Deploy guides

Deploy a Windsurf app to Netlify

Native: App Deploys already uses Netlify. Claim the site to keep it.

Specific to Windsurf + Netlify
  • After an App Deploy, open the claim link to move the site into your own Netlify account, then connect GitHub for continuous deploys.
Need an always-on server?

Netlify doesn't run always-on servers. If your project has a long-running backend (websockets, bots, background jobs), use Railway or Render for that part.

Step by step

  1. Check your project type

    • Static / SPA: Build outputs dist/ or build/.
    • Next.js / SSR: next.config.* etc.

  2. Get the code onto GitHub

    • Push to GitHub like any local project; App Deploys config lives in windsurf_deployment.yaml.

  3. Create the project on Netlify

    In Netlify choose Add new project → Import an existing project, connect GitHub and pick your repository. Netlify detects Vite and fills in the build settings.

  4. Check the build settings

    For Vite: build command npm run build, publish directory dist. The publish directory is relative to the base directory.

    For Windsurf: build command npm run build, output Framework default.

  5. Add environment variables before the first build

    In Netlify: Project configuration → Environment variables (add them before the first build). Copy these from Windsurf:

    • Your local .env — add values in Netlify after claiming the site.

    Changed a value later? Rebuild. Vite bakes variables in at build time. Troubleshoot missing env vars

  6. Make page refreshes work (Vite / React Router single-page apps)

    public/_redirects (ends up in dist/_redirects) 
    /*  /index.html  200

    Server-rendered projects (TanStack Start, Next.js) don't need this. Netlify docs (opens in a new tab)

  7. Update login redirect URLs

    Add your new Netlify URL (and later your custom domain) to your auth provider's allowed URLs. Redirect troubleshooting

  8. Add your domain

    Project → Domain management → Add a domain, then follow the DNS instructions (or delegate your domain to Netlify DNS). HTTPS is automatic.

What it will cost

Free tier Free: $0 forever — 300 credits/month. Paid from $9/mo: Personal: $9/month, 1,000 credits. Pro: $20/month, 3,000 credits, unlimited members. Checked 17 Oct 2026 on Netlify's pricing page (opens in a new tab).

  • Every production deploy costs credits, so frequent auto-deploys from an AI builder eat into the free 300.

Other options for Windsurf