best for: Next.js sites and teams wanting edge performance

Created by the Next.js team, Vercel excels at React-based static sites:

Next.js optimisation: First-class support for Next.js features
Edge Network: Global CDN with instant cache invalidation
Git integration: Deploy from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket
Serverless functions: Node.js and edge functions at CDN locations
Analytics: Built-in performance and visitor analytics

Cloudflare Pages

Best for: Leveraging Cloudflare’s massive CDN network

Cloudflare Pages combines its industry-leading CDN with static hosting:

Cloudflare CDN: One of the world’s largest networks
Workers integration: Run serverless code at the edge
Git-based deployment: Connect to GitHub or GitLab
Unlimited bandwidth: No bandwidth charges on paid plans
Web Analytics: Privacy-focused analytics included
Free tier: Unlimited sites, 500 builds/month

AWS S3/Amplify

Best for: AWS ecosystem integration and enterprise scale

AWS offers multiple options for static hosting:

S3 Static Website Hosting:

Industry-standard object storage
Pay only for storage and bandwidth used
Pair with CloudFront for global CDN
Requires more technical configuration

AWS Amplify:

Managed hosting with Git integration
CI/CD pipelines built-in
Backend integration with AWS services
More user-friendly than raw S3

GitHub Pages

Best for: Open-source projects and developer portfolios

GitHub Pages offers free hosting directly from repositories:

Zero-cost hosting: Completely free for public repositories
Jekyll built-in: Automatic Jekyll builds included
Custom domains: Connect your domain easily
HTTPS support: Free SSL certificates
Limitations: 1GB storage limit, 100GB bandwidth/month

Free Static Website Hosting Services

Most platforms offer generous free tiers perfect for personal projects, portfolios, and small sites. It is a great way to test different sites and find the one that best fits your needs.

Choosing the right hosting platform depends on your specific needs. Our comprehensive hosting comparison guide breaks down features, pricing, and ideal use cases for portfolios, documentation sites, marketing pages, and more.

Deploying Static Websites

Getting your static site from your computer to production servers is straightforward with modern tooling. Choose between manual uploads or automated Git-based workflows depending on your needs and technical comfort.

Drag-and-Drop / ZIP Upload

Best for: Quick projects, non-developers, or sites without frequent updates

The simplest deployment method involves uploading your built site directly:

Build your site locally: Run your SSG’s build command (e.g., hugo, npm run build)
Create a ZIP archive: Compress your build output folder
Upload to hosting platform: Drag the ZIP file to your hosting provider’s interface
Site goes live: Your site is instantly accessible at a generated URL
Connect custom domain: Point your domain to the hosting platform

Git-based CI/CD Deployment

Best for: Teams, frequently updated sites, sites requiring automated workflows

Git-based deployment automates the entire build and deploy process:

Connect repository: Link your GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repository to your hosting platform
Configure build settings: Specify build command and output directory
Push code to Git: Every push triggers an automatic build
Platform builds site: Hosting service runs your build command in their environment
Deploy on success: If the build succeeds, the new version goes live automatically
Get preview URLs: Pull requests generate preview environments for testing

Feature	ZIP Upload	Git-based CI/CD
Ease of setup	Easiest, no configuration	Requires initial Git setup
Deployment speed	Instant upload	Waits for the build to complete
Best for	Simple sites, non-developers	Teams, frequently updated sites
Version control	Manual	Automatic with Git history
Rollback	Manual re-upload	One-click rollback
Preview environments	Not available	Automatic for pull requests
Build logs	Local only	Available in platform
Collaboration	Share ZIP files	Git workflows (branches, PRs)

Choose based on your team size, update frequency, and technical expertise. Many developers start with ZIP uploads for prototypes, then switch to Git-based deployment once the site is established.

Hosting Static Websites on AWS S3

AWS S3 (Simple Storage Service) offers industry-standard static website hosting with fine-grained control over configuration and costs. While it requires more technical setup than platforms like Netlify or Vercel, S3 provides enterprise-grade reliability and scales to millions of visitors.

