Vercel vs Deno Deploy for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Vercel Overview

Vercel is the standard for frontend deployment. Push to Git, get a deployed site with SSL, CDN, preview deployments, and edge functions. The platform supports every major frontend framework, with the deepest integration for Next.js (which Vercel created and maintains).

Beyond static hosting, Vercel handles serverless functions, edge functions, and framework-specific features like ISR, server components, and image optimization. The developer experience is polished to the point where deployment feels invisible. You work on code, Vercel handles everything else.

The free tier is generous for solo projects, and the $20/month Pro tier scales smoothly. Pricing is predictable and easy to understand.

Deno Deploy Overview

Deno Deploy is an edge hosting platform from the Deno company. It runs JavaScript and TypeScript on a globally distributed network of edge servers using the V8 JavaScript engine. Your code executes close to your users, wherever they are, with cold start times measured in milliseconds.

The platform is built for the Deno runtime, not Node.js. If you're writing Deno-native code or using the Fresh framework (Deno's web framework), Deno Deploy is the natural deployment target. It also supports standard Web APIs (Request, Response, fetch), making it feel like writing service workers that run at the edge.

Deployment options include Git-based deploys (connect a GitHub repo) or the deployctl CLI for manual pushes. The platform handles SSL, custom domains, and global distribution automatically. Builds are fast because Deno doesn't need a node_modules installation step.

I tested Deno Deploy with a Fresh project and the experience was smooth. The edge execution means sub-50ms response times globally. The playground feature lets you write and deploy edge functions directly in the browser, which is nice for quick experiments.

Key Differences

Runtime. Vercel runs Node.js serverless functions and edge functions (using the Web API subset). Deno Deploy runs Deno, which supports TypeScript natively, uses ES modules, and implements Web Standard APIs. If your codebase is Node.js, Vercel is the natural fit. If you're using Deno, Deno Deploy integrates more naturally.

Framework ecosystem. Vercel supports Next.js, Astro, Remix, SvelteKit, Nuxt, and essentially every frontend framework through its build system. Deno Deploy works best with Fresh (Deno's framework) and plain Deno scripts. The ecosystem gap is significant. Next.js alone has more third-party support than the entire Deno framework ecosystem combined.

Edge-first vs edge-optional. Deno Deploy runs everything at the edge by default. Every request is handled by an edge server near the user. Vercel offers both serverless functions (running in specific regions) and edge functions (running globally). This gives Vercel more flexibility for workloads that need regional compute with database access.

npm compatibility. Vercel fully supports the npm ecosystem. Install any package and it works. Deno Deploy supports npm packages through Deno's npm compatibility layer (npm: specifier), but compatibility isn't 100%. Some Node.js packages that rely on Node-specific APIs don't work in Deno's runtime.

Cold starts. Deno Deploy's edge functions have near-zero cold starts due to V8 isolate technology. Vercel's edge functions are similarly fast, but Vercel's Node.js serverless functions have longer cold starts. For latency-sensitive applications, both platforms' edge functions perform well, but Deno Deploy is edge-only, so everything benefits from fast startup.

Database access. Deno Deploy offers Deno KV, a globally distributed key-value database built into the platform. It's simple and fast for edge workloads. Vercel offers Vercel KV, Vercel Postgres, and Blob storage. For more traditional database needs, Vercel has more options. Deno KV is excellent for its specific use case but limited compared to a full SQL database.

When to Choose Vercel

• You're working with the Node.js ecosystem and npm packages
• Next.js or another major framework is your foundation
• You need both serverless and edge function options
• The broader ecosystem of libraries and integrations matters
• You want the most polished frontend deployment experience

When to Choose Deno Deploy

• You're building with Deno and TypeScript natively
• Edge-first execution with minimal cold starts is a priority
• You're using Fresh or writing Deno-native web applications
• Web Standard APIs align with how you want to write code
• You want Deno KV for globally distributed key-value storage

The Verdict

Vercel leads at 9/10 because it supports the ecosystem most solo developers already use. Node.js, npm, Next.js, and the established JavaScript framework landscape all work seamlessly on Vercel. The platform is mature, well-documented, and handles edge cases that newer platforms are still discovering.

Deno Deploy at 7/10 is a strong platform with a clear vision, but it's limited by the Deno ecosystem's size. If you're already invested in Deno, Fresh, and TypeScript-first development, Deno Deploy is fast, affordable, and well-designed. But most solo developers are working with Node.js and npm, and switching runtimes just for hosting doesn't make sense.

The honest recommendation: use Vercel unless you're specifically building with Deno. If you are building with Deno, Deno Deploy is the obvious choice. Don't switch runtimes for the platform. Choose the platform that matches your runtime.