Markdown Publishers

In the Documentation Bake Off, it’s not just about where you write your content, but also how you publish and share it. Let’s compare popular options for publishing markdown content.

The Contestants

GitHub Pages

A free hosting service that takes markdown files directly from your repository and turns them into websites, backed by the power of GitHub’s ecosystem.

Cloudflare Pages

A JAMstack platform that offers fast, secure hosting with a global CDN, continuous deployment, and preview deployments.

Netlify

A pioneer in the JAMstack space offering automated builds, deploy previews, and a robust free tier with many integrated services.

Vercel

A platform designed for frontend frameworks with excellent performance, serverless functions, and tight integration with Next.js.

GitLab Pages

Similar to GitHub Pages but part of the GitLab ecosystem, offering integrated CI/CD pipelines.

Key Features Comparison

Feature	GitHub Pages	Cloudflare Pages	Netlify	Vercel	GitLab Pages
Free Tier	Unlimited for public repos	Unlimited sites & requests	300 build mins/mo, bandwidth limits	Limited builds/mo, bandwidth limits	Free for all projects
Build System	GitHub Actions or Jekyll	Any build system	Integrated build system	Integrated build system	GitLab CI/CD
Custom Domains	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HTTPS	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)	Yes (manual setup)
Global CDN	Yes	Yes (Cloudflare’s network)	Yes	Yes	Limited
Deploy Previews	Via Actions	Yes	Yes	Yes	Via CI/CD
Build Time Limits	10 min	Generous	30 min	Variable	Depends on shared runners
Development Features	Minimal	Environment variables, preview branches	Split testing, form handling	Edge functions, image optimization	CI/CD pipeline integration
Markdown Support	Native with Jekyll	Via static site generators	Via static site generators	Via static site generators	Via static site generators

AI-Friendliness Deep Dive

AI Aspect	GitHub Pages	Cloudflare Pages	Netlify	Vercel	GitLab Pages
AI-driven Analytics	Limited	Cloudflare Analytics	Limited	Limited	Limited
API Access	GitHub API	Cloudflare API	Netlify API	Vercel API	GitLab API
Serverless Integration	Via Actions	Cloudflare Workers	Netlify Functions	Vercel Functions	Limited
Content Processing	Static	Static + Workers	Static + Functions	Static + Functions	Static
Integration with LLMs	Via External Services	Workers AI Support	External Services	External Services	External Services
Development AI Support	GitHub Copilot compatible	Limited native AI	Limited	Limited	Limited

Pros and Cons

GitHub Pages

Pros:

• Seamless integration with GitHub repositories
• Built-in Jekyll support
• Free and reliable
• Great for documentation sites
• Simple workflow for developers

Cons:

• Limited to static site generation
• Build customization requires GitHub Actions
• No server-side functionality without workarounds
• Limited plugin support compared to dedicated hosts
• Jekyll is the only natively supported SSG

Cloudflare Pages

Pros:

• Extremely fast global CDN
• Unlimited bandwidth on free tier
• Workers integration for dynamic functionality
• Great analytics
• Excellent security features

Cons:

• Newer platform with evolving features
• Less comprehensive documentation
• Build process can be slower than competitors
• Limited integration with some headless CMS options
• Workers require learning Cloudflare’s approach

Netlify

Pros:

• Pioneer in JAMstack with mature features
• Excellent developer experience
• Form handling, identity service, and split testing
• Large plugin ecosystem
• Intuitive interface

Cons:

• Free tier bandwidth and build minute limitations
• Can get expensive at scale
• Some advanced features require paid plans
• Limited edge computing capabilities
• Performance not as fast as pure CDN solutions

Vercel

Pros:

• Best-in-class Next.js integration
• Excellent performance optimization
• Great developer experience
• Edge functions and middleware
• Image optimization built-in

Cons:

• Free tier more limited than competitors
• Primarily focused on React ecosystem
• Can get expensive at scale
• Some features locked to specific frameworks
• Build times can be inconsistent

GitLab Pages

Pros:

• Integrated with GitLab’s complete DevOps platform
• Powerful CI/CD capabilities
• Complete control over build process
• Free for all projects
• Great for complex documentation needs

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Less optimized for pure static sites
• Requires more configuration than competitors
• Less intuitive interface
• Slower build times on shared runners

Getting Started Guide

Setting up GitHub Pages

1. Create a new repository or use an existing one
2. Create content in markdown files
3. Add a _config.yml file for Jekyll configuration
4. Enable GitHub Pages in repository settings
5. Choose your branch and folder for publishing
6. Your site will be available at username.github.io/repository

Setting up Cloudflare Pages

1. Sign up for Cloudflare (free)
2. Connect your GitHub or GitLab repository
3. Configure your build settings (command and output directory)
4. Deploy your site
5. Configure custom domain if needed
6. Your site will be available at project.pages.dev

Setting up Netlify

1. Sign up for Netlify (free)
2. Connect your Git repository
3. Configure build settings (command, publish directory)
4. Deploy your site
5. Configure custom domain if desired
6. Your site will be available at site-name.netlify.app

Setting up Vercel

1. Sign up for Vercel (free)
2. Connect your Git repository
3. Configure project settings (framework, build commands)
4. Deploy your site
5. Configure custom domain if desired
6. Your site will be available at project-name.vercel.app

Setting up GitLab Pages

1. Create a .gitlab-ci.yml file in your repository
2. Configure the pages job to build and deploy your site
3. Commit and push to trigger the pipeline
4. Your site will be available at username.gitlab.io/project

Publishing from Your Knowledge Management Tool

Different knowledge management tools have varying export options that affect how easily you can publish your content:

• Publishing from Obsidian: Obsidian’s clean markdown format works exceptionally well with all publishing platforms listed above. Learn more about Obsidian’s capabilities and how to prepare your content for publishing.

• Publishing from Notion: Notion allows direct publishing via sharing links, but you can also export to markdown for use with these platforms. The export might require some cleanup due to Notion’s block structure. Explore Notion’s features to understand the export workflow.

• Workflow Consideration: When choosing both a knowledge management tool and a publishing platform, consider how they’ll work together. The most seamless experience often comes from tools with direct publishing capabilities or clean markdown export.

The Verdict: Which Publisher Takes the Cake?

For straightforward documentation sites, GitHub Pages offers the most direct path from markdown to published site, especially when using Jekyll.

For performance and scale, Cloudflare Pages wins with its global CDN and unlimited bandwidth, plus the ability to add dynamic features with Workers.

For all-in-one capabilities and ease of use, Netlify provides the most well-rounded experience for both beginners and experts.

For Next.js and React-based documentation sites, Vercel delivers the best developer and user experience.

For teams already using GitLab for development, GitLab Pages provides the tightest integration with your existing workflow.

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