Basic S3 Static Website Setup

Step 1: Create an S3 Bucket

Choose a bucket name (preferably matching your domain: www.example.com)
Select your preferred AWS region
You can leave the security settings as is right now at the default settings

Step 2: Enable Static Website Hosting

Go to bucket Properties → Static website hosting
Enable hosting and specify index document (usually index.html)
Set error document (typically 404.html) - Note the website endpoint URL provided

Step 3: Upload Your Site Files

Build your static site locally
Upload all files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images) to the bucket
Maintain your directory structure during upload

Step 4: Set Bucket Policy - Create a public read policy to allow website access - Example policy:

{
“Version”: “2012-10-17”,
“Statement”: [{
“Sid”: “PublicReadGetObject”,
“Effect”: “Allow”,
“Principal”: “*”,
“Action”: “s3:GetObject”,
“Resource”: “arn:aws:s3:::your-bucket-name/*“
}]
}

Step 5: Attach CloudFront Distribution (Recommended)

Create a CloudFront distribution pointing to your S3 bucketConfigure SSL certificate for HTTPS
Set up a custom domain with Route 53 or your DNS provider
CloudFront provides global CDN caching and improves performance

S3 Pricing and Setbacks

Cost Structure:

Storage: ~$0.023/GB per month (S3 Standard)
Requests: ~$0.0004/1,000 GET requests
Data transfer: First 1GB free, then ~$0.09/GB to the internet
CloudFront: Separate pricing for CDN services

When using S3, keep in mind:

Public bucket security: Ensure you only make website files public, not sensitive data
Redirect configuration: S3 redirect rules differ from traditional .htaccess files
CloudFront invalidations: Cache invalidations cost money ($0.005 per path) and take time
CORS configuration: May need CORS setup for client-side API calls
Index document handling: Subdirectories must contain index.html files
No HTTPS by default: S3 website endpoints don’t support HTTPS; you need CloudFront for SSL

S3 static hosting works well for teams that already use AWS infrastructure or require enterprise compliance. For simpler deployment, consider platforms such as TinyHost, Netlify, Vercel, or Cloudflare Pages, which handle CDN configuration, SSL, and CI/CD automatically.

SEO for Static Websites

Static websites have inherent SEO advantages, including speed, reliability, and a clean HTML structure, but if you want to rank higher, it requires more planning and optimisation. Modern static site optimisation focuses on technical performance, content quality, and strategic link building.

Keyword Research & Content Planning

Build your static site around topics that match search intent:

Identify core topics: What problems does your site solve?
Map keyword clusters: Group related keywords into topic clusters
Plan content hierarchy: Create hub pages for broad topics, spoke pages for specifics
Target long-tail keywords: Specific phrases face less competition, so use them to your benefit
Analyse competitor content: Find gaps in existing content you can fill better

Static sites excel at content-focused SEO because they’re fast and reliable, and they encourage thoughtful information architecture during the build phase.

On-Page Optimisation

Titles & Headers:

Write unique, descriptive <title> tags (50-60 characters)
Use single <h1> per page, matching primary keyword
Structure content with <h2> and <h3> for scan-ability
Include target keywords naturally in headers

Internal Linking:

Link related pages together (builds topic authority)
Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”)
Create a clear navigation hierarchy
Implement breadcrumbs for user orientation
Ensure no orphaned pages (pages without internal links)

Schema Markup:

Add structured data (JSON-LD format) for rich results
Implement Article, BreadcrumbList, and Organisation schemas
Use schema for FAQs, HowTos, and reviews where applicable

Content Quality:

Write comprehensive, authoritative content
Answer user questions thoroughly
Use original examples and research
Update content regularly to maintain relevance
Optimise images with descriptive alt text

Technical SEO

Technical SEO for static websites starts with Core Web Vitals optimisation, where you should focus on improving Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by optimising images and working on making INP (Interaction to Next Paint) as fast as possible by minimising JavaScript execution and deferring non-critical scripts, and preventing Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) by specifying image dimensions and avoiding layout-shifting ads.

Here’s what each of these Core Web Vitals metrics do and help up rank your website:

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): To make your audience stay, it is important that your website loads instantly. LCP score measures the same. For any images and videos and larger blocks that you have in your website, they should load within the first 2.5 seconds. An LCP score of 2.5 seconds or below is considered good and positively impacts your SEO performance.

