Netlify vs Vercel
Netlify
The fastest way to build the fastest sites
vs
Vercel
The platform for frontend developers
Netlify and Vercel compared — feature by feature, with pricing and our honest take on which fits your build.
Feature
Netlify
Vercel
Build
Build Minutes
Monthly build minutes on free tier
300 minutes
6000 minutes
Build Minutes
Monthly build minutes on free tier
300 minutes
6000 minutes
Pricing
Free Tier
Free plan available?
✓
✓
Free Tier
Free plan available?
✓
✓
Starting Price
Minimum monthly cost
$19/month
$20/month
Starting Price
Minimum monthly cost
$19/month
$20/month
Features
Edge Functions
Serverless functions at the edge
✓
✓
Edge Functions
Serverless functions at the edge
✓
✓
Netlify Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Framework agnostic - works with any static site generator
- ✓Generous free tier with 300 build minutes
- ✓Excellent build plugin system for customisation
- ✓Split testing and branch deploys included
- ✓Great documentation and learning resources
- ✓Netlify Functions for serverless backend
Cons
- ✗Build minutes can add up quickly for large teams
- ✗Less optimised for specific frameworks vs Vercel/Next.js
- ✗Functions pricing can get expensive
- ✗Analytics only on higher tiers
Vercel Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Optimised specifically for Next.js and React
- ✓Excellent developer experience with zero-config deployments
- ✓Fast global CDN with edge functions
- ✓Preview deployments for every git push
- ✓Built-in analytics and monitoring
- ✓Automatic HTTPS and domain management
Cons
- ✗Can be expensive at scale with high bandwidth
- ✗Vendor lock-in with Next.js optimisations
- ✗Limited backend/server capabilities
- ✗Function execution limits on lower tiers
Pricing
Netlify vs Vercel pricing
Netlify
Free tier available. Pro starts at £15/member/month
Vercel
Free hobby tier. Pro starts at £16/month
How to choose
How to choose between Netlify and Vercel
Both are strong choices — the right one comes down to what your build needs most. Here is where each one leans.
Lean Netlify if you want
- →Framework agnostic - works with any static site generator
- →Generous free tier with 300 build minutes
- →Excellent build plugin system for customisation
Lean Vercel if you want
- →Optimised specifically for Next.js and React
- →Excellent developer experience with zero-config deployments
- →Fast global CDN with edge functions
The SmartaStudio take
We build with both Netlify and Vercel, so we have no dog in the fight — the right choice depends on your project, not a leaderboard. See the full Cloud Hosting lineup on our platforms hub, or tell us about your build and we will give you a reasoned recommendation.
Still weighing it up?
Answer a few questions about your project and get a reasoned recommendation — or talk it through with us directly.