Not everyone deploying a Website Studio project is a developer — and that's completely fine. While Website Studio generates a standalone web application, you don't need advanced infrastructure or DevOps knowledge to get your site online. Website Studio exports your project as a static site (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files), which can be hosted on any platform that supports static file hosting. Many modern hosting platforms make deployment extremely simple, allowing you to publish your site in just a few minutes by uploading your files. In this guide, we'll show you the easiest ways to launch a Website Studio site using beginner-friendly hosting platforms such as Netlify, Vercel, or traditional hosting providers like GoDaddy. **⚠️ Important — HTML download option is deprecated:** The HTML download/export option in Website Studio is deprecated and its removal is actively pending release — it is likely to become unavailable very soon. The steps in this guide depend on uploading an extracted export folder, so this workflow may no longer be available in your account. Check your Website Studio UI immediately to confirm whether the HTML download/export option is still present; for documentation purposes, treat the feature as effectively unavailable. If it is not available, contact support before proceeding. **Last verified:** 2026-05-29. **Note on Content Genius:** Content Genius articles can be published directly to Website Studio sites, as well as to WordPress and through Universal CMS connectors (for example Shopify and HubSpot). **Note on OTTO SEO:** If you are using OTTO SEO with your Website Studio site, note that OTTO deployments may not function correctly when the site is hosted on third-party platforms (Netlify, Vercel, GoDaddy, etc.) — no CMS Connector or Cloudflare Worker gets configured for externally hosted sites. Contact support before choosing a third-party host if you rely on OTTO SEO automation. # **1️⃣ Publish with Netlify (Easiest Method)** Netlify allows you to deploy your Website Studio project with a simple **drag-and-drop upload** of the unzipped export folder (not the ZIP file itself). # **Steps** 1️⃣ Go to 2️⃣ Create a free account 3️⃣ From the dashboard click: `Add new site → Deploy manually` 4️⃣ Drag and drop the **extracted (unzipped) Website Studio folder** — make sure **index.html** sits at the root of the folder you drop in. 5️⃣ Netlify will automatically: - Upload your site - Generate a temporary domain - Deploy it instantly Your site will usually be live in seconds. **Note:** Publishing may occasionally take longer than expected. A recent fix resolved an extended delay bug, but if your site does not appear live within a few minutes, wait and refresh — do not click Publish again, as the process may still be running in the background. Contact support if the delay persists. Example: `https://yourproject.netlify.app` You can later connect your **custom domain**. **About custom domains and DNS:** DNS propagation can take up to 2+ hours after you point your domain to your new host. During this period you may see a temporary **DNS Failed** or similar error-like status — this is normal and does not mean something is broken. Wait for propagation to complete before assuming something went wrong or retrying setup. # **2️⃣ Publish with Vercel (Fast & Reliable)** Vercel is another popular platform for hosting modern web applications. Unlike Netlify, Vercel's standard dashboard flow is built around **Git repository imports** rather than drag-and-drop file uploads, so deploying a Website Studio export takes a little more setup. # **Steps** You have two supported options: **Option A — Vercel CLI (direct upload of static files):** 1️⃣ Install the Vercel CLI: `npm i -g vercel` 2️⃣ Open a terminal inside your **extracted (unzipped) Website Studio folder**, where **index.html** is located. 3️⃣ Run: `vercel` 4️⃣ Follow the prompts and accept the defaults. When asked about a framework, choose **Other** (it is a plain static site, no build step is required). **Option B — Git-based deploy:** 1️⃣ Go to 2️⃣ Create a free account 3️⃣ Push your extracted Website Studio folder to a GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repository. 4️⃣ Click: `Add New → Project` 5️⃣ Import the repository, leave the framework as **Other**, and click **Deploy**. Vercel will publish the site automatically. Example URL: `https://yourproject.vercel.app` # **3️⃣ Publish with Traditional Hosting (GoDaddy, Hostinger, etc.)** If you already have hosting with providers such as: - GoDaddy - Hostinger - Bluehost - SiteGround - Namecheap You can upload your Website Studio files manually. You will upload the **unzipped** contents of the export — not the ZIP file. The root file your visitors load is **index.html**, and it must sit directly inside **public\_html** alongside the asset folders. # **Steps** 1️⃣ Log into your hosting dashboard 2️⃣ Open **File Manager** 3️⃣ Navigate to the folder: `public_html` 4️⃣ Upload the extracted Website Studio files (or upload the ZIP and use the host's **Extract** action so the files land directly in **public\_html**). Example structure: `public_html ├ index.html ├ assets ├ css ├ js └ images` 5️⃣ Visit your domain: `https://yourdomain.com` Your Website Studio site should now be live. # **⚠️ Common Mistakes** Avoid these frequent issues: ❌ Uploading the **ZIP file instead of extracting it** ❌ Uploading only **index.html without the asset folders** ❌ Uploading files outside of **public\_html** **If your published site appears as a blank page:** a bug causing blank pages on load was recently resolved, so first try a hard-refresh, clear your browser cache, or open the URL in an incognito/private window. If the issue persists, try re-publishing the site, and contact support if the blank page continues to appear. **If publishing appears to hang or take too long:** a recent fix resolved an extended publishing delay bug. Wait a few minutes and refresh the page before retrying — do not click Publish again, as the process may still be running in the background. Contact support if publishing still does not complete. # **🧠 Quick Tip** Website Studio generates **static websites**, which means they are compatible with most hosting platforms. If a hosting provider allows you to upload **HTML files**, it will usually support Website Studio sites. # **🏁 Final Recommendation** For most users, we recommend: **Netlify or Vercel** because they offer: - Instant deployment - Free hosting tiers - Automatic SSL certificates - Global CDN performance These platforms allow non-technical users to publish Website Studio projects in just a few minutes. Publishing a Website Studio site doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose a drag-and-drop platform like Netlify, a fast deployment service