INP (Interaction to Next Paint): This metric measures your website’s responsiveness to user interactions. It tracks the time between when a user performs an action, like clicking a button, typing in a form or tapping on mobile, and when the website visually responds. A fast INP score ensures visitors experience a smooth, responsive interface that reacts immediately to their input.

CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): This metric measures visual stability and user experience. It tracks unexpected layout shifts that occur while the page is loading. For example, when text suddenly moves because an image loads late, or buttons shift position, causing users to click the wrong element. A low CLS score (below 0.1) means your page layout remains stable, preventing frustrating misclicks and improving the visitor experience.

Sitemaps and crawlability are equally crucial; most static site generators automatically generate XML sitemaps, but you should submit yours to Google Search Console. Ensure it includes all important pages while excluding duplicates or irrelevant content, update it with each build, and regularly check for broken internal links.

Canonical URLs help prevent duplicate content issues, so set canonical tags using absolute URLs and maintain consistency between your HTML, sitemap, and canonical tags across your site.

Your robots.txt file should guide crawler behaviour by blocking admin paths, build artefacts, or duplicate content while allowing access to CSS and JavaScript files for proper page rendering.

Finally, implement a clean URL structure using descriptive, readable URLs like /blog/static-website-guide/ rather than /p?id=123, keep them short, use hyphens instead of underscores to separate words, and avoid unnecessary parameters or session IDs that can confuse search engines and users alike.

Link Building for Static Sites

Link building is crucial because it builds credibility and helps establish your static website as an authoritative resource in your niche.

Natural Link Earning

The most effective way to earn links is by creating linkable assets that people naturally want to reference and share. This includes comprehensive guides, original research, valuable tools, and infographics. Focus on content that solves real problems, as it attracts organic backlinks over time.

Documentation & Portfolio Sites

Static sites that serve as documentation or portfolios have a natural advantage for link building. Open source projects and technical documentation automatically attract links from developers who reference them. Portfolio sites benefit from satisfied clients sharing your work and case studies.

Guest Content & Partnerships

Building relationships within your industry opens doors to valuable link opportunities. Contributing guest posts to established blogs allows you to reach new audiences while earning backlinks. Participating in expert roundups or collaborating with complementary businesses creates natural linking opportunities.

Promotion Strategies

Even great content needs active promotion to earn links. Share your work in relevant communities, such as Reddit and niche forums, focusing on value rather than spam. Use personalised email outreach and social media to increase visibility and help more people discover and link to your work organically.

For deeper SEO guidance specific to static sites, read our comprehensive SEO for static websites article.

Converting a Dynamic Site to Static

Converting a dynamic website to a static architecture can dramatically improve performance, reduce costs, and simplify maintenance. The process requires careful planning, but modern tools make migration more straightforward than ever.

Audit Your Current Site

Before starting conversion, inventory what you have and what needs alternatives.

Start by understanding the scope of your existing content. Document how many pages your site has, what content types exist (posts, pages, products, etc.), and how content is currently managed in your CMS. Note what metadata and taxonomies are used, as you’ll need to preserve these in your new structure.

Feature Inventory

List all dynamic features your site currently uses. This includes user accounts and authentication, contact forms, site search, comments, e-commerce or payment processing, and real-time data or personalisation. Identifying these early helps you find static alternatives or third-party solutions before migration.

Technical Assessment

Review your current technical setup to understand what you’re working with. Document your server infrastructure and costs, database structure, media library size and organisation, and any custom code or plugins you need to preserve. Catalogue all third-party integrations to ensure they work with your new static setup.

Export Content

Move your content from dynamic systems to static-friendly formats that work with static site generators.

WordPress to Static

WordPress offers several export methods depending on your needs. Use plugins like Simply Static, WP2Static, or StaticPress to export HTML directly, or use wordpress-export-to-markdown to convert content into Markdown files. Alternatively, fetch content via the WordPress REST API during static builds for a more automated workflow.

Custom CMS or Database

For custom systems, write scripts to export database content to Markdown or JSON files. Preserve necessary metadata such as dates, authors, categories, and tags in the front matter, and download all media files to organise them in asset directories. Maintain your existing URL structure to avoid breaking external links and hurting SEO.

