The Surge Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Surge in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Surge
The Insider’s Guide
Static web publishing from the command line
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from Surge’s own pages.
Made by Chloi Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Surge’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Surge’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 99 of the 122 other web hosts we grade
Surge puts a folder of static files on a global network with HTTPS, at a surge.sh name or your own domain, using one command from a terminal, CI job or coding agent. It does not build projects. Plans are per account, and there is one free plan and one paid plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Surge, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Everything is done from a terminal with the CLI, so it is a poor start for anyone who does not use a command line.
- 1
Best for publishing a static folder from the command line
Surge puts a folder of static files online with one command, and the free plan includes custom domains.
- 2
Paid plans start at $30 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $30 per month (Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited projects and domains, custom domains with certificates, 10 regions, previews and 100 revisions with rollback.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
One-command publishing
Run surge with a directory and a domain; the CLI remembers the domain in a one-line CNAME file and needs no config file.
- 6
Previews and rollback
Each publish is a revision and the last 100 are kept, so a domain can be previewed, cut over and rolled back.
- 7
Custom domains and certificates
Custom domains are free on every plan, with certificates issued and renewed automatically once DNS points at Surge.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 99 of 122
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Surge you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Surge at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $30 per month (Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Chloi Inc., since 2014
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for publishing a static folder from the command line
Surge puts a folder of static files online with one command, and the free plan includes custom domains. It is command line only, builds nothing for you, and redirects, rewrites and password protection sit on a $30 a month plan.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free plan with unlimited projects and domains, and custom domains with certificates at no cost. The only paid plan is $30 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The free plan covers real use, with limits you can hit: 450 MB and 10,100 files a project, and publishing is rate limited. |
| Features | C | Previews, 100 revisions with rollback and single-page app support. It serves static files only and does not run a build, so it does a narrow job. |
| Ease of use | D | Everything is done from a terminal with the CLI, so it is a poor start for anyone who does not use a command line. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with a CLI and scoped tokens for CI jobs. No dashboard to build in, and no phone or desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Surge is for
- Fits if you are happy in a terminal and want to push a build folder online
- Works for quick previews and demos from a CI job
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a point-and-click dashboard, as publishing is by command line
- Skip it if you need a build step, because Surge only serves files you built elsewhere
- Pricey if you need redirects, rewrites or password protection, which need Pro at $30 a month
- Watch out: publishing is rate limited on every plan, and a project tops out at 450 MB
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want to publish a build folder without a Git integration
- Quick previews and demos from a terminal or CI job
- Static sites that need a custom domain at no cost
Worth knowing
- Static files only, and Surge does not run a build, so you build elsewhere and hand it the output.
- Publishing is rate limited on every plan: 30 per domain and 60 per account every 15 minutes.
- A project can be at most 450 MB and 10,100 files.
- Password protection, redirects and rewrites need the $30 Pro plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$30
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Surge has a free plan. Paid plans start at $30 per month (Pro).
Free plan with unlimited projects and domains, and custom domains with certificates at no cost.
Free
$0
Unlimited projects and domains, custom domains with certificates, previews, rollback and scoped CI tokens.
Pro
$30
per month
Everything in Free plus password protection for a domain or paths, and redirects and rewrites.
The free plan
Unlimited projects and domains, custom domains with certificates, 10 regions, previews and 100 revisions with rollback.
Read from surge.sh on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Static web publishing from the command line. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, workflow automation.
It serves static files only and does not run a build, so it does a narrow job.
- One-command publishing
- Run surge with a directory and a domain; the CLI remembers the domain in a one-line CNAME file and needs no config file.
- Previews and rollback
- Each publish is a revision and the last 100 are kept, so a domain can be previewed, cut over and rolled back.
- Custom domains and certificates
- Custom domains are free on every plan, with certificates issued and renewed automatically once DNS points at Surge.
- Single-page app support
- A 200.html file serves unknown paths for client-side routes, and a 404.html gives a custom not-found page.
- Tokens for CI and agents
- A token can be scoped to one domain, and Surge publishes a manual for coding agents at surge.sh/docs/agents.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Vite
- Astro
- Eleventy
- Hugo
Surge is made by Chloi Inc., and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
99/122
Other web hosts it is graded above
Surge's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 99 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 14.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 105 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $30 a month, against a middle price of $9.69 for the category: 96 of the 107 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. 92 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. Surge’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 105 of 122
- BFree plan and trialAbove 99 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 111 web hosts. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Surge is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Surge you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.4 is higher than 99 of the 122 other web hosts we grade. It costs $360 a year.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
What this rests on. Surge’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Netlify, GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages, Neocities and Firebase Hosting
The 5 tools Surge is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Netlify
Free plan · from $9/mo
Git-based hosting for sites and web apps, priced by monthly credits.
- Surge also covers workflow automation.
- Netlify also covers AI agents and forms.
- 2.8GPA
GitHub Pages
Free plan · from $0
- 2.8GPA
Cloudflare Pages
Free plan · from $5/mo
Git-based hosting for static sites and full-stack apps.
- Surge also covers workflow automation.
- Cloudflare Pages also covers page speed.
- 2.6GPA
Neocities
Free plan · from $5/mo
Free static website hosting with an in-browser editor.
- Neocities is open source, according to its own site.
- Surge also covers workflow automation.
- 2.4GPA
Firebase Hosting
Free plan · from $0.026
Google's CDN hosting for static and single-page web apps.
- Surge also covers workflow automation.
- Firebase Hosting also covers page speed.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Surge free?
Surge has a free plan. Unlimited projects and domains, custom domains with certificates, 10 regions, previews and 100 revisions with rollback.
How much does Surge cost?
Surge lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Surge work on?
Surge is available on Web.
Does Surge have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Surge is listed for Web.
Does Surge have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Surge is listed for Web.
Is Surge open source?
Surge is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Surge have an API?
Yes. Surge offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Surge integrate with?
Surge's listing names Vite, Astro, Eleventy and Hugo. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Surge?
Surge is made by Chloi Inc. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to Surge?
The closest alternatives to Surge in our directory are Netlify, GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages, Neocities and Firebase Hosting.
How does Surge compare with other web hosts?
Surge's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 99 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 14.
Is Surge good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Surge A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $30 a month, against a middle price of $9.69 for the category: 96 of the 107 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Surge?
To replace Surge you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Surge’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Surge's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Chloi Inc. Prices change, so check surge.sh before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Surge, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/surge
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Surge: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/surge
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/surge/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded web hosts after Surge, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 123 web hosts we grade, compared
- Cloudflare Pages Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for static sites and full-stack apps2.8 GPA
- GitHub Pages Insider's GuideStatic site hosting built into GitHub repositories2.8 GPA
- Netlify Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for sites and web apps, priced by monthly credits2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Surge’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Surge is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Chloi Inc. Prices and plans change: check surge.sh before you buy.