Vercel is a cloud platform built specifically for frontend deployment, created by the same team behind Next.js. It has become the default deployment target for Next.js projects, but it works equally well with React, Vue, Svelte, Astro, and most other modern frontend frameworks.
The core workflow is simple: connect a GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repository, and Vercel automatically deploys every push. Each branch gets its own preview URL, which makes sharing work-in-progress with stakeholders or reviewing pull requests significantly easier than alternatives that require manual deployment steps.
For individual developers and small teams, Vercel's free tier covers most use cases. Deploying a portfolio site, a side project, or a client prototype takes minutes and requires no server configuration. The automatic HTTPS and CDN distribution are included without any setup.
For teams using Next.js specifically, Vercel provides the most seamless experience. Features like Incremental Static Regeneration, Server Components, and Edge Middleware are all optimized for Vercel's infrastructure, and the integration is tighter than any other hosting provider.
The preview deployment feature is particularly valuable for design review workflows. Designers and stakeholders can review changes on a live URL before they're merged, without needing to run the project locally.
Hobby plan is free with generous limits. Pro plan at $20/user/month adds team features, more bandwidth, and higher function execution limits. Enterprise for custom requirements.