Content Organization

Organise your exported content in a clear folder structure. A typical setup includes separate directories for blog posts, pages, and assets, with consistent naming conventions that make content easy to find and manage during the build process.

content/
├── blog/
│ ├── 2024-01-15-first-post.md
│ └── 2024-02-20-second-post.md
├── pages/
│ ├── about.md
│ └── contact.md
└── assets/
└── images/

Replace Dynamic Features with Static Alternatives

Most dynamic features have modern static equivalents that work seamlessly with static sites.

Forms

Replace server-side forms with form-processing services such as Formspree, Basin, or Getform. Many static hosting platforms, such as Netlify and Vercel, include built-in form handling. For custom needs, use serverless functions with API endpoints.

Comments

Use hosted comment platforms like Disqus or Commento for traditional comment systems. For developer-focused sites, consider Utterances (GitHub issues-based) or Giscus (GitHub discussions-based) for a more integrated experience.

Search

Implement client-side search using JavaScript libraries such as Lunr.js or Fuse.js that support prebuilt indexes. For a more powerful search, use Algolia’s hosted search service. Pagefind offers automated search index generation at build time with minimal setup.

User Authentication

Use authentication services such as Auth0, Clerk, or Firebase Authentication for user login. Hosting-specific options like Netlify Identity or AWS Cognito provide seamless integration. Implement client-side authentication with JWT tokens for session management.

E-commerce

Add e-commerce functionality using headless commerce platforms. Shopify Buy Button or Snipcart let you embed checkout flows directly into your static pages. For simple payments, use Stripe Payment Links, or implement full headless commerce with platforms like Commerce Layer or Medusa.

Dynamic Content

Fetch dynamic content via APIs when needed. Query APIs client-side with JavaScript, use serverless functions for backend logic, or implement edge functions for personalisation and location-based content.

Build, Test, Deploy

Choose an appropriate SSG based on your needs. Create templates that match your design, import your exported content, and verify that all pages render correctly. Test internal links thoroughly before going live.

Run through a complete testing checklist

Page rendering
Image loading
Internal links
Form submissions
Search functionality
Mobile responsiveness
Performance metrics

This ensures nothing breaks during the transition.

Set up your new static hosting on platforms like Tiiny Host, Netlify, Vercel, or Cloudflare Pages. Configure redirects for any changed URLs to maintain SEO link equity, test on a staging domain first, then update DNS to point to your new hosting. Monitor for 404 errors after launch and add redirects as needed to ensure a smooth user experience.

Need step-by-step guidance with screenshots and troubleshooting? Check our ultimate guide to converting dynamic sites to static.

Adding Interactivity to Static Sites

“Static” doesn’t mean “lifeless.” Modern static sites can incorporate rich interactivity without sacrificing their performance and security advantages. The key is using client-side JavaScript and third-party services instead of server-side processing.

Forms & Lead Capture

Forms no longer require backend servers. Services like Formspree, Basin, and Getform provide simple form endpoints with spam protection and email notifications. If you’re using Netlify or Vercel, they include built-in form handling that automatically captures data. Just add a form processing endpoint to your HTML, and you’re ready to collect user input.

Search Functionality

Static sites can have powerful search without databases. Lunr.js and Fuse.js are lightweight JavaScript libraries that generate search indexes at build time. Pagefind creates automated search indexes with no configuration needed. For more advanced needs, hosted services like Algolia offer lightning-fast search with typo tolerance and instant results.

Comments

Add comments without managing databases. Hosted platforms like Disqus, Commento, and Hyvor Talk handle everything for you. For developer audiences, Utterances uses GitHub Issues while Giscus uses GitHub Discussions. These solutions load asynchronously, so they don’t slow down your initial page load.

Authentication

Implement login flows without managing server-side sessions. Services like Auth0, Clerk, and Firebase Authentication handle user authentication and return JWT tokens. Store these tokens client-side and include them in API requests for protected content. This works perfectly for gated content, personalised dashboards, and user preferences.

Embedded Tools

Enhance your site with third-party embeds. Add interactive maps with Google Maps or Mapbox. Enable payments with Stripe Payment Links or shopping carts like Snipcart. Include scheduling tools like Calendly, live chat with Intercom or Crisp, and analytics with Google Analytics or privacy-focused alternatives like Plausible. These tools load dynamically via JavaScript while keeping your static HTML clean.

