Custom domains with SSL
Both Pond and Neocities offer custom domains on paid plans. Pond includes free SSL certificates automatically.
Pond vs Neocities
Professional hosting,
modern interface.
Neocities is great for hobbyists and the indie web community. But if you need professional hosting with custom domains and a modern interface, Pond is the better choice.
- Custom domains available
- Modern interface
- Professional focus
- Password protection
Feature comparison
| Feature | Pond | Neocities |
|---|---|---|
Target audience Who it's designed for | SupportedProfessionals & businesses | UnsupportedHobbyists & indie web |
Interface User experience | SupportedModern and clean | PartialRetro aesthetic |
Password protection Restrict access | SupportedAll plans | UnsupportedNot available |
Custom domains Use your own domain | SupportedPaid plans | SupportedPaid plans |
Free storage Storage on free tier | Supported5MB total | Supported1GB total |
File types What you can host | SupportedAny file type | PartialLimited types |
Community features Social/discovery features | UnsupportedNot available | SupportedBuilt-in community |
Code editor Edit in browser | UnsupportedNot available | SupportedBuilt-in editor |
Why choose Pond over Neocities?
Professional hosting without the community focus
Professional focus
Neocities is community-focused with social features. Pond is built for professionals who need clean, business-ready hosting.
Modern interface
A clean, modern dashboard for managing your sites and files. No retro aesthetics, just efficient hosting.
Password protection
Protect your content with passwords. Neocities doesn't offer this feature.
All file types
Host any file type without restrictions. Neocities limits file types on the free plan.
No social pressure
Your hosting, your way. No community features, followers, or public profiles unless you want them.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about static website hosting and deployment
Static website hosting serves pre-built HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files without server-side processing. This makes websites faster, more secure, and cheaper to host than dynamic sites. Pond handles all the infrastructure so you just upload your files and go live.
Upload your HTML files and assets to Pond: drag and drop a folder or ZIP archive. Your website goes live instantly with a shareable link. Upgrade to connect a custom domain for a professional URL, and Pond handles SSL certificates automatically.
Pond works with any static site generator or JavaScript framework including React, Vue, Next.js (static export), Nuxt, Astro, Svelte, Angular, Gatsby, Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, and more. If it outputs HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, you can host it on Pond.
Build your React app (npm run build), then upload the build folder to Pond. Your React application goes live immediately. For SPAs, configure Pond to serve index.html for all routes to enable client-side routing.
Add your domain in the pond settings and update your DNS records to point to Pond (we provide the exact values). We automatically provision a free SSL certificate and your website goes live on your custom domain within minutes.
Yes, Pond provides free SSL certificates for all websites including custom domains. HTTPS is enabled automatically, with no configuration needed. Your visitors see the secure padlock icon and their data is encrypted in transit.
When you deploy an update, Pond automatically purges the CDN cache globally. Your visitors see the new version immediately without waiting for cache expiration. No manual cache clearing or TTL delays.
Yes, configure your pond to serve index.html for all routes, enabling client-side routing for React, Vue, Angular, and other SPA frameworks. This ensures deep links and browser refresh work correctly.
Static sites are faster (no server processing), more secure (no database or backend vulnerabilities), cheaper to host, and scale effortlessly to handle traffic spikes. Ideal for landing pages, marketing sites, documentation, blogs, and portfolios.
Yes, use our API to automate deployments from GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or any CI/CD pipeline. Deploy automatically on every push to your repository for seamless continuous deployment workflows.
Pond offers a free tier for static website hosting with 5MB total storage. Host your personal site, portfolio, or side project at no cost. Upgrade for additional storage, custom domains, and advanced features.
Your website stays online as long as your account is active. There are no automatic takedown periods; deploy once and your site remains live indefinitely. For free accounts, we ask that you log in occasionally to keep your account active.
Still have questions? Get in touch