MakeMySiteLive vs Surge
Surge is about as minimal as static hosting gets: install its CLI, run one command from your project folder, and the site is live. There's no dashboard to speak of. MakeMySiteLive keeps the same one-step spirit but adds a dashboard and versioned rollback, with no terminal needed. Pro sites also get a password lock. Here's the comparison.
| Feature | MakeMySiteLive | Surge |
|---|---|---|
| How you deploy | Upload a ZIP from a dashboard | Run surge from your project folder (CLI only) |
| Terminal required | No | Yes |
| Free SSL | Free, automatic | Free, automatic managed SSL on custom domains too; Professional adds bringing your own certificate |
| Free subdomain | Yes (*.makemysitelive.com) | Yes (*.surge.sh) |
| Custom domain | Yes, one DNS record, auto-SSL | Free to point a domain at a deploy, a hallmark Surge feature |
| Password protection | Built-in on Pro sites | Available on Surge Professional ($30/mo) |
| Version history + rollback | Built-in, one-click | None: redeploying replaces the current version |
| Dashboard | Yes, manage every site from one place | No, everything happens through the CLI |
| Pricing model | One free full site, Pro-site packs, unlimited microsites | Free for individual use; Surge Professional ($30/mo) adds password protection, bring-your-own SSL certificates, and team features |
| Built-in growth tools | WhatsApp button, analytics connectors, page views, and social preview from the dashboard | None: Surge stays deliberately minimal |
Choose Surge if…
- You live in the terminal and want the fewest possible steps between a folder and a live URL.
- You already own an SSL certificate (say, an EV or wildcard cert) and want to upload it yourself rather than use a managed one.
Choose MakeMySiteLive if…
- You'd rather use a dashboard than a terminal.
- You want one-click rollback on every site, and a password lock on a Pro site, instead of paying $30/mo for Surge Professional to get a password gate with still no rollback.
Frequently asked questions
Is MakeMySiteLive a Surge alternative?
Yes, if you'd rather manage sites from a dashboard than a terminal. Both get a static site live in about a minute with free SSL, including on a custom domain. MakeMySiteLive adds versioned rollback on every site, and a password lock on a Pro site, so you don't need Surge's $30/mo Professional plan for a password gate.
Does Surge have version history or rollback?
No. Redeploying with surge replaces the current live version, so there's nothing to roll back to. MakeMySiteLive keeps every upload as an immutable version you can restore with one click.
Can I still deploy from the terminal with MakeMySiteLive?
Yes. The REST API takes a ZIP as the raw request body, so a plain curl POST to /v1/sites/{id}/deploy works from any terminal or script, if you'd rather not use the dashboard.
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