Netlify 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 Netlify 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 | Netlify | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $—/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $—/mo | $100/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $—/mo | $200/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 100GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes/mo | ✅ 100GB bandwidth/month. 100 deployments/day. Serverless function 10s timeout. 1 team member. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Netlify | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Pro | $19/mo | $20/mo |
| Enterprise | $0/mo | Custom |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Netlify | Vercel |
|---|
Pros & Cons
Netlify
✅ Pros
- Best-in-class DX
- Instant Rollbacks
- Deploy Previews
- Framework Agnostic
❌ Cons
- Bandwidth can get expensive
- Complex enterprise pricing
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 Netlify if...
- You are a small teams
- You are a startups
- You are a developers
🚫 Skip if...
- Enterprise with complex compliance needs
✅ 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 Netlify (4.7/5) 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 Netlify better than Vercel?
It depends on your needs. Netlify 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 Netlify pricing compare to Vercel?
Netlify starts at Free / $19/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 Netlify to Vercel?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Vercel typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Netlify.
Which is easier to use, Netlify 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.
Join 500+ Solo Developers
Get monthly curated stacks, detailed tool comparisons, and solo dev tips delivered to your inbox. No spam, ever.