Quick answer
Deployment - For most builders, Deployment wins on free-tier value because it gives more production-ready AWS deployment features with no card required, while Flightcontrol is the better pick only if you need unlimited deployments for a single-user personal repo and do not mind the stricter free-plan shape.
How the free tiers compare
These two products both deploy into your own AWS account, but their free tiers are built for different phases. Deployment’s free plan is narrower on volume, capped at 10 jobs per month, but it includes a lot of the workflow pieces builders usually want when they are trying to ship safely: previews, automated tests, approval workflows, RBAC, logs, Slack alerts, custom domains, and support for multiple static sites and web services. It is also explicitly no-card required. Flightcontrol’s free tier is more about open-ended experimentation: one user, personal single-user repositories, unlimited projects, environments, and deployments. It is less clear on collaborative or gated release workflows, and a card is required. After free, Deployment’s first paid step is a usage-based Team plan, while Flightcontrol jumps to flat-priced paid tiers starting much higher.
Deployment vs Flightcontrol free tier, side by side
| DeploymentFTV 62 | FlightcontrolFTV 32 | |
|---|---|---|
| User accountsDeployment free tier is single-user; Flightcontrol free tier is also single-user. | 1 user account | 1 user account |
| Jobs / deploymentsDeployment caps monthly jobs; Flightcontrol does not list a free deployment cap. | Up to 10 jobs per month | Unlimited deployments |
| Projects / repositoriesDeployment is repository-focused; Flightcontrol is project-focused and restricted to personal single-user repos on free. | Unlimited repositories | Unlimited projects; personal, single-user repositories |
| EnvironmentsBoth free tiers include unlimited environments. | Unlimited environments | Unlimited environments |
| Sites and servicesFlightcontrol’s free-plan items do not list site or service counts. | Unlimited static sites; unlimited web services | Not specified on free tier |
| Previews / release workflowDeployment explicitly includes preview and approval workflow features. | Automatic previews on pull requests; automated tests and approval workflows supported | Not specified on free tier |
| Credit card requiredDeployment explicitly says no credit card to start for free; Flightcontrol’s input says a card is required. | No | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
Deployment starts with a usage-based Team plan at $23/mo, with jobs included in the plan and an Enterprise contact-sales option above that. Flightcontrol starts much higher with flat pricing: Starter at $97/month, then Business at $397/month, then Enterprise custom. So Deployment is cheaper for small-team use, especially if you are still under light job volume. Flightcontrol’s paid plans are priced for more seats and higher support needs, not for squeezing a little more out of a free cap.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Deployment | Flightcontrol |
|---|---|---|
| light team usage beyond free tierDeployment’s first paid anchor is the Team plan; Flightcontrol jumps to Starter. | $23/mo | $97/mo |
| small team needing more than 1 user and more than free-tier limitsExact Deployment overage math is not provided beyond the Team plan price and job bands. | $23/mo and up | $97/mo and up |
| need for higher support and preview environmentsFlightcontrol lists preview environments and 24/7 emergency response on Business. | $23/mo and up | $397/mo and up |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Deployment when…
- You want to deploy AI-generated or frequently changing code with previews, tests, and approval gates before release.
- You need a free tier that allows multiple static sites and web services, even if deployment jobs are capped.
- You want Slack alerts, RBAC, logs, and custom domains on the free plan.
- You are comparing free tiers and want to start without entering a credit card.
Pick Flightcontrol when…
- You are a solo developer working from a personal, single-user repository.
- You want unlimited free deployments and do not expect to hit a job cap quickly.
- You need many environments and projects on the free tier for experimentation.
- You are fine starting with a product whose free tier is narrower on collaboration and release controls.
Bottom line
If you are a solo builder choosing a free deployment tier, Flightcontrol is the simpler unlimited-deployments sandbox, but Deployment is the better default for most builders because it gives more production workflow features on the free plan and does not require a card. Once you outgrow free, Deployment also stays much cheaper at the first paid step. Flightcontrol makes more sense when the main constraint is unlimited free deployment activity inside a personal repo.
Read the full listings: Deployment and Flightcontrol. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.