Vercel
Git push to global deploy — the frontend cloud that turns every pull request into a live preview URL and every merge into an edge release.
What it is, and why we use it.
Vercel is the deployment platform built by the team behind Next.js. Connect a Git repo and every push builds and deploys automatically: production on merge to main, and a unique live preview URL for every pull request. Underneath sit a global edge network, serverless and edge functions, image optimisation, and analytics — the infrastructure a frontend needs, without a DevOps hire to wire it together.
Most of our Next.js products deploy on Vercel. The preview-per-PR workflow is the quiet hero: clients click a live link on every change and review the real thing, not a screenshot. We pair it with GitHub for source and CI, and reach for dedicated cloud (AWS/GCP) when a backend outgrows serverless or data residency demands it.
Vercel vs Netlify vs AWS / self-managed.
Vercel against the other managed frontend host and the roll-your-own cloud — the convenience-versus-control trade-off.
| Dimension | Vercel | Netlify | AWS / self-managed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | Next.js and frontend apps, zero-config | Static sites & Jamstack, generous free tier | Anything — if you build and operate it |
| Preview deploys | Per-PR URL, automatic | Per-PR URL, automatic | You build the pipeline |
| Next.js support | First-party — they make it | Good, via adapters | Manual |
| Edge network | Global, built in | Global, built in | CloudFront etc. — you configure |
| Backend / data | Serverless + edge functions; partners for DB | Functions; partners for DB | Full control — any service |
| Cost at scale | Convenient; can climb with traffic | Similar | Cheapest at scale, highest ops burden |
Vercel wins when
- You're shipping Next.js and want zero deploy config
- Preview-per-PR review speeds up client sign-off
- You'd rather not hire DevOps to run a frontend
Netlify wins when
- Static / Jamstack sites with a generous free tier
- You're framework-agnostic and want simple hosting
- Build-plugin ecosystem fits your workflow
AWS / self-managed wins when
- A heavy custom backend lives next to the frontend
- Data residency or compliance dictates the infrastructure
- Scale economics justify owning the ops
Vercel is our default home for Next.js — the preview workflow alone earns its keep on every client project. When the backend gets heavy or sovereignty matters, we host the app on dedicated cloud and keep the same Git-driven discipline.
Thinking about Vercel?
Tell us what you're building — we'll tell you honestly whether Vercel is the right tool for it.