How it works
Vercel builds your project on each push, serves static files from its global CDN and turns server code (API routes, server-rendered pages, server components) into functions automatically. Every branch and pull request gets its own preview URL, which makes review with clients and teammates simple. Most frameworks are supported, but Next.js features such as ISR and image optimisation work there with no setup, because the same company builds both.
Around the hosting sit extras: Web Analytics, Speed Insights, a firewall, Blob storage, cron jobs, the AI SDK and AI Gateway, and a marketplace that connects databases such as Neon, Supabase and Upstash. Pricing combines a seat fee with metered usage (bandwidth, function time, image transformations), and spend management can alert you or pause projects at an amount you set.
Vercel pros and cons
Pros
- Git push to deploy, with a preview link for every pull request
- First-class Next.js support, with ISR and image optimisation built in
- Global CDN, HTTPS and functions with almost no configuration
- Free Hobby plan for personal projects
Cons
- Hobby is for non-commercial use, so business sites need Pro
- Usage charges can climb with traffic, images and function time
- Some features are tuned for Next.js and do not carry over to other hosts
When to use Vercel
Pick it when
- Next.js sites and apps, from landing pages to full products
- Teams that want preview links and no server management
- Frontends that call a separate backend such as Supabase
Skip it when
- Long-running processes, WebSocket servers or background workers
- Heavy bandwidth such as video, where R2 or a VPS costs far less
Vercel pricing
Free tier
Hobby is free for personal, non-commercial projects. Pro is $20 a month (about ₹1,700) including $20 of usage credit, plus $20 per extra deploying member and metered usage.
Vercel pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Vercel vs the alternatives
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