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Should I self-host Vercel?
KINDAworth it if…
Coolify (or Dokploy) turns any VPS into your own deploy platform: git-push previews, SSL, one dashboard. Vercel's free tier is generous though — this only pays once you're buying seats or bandwidth. Note: it installs via script, not a single compose file, so our weekly CI covers it differently.
The math (nothing hidden, including your time)
| Vercel (Pro, per seat) | $20.00/mo |
| VPS share + storage | −$4.00/mo |
| Your maintenance: 45 min/mo at $20/h | −$15.00/mo |
| Net saving | $1.00/mo |
| Setup: 15 min measured (one-time) | $5.00 |
| Break-even | 5.0 months |
| Markup Index (price ÷ real self-host cost) | 1.1× |
Price: source, checked 2026-08-06. Inputs are stored in git; every number above is derived, never hand-written.
What you lose
- Vercel's edge network and zero-thought scaling
- Preview-deploy speed and DX polish
What you're paying Vercel for
- git-push deploys
- preview environments
- serverless/edge hosting
- custom domains
Ranked alternatives
A deploy button and a build pipeline for the server you already rent, with no seat price and no usage meter.
Hardware
Runs comfortably on a real VPS (2 GB+).
Verification
Protocol v1 · verified by zernonia on 2026-08-10 · setup measured at 15 min · AI assistant: claude-code (allowed & stated)
Full timed log
# Vercel — verdict log - **Date:** 2026-08-10 - **Verdict:** KINDA — worth it if… - **Protocol:** v1 (2GB reference env, Docker preinstalled, AI assistant: claude-code) ## Why no compose file - This verdict is decided by economics/capability, not setup effort — the rubric doesn't require a timed install to conclude the subscription should stay (or that the replacement's cost lives elsewhere, e.g. GPUs, egress, or an installer script). ## The call Coolify (or Dokploy) turns any VPS into your own deploy platform: git-push previews, SSL, one dashboard. Vercel's free tier is generous though — this only pays once you're buying seats or bandwidth. Note: it installs via script, not a single compose file, so our weekly CI covers it differently.
Verdict history
- 2026-08-10: unscored → KINDA — Initial verdict: Coolify (or Dokploy) turns any VPS into your own deploy platform: git-push previews, SSL, one dashboard.