Replace Vercel?

KINDA · weekend project

catalog price reference $20/mocategory ☁️ hostingreported replacement votes 0

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.

the prompt

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.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

why people still pay

They pay because deploys and previews are boring infrastructure that must not break.

what you lose

xedge/CDN performance

xpreview deployments

xscaling

xobservability

ximage functions

xteam workflows

xNext.js integration

prior art to inspect before buildingCoolifyOpen-source self-hosted Heroku/Vercel-like deployment platform.↗

reported replacements · 0share on X ↗"Vercel replacement research and build prompt"

questions

What does the Vercel verdict mean?

The core job looks buildable, with meaningful gaps: edge/CDN performance, preview deployments. Read the full tradeoff list before committing. This research record is not a hosted IVCIFY tool.

What price does this directory record show for Vercel?

The directory records $20/month for Pro, checked 2026-07-30. Verify the source before making a purchase decision. This reference stays outside retail Stack Math unless current matched evidence supports the comparison.

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?

The listed prior art includes Coolify (Open-source self-hosted Heroku/Vercel-like deployment platform.). Inspect those projects before starting from a blank prompt.