Fly.io vs Vercel: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Fly.io vs Vercel.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Vercel edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Fly.io | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $29/mo | $100/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $29/mo | $200/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 3 shared-CPU VMs, 160 GB outbound data, 3 GB persistent volumes. | ✅ 100GB bandwidth/month. 100 deployments/day. Serverless function 10s timeout. 1 team member. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Fly.io | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Launch | $0/mo | $20/mo |
| Scale | $29/mo | Custom |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fly.io | Vercel |
|---|
Pros & Cons
Fly.io
✅ Pros
- Deploy to 30+ regions for low-latency globally
- Run any Docker container — language agnostic
- Real Machines API for custom orchestration
- SQLite on Fly (LiteFS) for edge-native databases
❌ Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Vercel/Render
- CLI-centric workflow can frustrate dashboard users
- Billing can be unpredictable with usage-based model
Vercel
✅ Pros
- Zero-config deployment for Next.js, Nuxt, SvelteKit
- Free tier is generous for personal projects (100GB bandwidth)
- Preview deployments on every PR — great for review
- Edge Functions for globally fast API routes
- Automatic HTTPS, CDN, and image optimization
❌ Cons
- Pro plan is $20/user/mo — adds up for teams
- Serverless function cold starts can affect performance
- Vendor lock-in if using Vercel-specific features
- Free tier has 10s function timeout (too short for heavy APIs)
- Bandwidth overages are expensive ($40/100GB)
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Fly.io if...
- You are a globally distributed apps
- You are a docker-based deployments
🚫 Skip if...
- Beginners wanting one-click deploy
- Static site hosting
✅ Choose Vercel if...
- You are a solo devs deploying next.js or static sites
- You are a frontend teams wanting zero-config ci/cd
- You are a startups that need fast iteration with preview deploys
🚫 Skip if...
- Backend-heavy apps (use Railway or Fly.io)
- Teams needing long-running background jobs
- Cost-sensitive teams at scale (bandwidth costs)
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Fly.io (4.2/5) and Vercel (4.8/5) are excellent tools in their category. Vercel takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fly.io better than Vercel?
It depends on your needs. Fly.io excels in some areas while Vercel has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Fly.io pricing compare to Vercel?
Fly.io starts at Free / $0/mo, while Vercel starts at Free / $20/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Fly.io to Vercel?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Vercel typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Fly.io.
Which is easier to use, Fly.io or Vercel?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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