When comparing ZEIT Now vs Google App Engine, the Slant community recommends Google App Engine for most people. In the question“What are the best Platform as a Service providers that have a free plan?” Google App Engine is ranked 2nd while ZEIT Now is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose Google App Engine is:
Google App Engine integrates with Google's CDN out of the box and it distributes your application's assets through that, increasing loading speed considerably.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Deployments via a simple command line command
Installing their CLI and calling "now" inside your project's root will automatically build your project, whether it may be a Node.js or a Docker app , or maybe a static website, it works on the platform.
Pro Custom domain support
ZEIT Now supports custom domains, if that doesn't ring your bell, they also allow you to buy a domain directly from ZEIT, and even from the CLI.
Pro From the developers of Hyper Terminal and Next.js
The renowned developers of the Hyper Terminal and Framework for React applications develops and maintains this platform.
Pro Good support
You can talk to the staff anytime via their slack real-time, or mail them. They provide good assistance and will help you on any questions or issues on the platform.
Pro In-depth documentation
The documentation is very in-depth and can help you understand on how to make your application work on the platform.
Pro Increases application speed considerably
Google App Engine integrates with Google's CDN out of the box and it distributes your application's assets through that, increasing loading speed considerably.
Pro Easy to use
Google App Engine is very easy to use. All you need to do is install the SDK (which in itself is easy as well, and the documentation is very heplful) and run the command needed depending on the type of project to deploy it.
For example, to deploy a golang application, you run golang deploy
inside the project folder and it will be automatically deployed.
Cons
Con Docker builds can only execute at the CMD Layer
ZEIT Now executes everything using docker run, so whatever was defined in the CMD Layer, is what will ZEIT will only execute.
Con Node.js apps has no access to the instance's filesystem
Once the Node.js build has completed, the only accessible directory is /tmp, which makes any file operation impossible outside the /tmp directory.
Con Free plan makes your code public
Unless you upgrade to a paid plan, the source code can be easily viewed by others.
Con Not a core Google product faces uncertin future
Google is notorious with flipping on technology directions, this product is clearly not the focus of Google.
Con Expenses are very hard to control
The monitoring for expenses is limited at best.
Con Problematic support even in the paid grade
Con No SQL database available
Google App Engine uses Google's NoSQL cloud database. There's no option to use a SQL database with your application.