Netlify Review: How to Make Money as an Affiliate

Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Have you ever built a website and then wondered, "Okay, now how do I actually get this online?"

For a lot of people, that's where things get stuck. Servers, uploads, security certificates, broken updates. It's a lot.

Netlify is built to take that pain away. In this review, I'll walk you through what Netlify is, how it works, what it costs, and how you can earn commissions by recommending it.

What Is Netlify?

Netlify is a platform for building and deploying websites and web apps. You give it your project, and it puts that project live on the internet, fast and secure.

You can get your project into Netlify in a few ways. You can connect a Git repository, use the command line, drag and drop a folder, or start from an AI agent prompt. Every path ends up in the same place: a live site.

Netlify is mainly aimed at developers and technical teams. But it's also become popular with people building sites using AI coding tools, because it makes the "put it online" step simple.

Here's what you get:

• Instant deploys from Git, the CLI, drag and drop, or an AI agent
• Deploy previews so every change gets its own private preview link
• One-click rollbacks if an update breaks something
• A global network with automatic HTTPS and DDoS protection
• Backend features like serverless functions, edge logic, scheduled jobs, databases, file storage, and built-in authentication
• AI Gateway for connecting your app to AI models
• Framework support for tools like Astro, Next.js, and React

How Does Netlify Work?

For Users

1. Sign up for a free Netlify account.
2. Connect a Git repository, drag and drop your site folder, use the CLI, or start from an AI prompt.
3. Netlify builds and deploys your project to a live URL.
4. Connect your own domain. HTTPS is handled for you.
5. Every time you push a change, you get a preview link to check it before it goes live.
6. Upgrade when you need more credits, more builds, or team features.

For Affiliates

1. Go to the Netlify Partners page and apply as an Ecosystem Partner. It's open to creators, publishers, educators, freelancers, and agencies, and you don't need to be a Netlify customer.
2. Once approved, log in to the partner portal. Netlify says the portal is powered by PartnerStack.
3. Grab your partner link from inside the portal.
4. Create helpful content, like reviews, tutorials, and comparisons, and add your link.
5. Earn a revenue share on eligible new self-serve customers you refer, and track it inside PartnerStack.

Netlify Pricing

Netlify uses a credit-based pricing model. Each plan includes a monthly pool of credits, and things like deploys, bandwidth, compute, and web requests use up those credits.

A few things to know. You can buy extra credits on paid plans. Netlify lists $5 for 500 credits on Personal and $10 for 1,500 credits on Pro. Higher Pro credit tiers cost more than the base tier, so check the pricing page for the tier you need.

The free plan is truly free. Netlify says it has hard monthly limits that can't be exceeded or cost you anything. But here's the catch: if you go over your limits, your projects pause until the next billing cycle. And Netlify warns that if one project goes over, all projects on your account are paused.

Also, accounts created before September 4, 2025 can stay on their older legacy plans.

Prices change, so always check the Netlify pricing page for the current numbers before you buy or write about it.

Who Should Use Netlify?

Users

Netlify is a good fit for:

• Developers who want fast, simple deploys without managing servers
• Teams building with modern frameworks like Next.js, Astro, or React
• People building sites and apps with AI coding tools who need an easy way to go live
• Agencies and freelancers shipping client sites
• Small teams that want unlimited members on one flat Pro price

If you're a beginner who wants a drag-and-drop page builder or a classic WordPress host with a control panel, Netlify probably isn't the right fit. It's built for people comfortable with code, or at least with AI tools that write the code for them.

Affiliates

Netlify is a strong fit if your audience is into web development, coding, AI app building, or freelancing. It's a well-known name among developers. So your job isn't to introduce it. Your job is to help people understand whether it's right for them, and how the credit pricing works.

