Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

surge.sh VS CloudLinux

Compare surge.sh VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

surge.sh logo surge.sh

Static website hosting for front-end developers.

CloudLinux logo CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.
  • surge.sh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20
  • CloudLinux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27

surge.sh features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Surge.sh offers a simple and intuitive interface for developers to deploy static websites quickly with a minimal learning curve.
  • Free Tier
    It provides a generous free tier, allowing developers to deploy sites without cost, which is beneficial for hobby projects or initial development stages.
  • Custom Domain
    Surge.sh supports custom domains, giving users the ability to deploy their site under a personalized web address easily.
  • Instant Deployment
    Deployments on Surge.sh are incredibly fast, often taking just seconds, which enhances productivity and reduces downtime.
  • HTTPS Support
    It includes built-in HTTPS support, ensuring that sites are secure without the need for manual SSL certificate management.

Possible disadvantages of surge.sh

  • Static Sites Only
    Surge.sh is designed specifically for static sites, so it does not support server-side logic, databases, or back-end functionality.
  • Limited Configuration Options
    It offers fewer customization options compared to other more complex deployment services, potentially limiting flexibility for advanced use cases.
  • File Size Limits
    There are file size and total site size limitations, which could be restrictive for large projects or media-heavy websites.
  • No Built-in CI/CD
    Surge.sh lacks integrated continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows, which are available in other services like Netlify and Vercel.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Services for Enhancements
    For added features like backend services, developers will need to integrate third-party services, which could complicate the deployment architecture.

CloudLinux features and specs

  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudLinux

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis of CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

surge.sh videos

Introducing Surge

CloudLinux videos

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos:

  • Review - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • Review - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to surge.sh and CloudLinux)
Static Site Generators
100 100%
0% 0
Hosting
0 0%
100% 100
Website Builder
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Hosting
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, surge.sh seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 29 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

surge.sh mentions (29)

  • Cloudflare Drop
    I found https://surge.sh to be a nice version of this kind of thing. Just go into a folder and type `surge` and there you go. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Have a Fucking Website
    If you already have your HTML and CSS, just upload it to https://surge.sh/ or another one of the bajillions of static site hosting services. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • I tested free subdomain hosting for WebTiles so you don't have to
    Yoursite.surge.sh - normal usage requires the surge NPM module installed, then to be invoked from the exact folder on your system within the commandline terminal, but has multiple alternative deployment guides. Unlimited free subdomains. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • 100+ FREE Resources Every Web Developer Must Try
    . Netlify : Deploy your web projects with ease. . Render : Host web applications and static sites effortlessly. . GitHub Pages: Host your static websites directly from your GitHub repository. . Firebase Hosting: Scale your web apps effortlessly with Firebase. . Vercel: Deploy websites and applications with automatic deployments. . Cyclic.sh: Host your static sites with zero configuration. . Appwrite:... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Automated delivery React / Vue app for each Pull Request.
    We need to have a unique name per each PR to differentiate the builds. In order to release an app with a unique name, we are using PR number from CircleCI and deploy it via Surge service. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

CloudLinux mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CloudLinux yet. Tracking of CloudLinux recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing surge.sh and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products

GitHub Pages - A free, static web host for open-source projects on GitHub

Vercel - Vercel is the platform for frontend developers, providing the speed and reliability innovators need to create at the moment of inspiration.

Netlify - Build, deploy and host your static site or app with a drag and drop interface and automatic delpoys from GitHub or Bitbucket

tiiny.host - The simplest way to share your web project.

Cloudflare Pages - Deploy blazing fast static sites and serverless functions.

Neocities - Create your own free website. Unlimited creativity, zero ads.