GitHub Pages vs Google Sites: Free Hosting for Non-Coders vs Coders
Direct answer: GitHub Pages is the better choice if you're comfortable with basic HTML, Markdown, or a static site generator and want full design control with zero platform lock-in, while Google Sites is better for non-coders who want a working page in minutes with no technical setup.
Setup Complexity
GitHub Pages requires creating a repository and either writing HTML directly or using a static site generator like Jekyll. Google Sites requires only a Google account and a drag-and-drop interface.
Design and Performance
GitHub Pages sites are typically much faster since there's no builder framework overhead — pages are served as lean static files. Google Sites' performance is solid but constrained by its templated framework.
Custom Domains and Cost
GitHub Pages supports a free custom domain mapping with no builder fee, identical to Google Sites in this respect, though the actual domain registration cost applies to both.