Open-source alternative
Replace Netlify with Go + PocketBase + HTMX
The best open-source alternative to Netlify is Go (or PocketBase) with htmx-ui/hello, self-hosted on Railway. Dave's signature stack: one Go binary, embedded PocketBase, templ + HTMX, Tailwind. This site is the dogfood.
Estimated save $2,400 a year.
Open the stack Deploy on Railway
How Netlify compares
| Netlify | Go + PocketBase + HTMX | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Credit-based hosting plans | Open-source or fair-code license; you pay the host |
| Hosting | Vendor cloud | Self-hosted on Railway or any VPS |
| Rough monthly cost | Personal $9/mo; Pro $20/mo with unlimited members source | Hosting only — no SaaS seat meter in this repo |
- Go
One static binary, no runtime to babysit
- PocketBase
Embedded realtime DB, auth, and admin
- htmx-ui/hello
HTMX starter patterns
- shadcn-htmx
shadcn-style components for HTMX + Tailwind v4
FAQ
- Is it free?
- The Go + PocketBase + HTMX licenses are open source or fair-code. You still pay hosting (Railway or any VPS) and any APIs the stack calls. There is no Netlify seat or task bill on this path.
- Can I migrate from Netlify?
- Yes. Start with the workflows or data you actually use, then cut over. The Go + PocketBase + HTMX stack page has the agent prompt and the cost table; most teams rebuild the slice that matters and leave old Netlify links until they expire.
- How do I deploy it?
- Open the Go + PocketBase + HTMX stack, copy the agent prompt, and deploy on Railway (one service, PORT, and a volume when the app needs disk). Placeholder: one Railway service, PORT, and a /data volume for PocketBase. A one-click template ships next.
- What does this replace?
- Firebase / Supabase + Vercel / Netlify. The published small-team estimate on this stack is $2,400 a year.
Related pages
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