---
title: "Netlify vs while: the French alternative for your AI agent"
url: https://while.sh/en/comparisons/while-vs-netlify/
author: "Grégoire Mougeolle, co-founder of Nextmap"
updated: 2026-11-02
---

# Netlify vs while: which one to choose when your AI agent deploys?

Netlify is built for websites and their previews. while deploys your full apps, database, jobs and storage included: your agent does everything over MCP, and sensitive actions, like deleting a production database, wait for your approval.

## What changes between Netlify and while

| What matters | Netlify | while |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Websites, from marketing sites to front-end apps (source 1) | People who build their apps with an AI agent, solo or as a team |
| Your AI agent | An official MCP server, and a guide for Claude Code (source 3) | Connected over MCP, with OAuth: it deploys, creates the database, reads the logs and fixes things |
| What protects production | A copy of the database for each preview and each agent (source 2) | Sensitive actions, like deleting a production database, wait for a person |
| The database | Managed PostgreSQL, backed up every day (source 5) | PostgreSQL in while, backed up every day, with point-in-time recovery |
| Who opens your app | A password from the Pro plan up, SSO on Enterprise (source 4) | Everyone, a password, or the company account with the Pro plan |
| In France | Functions, on request, on the Pro or Enterprise plan | Yes, with Nextmap, a French company |
| To get started | Free, then $9 or $20 per month (source 4) | A trial without an account. Then €0 to get started, and €13.75 per month for an app and its database |

## Netlify, built for websites and their previews

Every new version and every pull request gets its own preview, with its own copy of the database, and a rollback takes one click (sources 1 and 2). Netlify has a free plan, and an official MCP server for your agent (sources 3 and 4).

## With while, your AI agent does the rest

- **Your agent deploys, over MCP.** It writes while.yaml, creates the database, reads the logs and fixes things, with no command line to learn.
- **Nothing serious happens without you.** Deleting a production database waits for your approval, before it runs, and every action is recorded in a signed activity log.
- **Your keys stay secret.** Your app uses them, your agent never sees them.
- **Your colleagues sign in with the company account.** Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, on the Pro plan, with no sign-in page to code.
- **A mistake is quickly undone.** In the 30 minutes after a deployment, the previous version comes back in a second, and your database goes back to a precise moment.

## Moving from Netlify to while

### Take over your app

> You, to your agent: Move our Netlify app to while.

Your agent writes while.yaml from your code. A Node.js, Python or Go app starts without a Dockerfile, the others with yours.

### Copy your PostgreSQL database

> You, to your agent: Copy our PostgreSQL database to while.

Your agent exports the database with `pg_dump`, then loads it into while.

### Carry over your variables

> You, to your agent: Carry over our environment variables.

Your agent carries your settings over to while. You enter your secret keys yourself: it never sees them.

## Which one to choose

- **Choose Netlify** if you mostly deploy websites and front ends, with a lot of previews.
- **Choose while** if your AI agent deploys full apps, with their database, their jobs and their storage, in France.

## Next steps

- [Deploy a static site](/en/guides/deploy-static-site/)
- [Deploy a Bolt app outside Bolt](/en/guides/deploy-bolt-app/)

## Sources

1. [Netlify, the platform](https://www.netlify.com/platform/), 2026-11-02
2. [Netlify, the database](https://docs.netlify.com/build/data-and-storage/netlify-database/), 2026-11-02
3. [Netlify, the Claude Code guide](https://docs.netlify.com/build/build-with-ai/agent-setup-guides/set-up-claude-code-for-netlify/), 2026-11-02
4. [Netlify, pricing](https://www.netlify.com/pricing/), 2026-11-02
5. [Netlify Database, backup and recovery](https://docs.netlify.com/build/data-and-storage/netlify-database/backup-and-recovery/), 2026-11-02

## Questions

### Does Netlify run a Docker container?

Not according to its documentation: it serves sites and functions. while deploys a container just like an app.

### Which one keeps my backups the longest?

Netlify, up to 30 days on the Pro plan (source 5). On while, 14 days, with point-in-time recovery, and a production backup tested every day.

### Can I protect an app with a password?

On Netlify, from the Pro plan up (source 4). On while, from the start, or with the company account.