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. 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. On while, from the start, or with the company account.

Netlify vs while: the French alternative for your AI agent

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 apps¹	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 Code³	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 agent²	Sensitive actions, like deleting a production database, wait for a person
The database	Managed PostgreSQL, backed up every day⁵	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 Enterprise⁴	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 month⁴	A trial without an account. Then €0 to get started, and €13.75 per month for an app and its database

Try while on your app, without an account. Copy the instructions

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^1,2. Netlify has a free plan, and an official MCP server for your agent^3,4.

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.

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