Pros and Cons of Netlify

Pros

• A free plan with no time limit and hard limits that can't cost you money
• Very simple deploys from Git, the CLI, drag and drop, or AI agents
• Deploy previews and one-click rollbacks make updates less risky
• Built-in HTTPS, global network, and DDoS protection
• The Pro plan includes unlimited members instead of charging per seat

Cons

• Credit-based pricing takes some time to understand
• If you run out of credits, projects pause, and one project going over can pause all your projects
• Paid plans use auto recharge rather than a hard spending cap
• Payment is by credit card only, unless you're on Enterprise
• It's built for technical users, not complete beginners who want a visual site builder

Netlify vs Alternatives

Netlify has plenty of competition. Here's how it compares to a few other options.

If your audience wants to design sites visually instead of writing code, read my Webflow review. If they need classic hosting for something like WordPress, check out my UltaHost review.

That's a useful split for affiliates. Netlify is for people who build with code or AI tools. Webflow is for people who want to design. UltaHost is for people who want a traditional host.

How to Make Money with Netlify as an Affiliate

The Commission

Netlify's Partners page says Ecosystem Partners earn a 20% revenue share for up to 12 months on eligible self-serve new business.

There's also a higher level. Certified Partners earn 20% for up to 24 months, on both self-serve and enterprise revenue, including renewals and expansion. But to get there, you need to refer 3 or more new Pro customers or 1 or more new Enterprise customer per year, complete training, and be an active Netlify customer. That level is really aimed at agencies and freelancers who build on Netlify.

Notice the words "up to 12 months." This isn't a lifetime commission. You earn on a limited window of each customer's revenue.

Tracking runs through PartnerStack. Netlify's partner page doesn't list a cookie window, a payout schedule, or a minimum payout. The program agreement says those details live in the partner portal. So check them once you join. If you're new to the platform, my PartnerStack review explains how it works.

One more rule to know. The program agreement says you can't bid on Netlify's branded keywords in paid search. So focus on SEO and helpful content instead.

Content Angles That Work

• Comparisons. "Netlify vs Vercel" and "Netlify vs Cloudflare Pages" searchers are close to a decision. Be fair, and explain who each one is really for.
• Tutorials for AI builders. "How to deploy an AI-built app" or "how to put your site online for free." Show the steps, then point people to Netlify.
• Pricing explainers. Credits confuse people. A clear guide on how many credits a typical site uses, and which plan to pick, is genuinely helpful.

Keyword Ideas

• netlify review
• netlify pricing
• netlify free plan
• netlify vs vercel
• netlify vs cloudflare pages
• netlify credits explained
• netlify alternatives

Want to check how much search volume these get before you write? My Semrush review shows you how to research keywords like these.

Common Questions About Netlify

Is Netlify free?
Yes. Netlify has a free plan with 300 credits per month and hard limits, so it can't charge you. It includes 1 member and 1 concurrent build.

How much does Netlify cost?
Personal is $9 per month and Pro starts at $20 per month with unlimited members. Enterprise is custom. Higher Pro credit tiers cost more. Check Netlify's pricing page for current numbers.

What happens if I run out of credits?
According to Netlify, your projects pause until the next billing cycle. On paid plans, you can buy extra credits or turn on auto recharge.

Does Netlify have an affiliate program?
Yes. Netlify runs a partner program on PartnerStack. Ecosystem Partners earn a 20% revenue share for up to 12 months on eligible self-serve new business.

Can I run Google Ads on the Netlify brand name?
No. Netlify's partner program agreement says partners can't bid on Netlify's branded keywords.

Final Thoughts

Netlify makes going live simple. Push your code. Get a preview. Ship it. Roll it back if something breaks. That's what most developers really want.

It isn't perfect. The credit system takes time to learn, and paused projects can be a nasty surprise. But the free plan lets people try Netlify with no risk at all.

For affiliates, it's a known brand with a 20% revenue share for up to 12 months. Focus on helpful content. Explain the pricing clearly. Compare it honestly. That's what builds trust, and trust is what earns commissions.

Try Netlify here.

Want to Turn Affiliate Promotions into a Job-Replacing Income?

If you're serious about earning a job-replacing income promoting offers like Netlify, you'll love my step-by-step training, SEO Affiliate Domination.

Inside, I show you exactly how to rank simple affiliate websites in Google and build passive, predictable income, even if you're starting from scratch.