Vercel is the obvious choice for Next.js deployment. They built the framework, after all. But obvious isn't always best.
Here's when to use Vercel, and when to look elsewhere.
Vercel: The Gold Standard
Pros: Zero-config deployment, automatic preview deployments, excellent DX, built-in analytics.
Cons: Gets expensive at scale, some vendor lock-in.
Best for: Teams wanting the smoothest experience, startups moving fast.
Cloudflare Pages
Pros: Generous free tier (unlimited bandwidth), excellent global edge network, zero cold starts, significantly cheaper at scale.
Best for: Cost-conscious projects, globally distributed audiences.
AWS Amplify
Pros: Full AWS ecosystem integration, good for AWS-heavy stacks.
Best for: Teams already invested in AWS.
Self-Hosted with Docker
FROM node:20-alpine AS builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
RUN npm ci && npm run build
FROM node:20-alpine AS runner
WORKDIR /app
ENV NODE_ENV production
COPY --from=builder /app/.next/standalone ./
COPY --from=builder /app/.next/static ./.next/static
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["node", "server.js"]
Best for: Large-scale applications, teams with DevOps capability.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Free Tier | Edge | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vercel | 100GB/mo | Yes | DX |
| Cloudflare | Unlimited | Yes | Cost |
| AWS Amplify | 12mo free | Limited | AWS |
| Self-hosted | N/A | Your choice | Control |
My Recommendation
Starting out? Use Vercel - the DX is unmatched.
Costs becoming a problem? Evaluate Cloudflare Pages.
Want maximum control? Docker + any VPS.
Don't over-optimise early. Ship first, optimise hosting when you have real traffic data.
We deploy production Next.js applications across various platforms at LogicLeap. The right hosting choice depends on your needs - we help you figure that out.
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