How to Deploy Next.js Without Vercel
Vercel is the default. But sometimes you need alternatives. Here's how to deploy Next.js on Coolify, Railway, and bare Docker.
Vercel's DX is excellent but not every project fits its pricing model or infrastructure requirements. We've deployed Next.js apps on three alternative platforms.
Coolify
Self-hosted, open-source, and surprisingly polished. Set up takes about 30 minutes on a VPS. It handles SSL, environment variables, and automatic deploys from Git. The main limitation is that you manage your own infrastructure.
Railway
The closest experience to Vercel without being Vercel. Deploys are fast, the dashboard is clean, and pricing is usage-based. The main gap is edge function support — you're limited to a single region unless you add a CDN layer.
Bare Docker
Maximum control, maximum effort. We use a multi-stage Dockerfile that produces a lean production image. Combined with GitHub Actions for CI and a simple docker-compose setup, this works well for teams comfortable with infrastructure.
What you lose
All three options lack Vercel's edge network, ISR cache invalidation, and image optimization. You'll need to add Cloudflare or similar for CDN and handle image processing separately.
Our recommendation
Railway for most teams. Coolify if you want self-hosting. Docker if you have specific infrastructure requirements or are deploying to a client's cloud account.