ZeroDeploy vs Vercel
You probably don't need serverless functions, edge middleware, or a $20/seat team plan.
Last updated: February 20, 2026TL;DR
Vercel is the full-stack platform for Next.js and serverless applications. ZeroDeploy is a focused deployment tool for static sites and SPAs. If you need SSR, serverless functions, or edge middleware — use Vercel. If you're deploying a static site and want built-in forms, analytics, and simple pricing — ZeroDeploy is the lighter choice.
Vercel built an incredible platform around the modern web stack — serverless functions, edge middleware, image optimization, ISR. It's the default home for Next.js. But if your project is a static site or SPA — a marketing page, docs site, or dashboard — you're paying for infrastructure you'll never use. ZeroDeploy strips away the complexity and gives you what static sites actually need: instant deploys, preview URLs, built-in forms, privacy analytics, and custom domains. No per-seat pricing, no bandwidth surprises.
Feature comparison
How ZeroDeploy stacks up against Vercel.
| Feature | ZeroDeploy | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Install CLI, deploy | Framework detection, build config, env setup |
| Deploy speed | Under 5 seconds | 30-90 seconds (with build) |
| Pricing model | $29/mo flat (Pro plan) | $20/developer/month |
| Free tier | Starter ($9/mo): 1 site, 1GB, 1 custom domain | 1 project, 100GB bandwidth |
| Built-in forms | Included on all plans | Not available |
| Privacy analytics | Included, no cookie banner | Paid add-on ($3 per 100K events) |
| SSR / serverless | Static only | Full SSR, serverless, edge |
| Custom domains | Included with auto SSL | Included with auto SSL |
| Preview deploys | Every deployment gets a URL | Per-branch preview deployments |
| Build system | You build locally or in CI | Remote builds with framework presets |
Pricing
ZeroDeploy's Starter plan is $9/month for 1 site, 1GB storage, 1 custom domain, and 100 form submissions. Pro costs $29/month and includes 10 sites, 10GB storage, 10M requests, forms, and analytics. Vercel Pro costs $20/developer/month — and that's per seat. A 3-person team on Vercel Pro is $60/month before you hit any bandwidth or function execution overages. ZeroDeploy has no per-seat pricing and no bandwidth surprise bills. If you're deploying static sites, the math is straightforward.
The verdict
Different tools for different needs.
Choose ZeroDeploy if...
- You're deploying static sites or SPAs (React, Vue, Astro, etc.)
- You want built-in forms without a separate service
- You want privacy analytics without an extra bill
- You prefer predictable, flat pricing with no per-seat costs
- You want a simple CLI-first deploy workflow
Choose Vercel if...
- You're building a Next.js app with SSR or API routes
- You need serverless functions or edge middleware
- You want automatic image optimization
- You need the Vercel enterprise ecosystem and team features
- You're building a full-stack application, not just a static site
What's included with ZeroDeploy
Features that come standard — no add-ons, no extra bills.
Built-in Forms
Add action="/_forms/contact" to any HTML form. No third-party service, no API keys. Works with React, Vue, and plain HTML.
Privacy Analytics
Cookieless, first-party analytics on every site. No setup required, no cookie banners, no extra bill. Included on every plan.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Is ZeroDeploy a good Vercel alternative?
For static sites and SPAs, yes. ZeroDeploy provides everything you need — deploys, preview URLs, custom domains, forms, and analytics — at a fraction of the cost. If you need server-side rendering or serverless functions, Vercel is the better choice.
Can I migrate from Vercel to ZeroDeploy?
If your site builds to static HTML (e.g., Next.js with output: "export", Astro, Vite), migration is straightforward. Build locally, then deploy the output folder with the ZeroDeploy CLI. Server-side features like API routes or ISR are not supported.
Does ZeroDeploy support SSR?
No. ZeroDeploy is purpose-built for static sites and SPAs. If your project needs server-side rendering, Vercel or a similar full-stack platform is a better fit.
How does pricing compare between ZeroDeploy and Vercel?
ZeroDeploy Pro is $29/month for 10 sites with forms and analytics included. Vercel Pro is $20/developer/month with per-seat pricing and usage-based analytics. For a solo developer deploying static sites, ZeroDeploy costs less — and includes more out of the box.
Other comparisons
See how ZeroDeploy compares to other platforms.
Best alternatives
Use cases
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