Vercel vs Cloudflare Pages for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Vercel Overview

Vercel is the platform that made deploying frontend apps feel effortless. Connect your Git repo, push your code, and within seconds your site is live on a global CDN with preview deployments for every branch. The developer experience is genuinely best-in-class.

I started using Vercel for a Next.js project and was genuinely surprised by how little configuration it took. Zero config for Next.js, automatic HTTPS, and preview URLs for every pull request. The dashboard shows build logs, analytics, and deployment history in a clean interface that never feels overwhelming.

Where Vercel really shines is the integration with Next.js (they built it, after all). Server components, incremental static regeneration, image optimization, and edge middleware all work seamlessly on Vercel without extra setup. If you're in the Next.js ecosystem, Vercel feels like it was built specifically for you. Because it was.

Cloudflare Pages Overview

Cloudflare Pages takes a different approach. Instead of building a platform around a specific framework, Cloudflare leverages its massive global network to deploy your sites as close to users as possible. The standout feature is unlimited bandwidth on the free tier. That's not a typo. Unlimited.

Deploying to Cloudflare Pages is straightforward. Connect a Git repo, pick your build settings, and you're live. The build system supports all major frameworks: Astro, Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, and plain static sites. Pages integrates with Cloudflare Workers, so you can add server-side logic at the edge when you need it.

I moved a high-traffic static site to Cloudflare Pages specifically because of the bandwidth pricing. On Vercel, I was watching the bandwidth meter climb. On Cloudflare, I stopped worrying about it entirely. For content sites and blogs, that peace of mind is worth a lot.

Key Differences

Bandwidth and pricing at scale. This is the biggest differentiator. Vercel's free tier includes 100GB bandwidth per month. Cloudflare Pages gives you unlimited bandwidth for free. If you're building a content site, blog, or documentation site that could see traffic spikes, Cloudflare's pricing model is dramatically cheaper.

Framework optimization. Vercel is deeply optimized for Next.js. Features like ISR, server actions, and edge middleware work perfectly because Vercel controls both the framework and the platform. Cloudflare Pages supports Next.js through OpenNext, but the integration isn't as seamless. If you're all-in on Next.js, Vercel has a meaningful advantage.

Edge computing. Cloudflare Workers run on 300+ edge locations worldwide and let you execute JavaScript at the edge for $5/month. Vercel's edge functions work well too, but Cloudflare's edge network is larger and the pricing is more generous. For global apps where latency matters, Cloudflare's edge infrastructure is hard to beat.

Preview deployments. Both platforms offer preview deployments, but Vercel's implementation is more polished. Every PR gets a unique URL with comments on the PR itself. Cloudflare Pages has preview URLs too, but the Git integration feels less refined.

Ecosystem lock-in. Vercel pushes you toward Next.js. Cloudflare pushes you toward Workers, R2 storage, KV, and D1 database. Both ecosystems are strong, but Cloudflare's is broader. If you want your hosting provider to also handle storage, databases, and queues, Cloudflare offers more under one roof.

Build performance. Vercel builds are fast, especially for Next.js projects with caching. Cloudflare Pages builds have improved significantly but can still feel slower for larger projects. Both offer build caching, though Vercel's remote cache is more mature.

When to Choose Vercel

• You're building with Next.js and want zero-config deployment
• Preview deployments on every PR are important to your workflow
• You want the best possible developer experience for frontend apps
• You're okay with $20/month when you outgrow the free tier
• Server components and ISR are central to your architecture

When to Choose Cloudflare Pages

• Bandwidth costs worry you and you want unlimited for free
• You're building a static site, blog, or content-heavy application
• You want to use Cloudflare Workers for edge server logic
• You need the broader Cloudflare ecosystem (R2, KV, D1, Queues)
• You're using a framework other than Next.js (Astro, SvelteKit, etc.)

The Verdict

For solo developers, this comes down to what you're building. If it's a Next.js app, Vercel is the obvious choice. The framework integration is unmatched and the DX is worth the eventual $20/month.

If you're building anything else, especially content sites, blogs, or apps where bandwidth could spike, Cloudflare Pages is the smarter pick. Unlimited free bandwidth means you never worry about a viral post costing you money. Pair it with Workers for server logic and you have a complete edge platform for $5/month or less.

My recommendation: use Vercel for Next.js, Cloudflare Pages for everything else. Both are excellent, but each has a lane where it clearly wins.