Overview

Exploring alternatives to Vercel for deploying Next.js applications can be an intriguing venture, particularly for indie hackers seeking cost-effective solutions. Many developers find Vercel’s pricing structure to be on the higher side, leading them to seek out viable hosting options on virtual machines (VMs). This review highlights the potential of using cloud providers like Hetzner, which offers an incredibly affordable pricing tier.

Through various tests, it seems that running Next.js on a VPS can meet the essential performance and feature requirements needed for most applications. With minimal latency and a straightforward deployment process facilitated by GitHub Actions, indie developers can maintain their applications efficiently without the hefty price tag.

Features

• Easy Next.js Deployment: Setting up Next.js on a VPS is straightforward, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

• Low Latency: Achieving around 35ms latency, this setup provides performance similar to Vercel, offering a seamless user experience.

• Auto Deployment: Utilizing GitHub Actions, the system automatically deploys code changes, enhancing productivity and reducing manual oversight.

• High Traffic Handling: The Hetzner €3.29/mo VPS handles approximately 750 HTTP requests per second before experiencing slowdowns, making it suitable for moderate traffic levels.

• SQL Write Performance: Impressively supports 14,000 writes per second using SQLite, driving efficient data management for applications.

• Reliable Uptime: With a 100% uptime reported so far, this hosting option assures developers of consistent application availability.

• Next.js Features Supported: Key Next.js features such as image optimization, server actions, and API routes function correctly on this setup, ensuring developers can utilize modern capabilities.

• Multiple App Hosting: There is potential to run multiple applications on the same machine by switching based on domain names, maximizing resource utilization.