Guides

Where to host a Next.js app

Next.js runs anywhere Node.js runs. But the setup can feel very different.

The simplest option is a managed platform. Push to your Git repository, and the platform builds and deploys the app for you.

With a virtual server, you manage the server, reverse proxy, updates, and backups. You get more control, but also more work.

Vercel Hobby is free for personal, non-commercial projects. Netlify Free allows commercial projects within its 300-credit monthly limit.

Cloudflare Workers also has a free allowance. The prices below assume steady traffic and an external database such as Neon or Supabase.

The two Next.js hosting paths

Next.js hosting decision between a managed app platform and a self-operated virtual server.
Choose a managed platform for the simplest deployment. Choose a virtual server when you want full control.

Recommended hosts

Top match Serverless platform

Netlify

≈$9/mo Personal

1,000 credits/month; extra 500-credit packs cost $5.

Free option
Free: 300 credits per month with a hard stop. Commercial use is allowed; enough for a small site with modest traffic and few production deploys.
Why it fits
Static sites and frontend apps that deploy from Git and want a generous, mature workflow.
How deploys work
Connect the Git repo; pushes build and deploy automatically with previews for every pull request.
The tradeoff
The credit system makes bills hard to predict — traffic, deploys, and compute all drain one pool.

Option 2 App platform

Laravel Cloud

≈$12/mo Starter + always-on Flex 1GB

One always-on Flex 1GB app instance reaches a $12 monthly compute cap; the $5 usage credit offsets the $5 Starter fee.

Free option
New Starter subscriptions get their first month free; after that, Starter costs $5/month and includes $5 in monthly usage credit.
Why it fits
Laravel teams that want the framework, database, queues, scheduler, cache, and deploy workflow managed as one platform.
How deploys work
Connect a Git repository or run cloud ship; Laravel Cloud builds the supported runtime and deploys every push with zero downtime.
The tradeoff
The excellent Laravel experience comes from an opinionated runtime, so arbitrary containers and server-level access are out.

Option 3 Serverless platform

Vercel

≈$20/mo Pro

Includes $20/month of usage credit, which covers modest traffic.

Free option
Hobby: free for personal, non-commercial projects — 100 GB data transfer, 1M function invocations, and 4 active CPU hours per month.
Why it fits
Next.js and frontend apps where you want deploys and previews to just work.
How deploys work
Connect the Git repo; every push builds and deploys with a preview URL per branch.
The tradeoff
Usage pricing past the credit can climb fast with real traffic, especially data transfer.

We rank providers by deployment ease first, then monthly cost. Commission payments don't affect the rank. If your project is different, answer four questions and get a specific recommendation.