Table of Contents
- First Stop
- Comparing Hosting Platforms
- Why I Chose Cloudflare Pages
- Setting Up My Domain
- Goodbye Vercel
- Final Thoughts
I used to deploy on Vercel, and it was my go to because it made everything free, fast, and globally available.
Until this happened:
Seeing that post made it clear, I had to quit Vercel and move to something else not just for technical reasons, but for principles.
I wanted to support platforms that align with transparency, openness, and independence.
First Stop
At first, I tried Replit (@helloreplit).
Many developers were migrating there in support of the Pro-Palestine movement, and I wanted to contribute, even in the smallest way. Everyone was talking about Replit.
The migration was smooth:
With just a few clicks after linking my GitHub account and selecting the Starter plan, Replit’s AI agent handled most of the setup automatically:
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Unfortunately, when publishing, it asked to upgrade my plan, and with Tunisia’s monetary regulations and foreign currency restrictions, that wasn’t an option.
So, I canceled and looked for another free way to publish my portfolio.
Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, made great moves to attract users and even offered $50 in credits:
Comparing Hosting Platforms
Here’s a technical breakdown of alternatives I researched:
| Platform | Type | Free Plan | Custom Domain | CI/CD Support | Backend Support | Ease of Use | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Pages | Managed Hosting | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (GitHub/GitLab) | ⚠️ Limited (Static + Workers) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Static & JAMStack Sites | Excellent docs, global CDN, easy migration. |
| GitHub Pages | Managed Hosting | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited (manual CI/CD) | ❌ No | ⭐⭐⭐ | Portfolios, docs, static sites | Simple but lacks backend/dynamic features. |
| Render | Managed Hosting | ✅ Yes (limited hours) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Full backend (Node, Python, etc.) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Full-stack & API apps | Auto SSL, DBs, background workers. |
| Hetzner Cloud | Self-Hosted VPS | ❌ No (paid) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Custom via CI/CD tools | ✅ Full backend | ⭐⭐⭐ | Devs who want control | Cheap, powerful VPS for custom infra. |
| Docker + Coolify (Self-Hosted) | Self-Hosted | ⚠️ Free (if self-hosted) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (custom) | ✅ Full backend | ⭐⭐ | Experienced devs | Great for learning DevOps & full control. |
Why I Chose Cloudflare Pages
- Deployed on 300+ global edge locations → ultra-fast performance.
- Built-in CI/CD with GitHub/GitLab auto builds & previews.
- Serverless backend via Cloudflare Workers.
- Free SSL, CDN, DDoS protection, and image optimization included.
- Supports Next.js, Astro, Remix, SvelteKit, and more.
- Zero config, instant scaling, and excellent documentation.
In short: Cloudflare Pages + Workers = frontend + backend on the edge globally distributed, secure, and free.
Setting Up My Domain
After deployment, I updated my DNS records using ATI.tn
Tunisia’s official domain registry which offers custom domains for 12 TND/year.
Having your own domain means:
- Full control over your brand identity
- A professional, portable online presence
- Freedom from platform lock-in
“Customization isn’t free, but it’s worth it.”
After switching to Cloudflare nameservers, everything synced perfectly:
Deployment successful!
Goodbye Vercel
Finally, I deleted my Vercel account and officially joined the boycott movement, a small but meaningful step to align with my values.
Final Thoughts
- Cloudflare Pages is the best free edge hosting option for developers in 2025.
- For more control or backend apps, Hetzner + Coolify is an amazing combo.
- Your hosting choices can reflect your values, independence, and technical standards.
In the end, the best stack is the one you own ethically, technically, and creatively.
Keywords for SEO
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Top comments (2)
Great breakdown this post perfectly blends technical depth with purpose. The Cloudflare + Workers combo really stands out as a reliable, ethical, and high-performance alternative for modern web hosting.
Thank you! I had hoped someone would write about this!
Now to divest my projects from NextJS.