Should you build your own Vercel?
Frontend cloud for deploying Next.js and web apps from Git
You can deploy to a VPS or self-host PaaS, but Vercel's edge network, preview deployments, CI/CD, observability, and Next.js integration are the paid value.
ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.
Build me a git-push deploy pipeline for my own VPS to replace Vercel. Requirements:
- Target: one VPS running Caddy. Each app lives in /srv/apps/<name>/ with a systemd
service and a Caddyfile entry.
- A bare git repo per app on the VPS with a post-receive hook: check out to
releases/<timestamp>, run npm ci && npm run build, health-check the new process,
flip a current symlink, restart the systemd unit. Keep the last 5 releases.
- Deploying is git push vps main; the hook streams build output back to my
terminal. A failed build or health check leaves the live release untouched.
- rollback <app>: re-point the symlink to the previous release and restart, under
10 seconds.
- newapp <name> <domain>: scaffolds the bare repo, systemd unit, and Caddy block,
then reloads Caddy. HTTPS is automatic via Caddy.
- Secrets: each app reads /srv/apps/<name>/shared/.env, symlinked into every
release, never committed.
- No accounts, no telemetry, no dashboard; logs via journalctl -u <app>.
- Out of scope: per-branch preview deployments, edge/CDN, autoscaling, and a web
UI. One VPS, main branch only.
- README: server prerequisites, DNS records, and an honest note that I am now the
platform team, budget time for the first 2am breakage.The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running. · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR
What would building your own look like?
Use a VPS/PaaS, connect git webhooks, build/deploy branches, provision HTTPS, and add preview URLs.
What you will need
- VPS/cloud account
- domain/DNS
- CI/CD
- reverse proxy
- SSL
- monitoring
- backups
They pay because deploys and previews are boring infrastructure that must not break.
xedge/CDN performance
xpreview deployments
xscaling
xobservability
ximage functions
xteam workflows
xNext.js integration
Prefer something ready-made?
CoolifyDeploy Next.js or any web container from Git on your own server; previews and framework magic are less automatic.Open source↗
DokployA newer self-hosted PaaS for apps and databases, with previews, TLS, logs, and backups in the same control plane.Open source↗
Cloudflare Pages FreeGit-to-edge hosting with previews and Workers functions; a strong fit unless your app depends on Vercel's Next.js-only tricks.Free↗View all 4 alternatives to Vercel →· Licença, instalação e limitações em cada alternativa.
How much does Vercel cost?
- Monthly billing
- $20/mo$20/mo · per person
- Per year
- $240/yr$240/yr
- On a Brazilian card, with 3.5% IOF
- R$105/moR$1,254/yr
Saved to My list. You will see a notice on this site when the price changes.
You complete the purchase on Vercel’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| hobby | $0 | $0 | 1 developer; non-commercial/personal use; 1,000,000 edge requests/month, 100 GB data transfer, 1,000,000 function invocations and 4 active CPU hours/month. |
| pro | $20/user≈ $20 | - | 1 developer seat; includes $20/month usage credit, 10,000,000 edge requests and 1 TB transfer before usage charges. |
| enterprise | custom | - | Custom seats, usage allowances and support; numeric limits and price are not public. |
Free tierPersonal/non-commercial use: 1 developer, 1M edge requests/month, 100 GB transfer, 1M function invocations and 4 active CPU hours/month.
Billing termsHobby free; Pro monthly only with no annual self-serve plan; Enterprise custom
Additional costsPro overages include $2 per additional 1M edge requests and $0.15/GB transfer after included usage; new teams have a default $200 on-demand budget unless a hard limit is set. Add-ons include SAML SSO $300/month, HIPAA BAA $350/month, Advanced Deployment Protection $150/month, Static IP $100/project/month, Preview URL Suffix $100/month, extra microfrontend projects $250/month, Web Analytics Plus $10/month and Speed Insights $10/project/month.
verified 2026-08-11 · source ↗
Is it cheaper to build or buy Vercel?
Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.
Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.
Starting hours estimated from the analysis (multi-day). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).
Is Vercel free?
The free Hobby plan covers non-commercial projects; 1M requests and 100 GB monthly. The paid plan is Pro at $20/mo (checked 10/20/2026).
Can I rebuild Vercel?
Kinda. The core of Vercel is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: edge/CDN performance, preview deployments. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Vercel cost?
Vercel costs about $20/mo (Pro, checked 10/20/2026), which is $240 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Vercel?
Honestly: edge/CDN performance; preview deployments; scaling; observability; image functions; team workflows; Next.js integration. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Vercel?
Yes: Coolify (Deploy Next.js or any web container from Git on your own server; previews and framework magic are less automatic.) Dokploy (A newer self-hosted PaaS for apps and databases, with previews, TLS, logs, and backups in the same control plane.) Cloudflare Pages Free (Git-to-edge hosting with previews and Workers functions; a strong fit unless your app depends on Vercel's Next.js-only tricks.) All 4 curated free alternatives are at https://viberadar.si/vercel/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.