Compare / RunLater vs Netlify Scheduled Functions
RunLater vs Netlify Scheduled Functions
Netlify Scheduled Functions run one of your site's functions on a cron schedule, in UTC, with a 30-second limit, on published deploys only. They suit short jobs that already live in a Netlify site. RunLater calls any URL (including a Netlify function endpoint) with your method, headers and body, retries failures and logs each response.
Netlify Scheduled Functions details are from their own pages (listed under the table), checked October 27, 2026. Prices change; check their page before you decide.
| RunLater | Netlify Scheduled Functions | |
|---|---|---|
| What it runs | Any public URL, any method, your headers and body | A function in your Netlify site; no payload or POST data, and it cannot be called by URL |
| Run length | Configurable per request, 1 to 300 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Timezone | Timezone per request, daylight saving handled | UTC |
| Which deploys | Not tied to a deploy | Published deploys only |
| Changing a schedule | Edit it in the dashboard, takes effect right away | Set in the function's config or netlify.toml, so it ships with a deploy |
| Retries | Up to 10 retries with exponential backoff, set per request | Not mentioned in the docs |
| One-time run at an exact time | Yes: exact date and time, or a cron expression | No: cron schedules only |
| Logs | Every run logged with status, timing and response body; kept 7, 30 or 90 days by plan | Function logs in the Netlify UI |
| Price | $15/mo (25,000 runs), $39/mo (100,000 runs), $149/mo (500,000 runs) | Available on all plans; billed as function compute (GB-hours) |
Sources for the Netlify Scheduled Functions column, read October 27, 2026:
Pick Netlify Scheduled Functions if
- The job is short (under 30 seconds) and already lives in your Netlify site.
- You want the schedule deployed with the code.
Pick RunLater if
- You need to send a body or headers, or call something that is not a Netlify function.
- The job takes longer than 30 seconds (RunLater waits up to 5 minutes for a response).
- You want retries, schedules in your own timezone, or a one-time call at an exact date.
Try it on your own endpoint
The fastest way to compare is to point both at a real URL. RunLater's trial lasts 14 days and you can cancel from the billing page before it ends.