Performance, Security & Maintenance

Static websites are fast by default, but optimisation takes them to the next level. Focus on images, code, and delivery methods to maximise performance while maintaining security.

Image Optimization

Modern image formats like WebP and AVIF reduce file sizes by 30-50% compared to JPEG or PNG. Use responsive images with srcset attributes to serve appropriate sizes for different devices. Implement lazy loading using the native <img loading=”lazy”> attribute to defer image loading until needed. Always specify width and height dimensions to prevent layout shifts. Consider using image CDNs like Cloudinary or Imgix for automatic optimisation.

Code Optimization

Minify your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to remove unnecessary whitespace and comments in production. Use tree-shaking to eliminate unused JavaScript code and implement code splitting to load only what’s needed for each page. Inline critical CSS for above-the-fold content and defer the rest. Optimise fonts by using variable fonts, setting font-display: swap, and subsetting to include only the necessary characters.

Delivery Optimization

Enable HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 for faster content delivery through multiplexing. Use Brotli or Gzip compression for text files. Configure proper CDN caching headers to reduce repeated requests. Add preconnect links for third-party domains and use resource hints, such as preload, for critical assets.

Monitoring

Run Lighthouse audits regularly to track performance metrics. Monitor Core Web Vitals in Google Search Console and use Real User Monitoring (RUM) to see actual visitor performance: set performance budgets and alerts to catch regressions before they impact users.

Design & User Experience

Good design goes beyond aesthetics—it improves usability and helps visitors navigate your site effectively.

Essential Design Elements

Add a favicon to represent your brand in browser tabs, bookmarks, and address bars. Create custom 404 error pages that guide visitors back to relevant content instead of showing default server errors. Implement breadcrumb navigation showing your site’s hierarchy to help visitors understand their location and navigate back easily.

Typography & Readability

Choose readable fonts that work across all screen sizes with proper line spacing and font weights. Limit font variations to reduce page weight and consider system fonts for faster loading. Balance text with visual elements and use whitespace effectively.

Accessibility & Compatibility

Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by providing alt text for images, ensuring proper colour contrast, and using semantic HTML elements. Test your site across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge to ensure consistent performance. Implement keyboard navigation and use descriptive link text to make your site accessible to everyone.

Security Hardening

Static sites are inherently secure, but additional hardening protects against common vulnerabilities.

Security Headers

Configure HTTP headers via your hosting platform to enforce HTTPS with HSTS, prevent XSS attacks with Content-Security-Policy, block clickjacking with X-Frame-Options, and control referrer information. Most static hosts let you set these in configuration files.

Example Headers (Netlify _headers file):

/*
Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains
X-Frame-Options: DENY
X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff
Content-Security-Policy: default-src ‘self’
Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin

Repository Security

Never commit API keys or secrets to version control—use environment variables instead. Enable Dependabot for automatic dependency update alerts and regularly run npm audit to check for vulnerabilities. Lock exact package versions to prevent unexpected breaking changes.

Check for security vulnerabilities.
npm audit
npm audit fix

Use safer alternatives when available.
npm install –save-exact # Lock exact versions

Maintenance Best Practices

Static sites require minimal maintenance, but regular upkeep keeps them performing optimally. Run automated link checkers regularly to catch broken links, monitor 404 errors in analytics, and add redirects as needed. Review and update outdated content quarterly, adding “last updated” dates to build trust with visitors and signal freshness to search engines.

Ensure your XML sitemap is generated automatically during builds and submitted to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. Add schema.org markup in JSON-LD format to provide rich search results, implementing the Article, BreadcrumbList, and Organisation schemas where applicable.

Set up branch protection and require pull request reviews before merging to production. Use deploy previews to test changes in production-like environments before going live. Your version control system serves as your backup, but test rollback procedures occasionally and keep previous deployments accessible.

Configure uptime monitoring with services like Pingdom or UptimeRobot, set SSL certificate expiration alerts, and track Core Web Vitals to catch degradation early. Update your SSG and dependencies monthly, audit third-party integrations for changes, and review hosting plans as traffic grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a static website?

A static website is a collection of pre-built web pages made of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that are delivered to users exactly as they’re stored on the server. Unlike dynamic websites that generate pages on demand, static sites are created once during a build process and don’t change until rebuilt. This makes them faster, more secure, and easier to host than traditional dynamic websites.

Static vs dynamic website — which is better for SEO?

Static websites generally perform better for SEO because they load faster, have cleaner HTML, and deliver consistent Core Web Vitals scores that Google rewards. However, SEO success depends more on content quality, proper optimisation, and link building than site architecture alone. Dynamic sites can achieve good SEO, too, but require more effort to match static site speed and technical performance. Choose based on your functional requirements first, both can rank well when optimised properly.

Can I use WordPress as a static site?

Yes! You can convert WordPress to static in several ways:

Export plugins: Tools like Simply Static, WP2Static, or StaticPress export your WordPress site to static HTML.
Headless WordPress: Use WordPress as a content API and build static front-ends with Next.js, Gatsby, or Eleventy
Scheduled rebuilds: Export static versions periodically and host them on static hosting platforms

This approach gives you WordPress’s familiar editing interface while also delivering static-site performance and security benefits.

Best free static website hosting?

Several platforms offer excellent free tiers for static hosting. You can use tools like TinyHost, GitHub Pages, or Netlify to get started and see which one suits you best.

How do I host a static website on S3?

To host a static website on AWS S3:

1. Create an S3 bucket with your domain name
2. Enable “Static website hosting” in bucket properties
3. Upload your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files
4. Set a bucket policy allowing public read access
5. Configure index and error documents (index.html, 404.html)
6. (Recommended) Add CloudFront CDN for HTTPS and global performance

While S3 works well, it requires more technical configuration than platforms like Netlify or Vercel. It’s best when you’re already using AWS services or need enterprise-level control over hosting infrastructure.

Are static websites scalable?

Yes, static websites are extremely scalable, often more so than dynamic alternatives. Since they’re just files on CDNs, they handle traffic spikes effortlessly without requiring server capacity planning. You can go from 100 to 100,000 visitors instantly with no infrastructure changes. Static sites have served millions of simultaneous visitors during major traffic events (Product Hunt launches, viral posts) without issues. The only scaling limit is CDN bandwidth, which is far cheaper and more reliable than scaling application servers.

What is a static website template?

A static website template provides a pre-designed layout and structure for building static websites. Templates include HTML files, CSS for styling, and sometimes JavaScript for basic interactions. Unlike starting from scratch, templates offer professional designs you can customise by replacing text and images, with formatting already handled. Many excellent templates are available for free, designed by professionals to ensure responsive design, fast loading, and modern aesthetics.

Can I add interactive elements to a static website?

Yes! While “static” suggests fixed content, you can add extensive interactivity using client-side JavaScript and third-party services. Features such as image sliders, dropdown menus, form validation, comments, search functionality, user authentication, and e-commerce checkouts can all be incorporated. The key difference is that interactivity occurs in the browser or via API calls rather than through server-side processing. This approach maintains the benefits of static sites (speed, security, cost) while delivering rich user experiences.

Are static websites good for SEO?

Yes, static websites are excellent for SEO. They naturally deliver fast loading times, clean HTML structure, and consistent Core Web Vitals scores, all factors Google rewards in search rankings. Static architecture produces easily crawlable pages, automatic sitemap generation, and reliable availability. While dynamic sites can also achieve good SEO with proper optimisation, static sites start with inherent advantages that require less ongoing effort to maintain high search engine performance.

Conclusion

Static websites represent a return to web fundamentals enhanced by modern tooling. By pre-building pages and serving them globally via CDNs, static architecture delivers exceptional performance, security, and cost efficiency for content-focused websites.

The static approach excels for portfolios, documentation, marketing sites, blogs, and catalogues, any site where content changes incrementally rather than in real-time. With tools like Hugo, Eleventy, and Next.js, combined with hosting platforms like Netlify, Vercel, and Tiiny Host, building and deploying static sites has never been easier.

Ready to build your static website? Try Tiiny Host for the simplest deployment experience, just upload a ZIP file and go live instantly.