The Vercel vs Netlify War: Who Wins And What Can You Do?

The serverless ecosystem has grown in the past 10 years. And it continues to expand with industry giants like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud joining the bandwagon. It is only understandable why serverless systems have been around since they initially surfaced as alternatives to services like Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). In an ecosystem that continues to expand, smaller players offer services that have proven to be superior to those provided by larger ones. 

Also read – AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud Platform

Though still considered a relatively young player in the world of cloud computing, serverless computing enables application developers to create software without having to worry about the execution environment or any other lower-level layer. 

Using serverless technologies requires cutting-edge technology. With Netlify and Vercel’s serverless capabilities, you can quickly and easily deploy static web pages and web applications. They assist you to streamline the procedure and deliver more in less time and money. They provide scalability with the benefit of a worldwide network for hosting your websites without relying on servers, in addition to speed and security.  

In this post, we will thoroughly evaluate these two well-known serverless service providers, Netlify and Vercel, and see how they perform in several categories. This analysis will help you to choose which platform best meets your requirements.   

What is Netlify?  

NETLIFY is a cloud-based development platform that allows web developers and businesses to easily develop websites.  It can be used to create serverless operations, a worldwide multi-cloud Edge network, and contemporary processes. For front-end deployments, it is without a doubt one of the most popular hosting platforms. 

Since there weren’t many Jamstack users back when Netlify was created in 2014, Snipcart was rather close to them early on. Their initial offering was BitBaloon, which was a forerunner of “Netlify Drop.” Your static website could be deployed using a drag-and-drop tool. 

The company has grown rapidly since then and is now offering a much broader suite of Jstack development tools. They created the open-source CMS “Netlify CMS,” which is seamlessly linked into your Git process. Although the focus of this piece will mostly be on their three primary products—serverless functions (Netlify Functions), an edge computing platform (Netlify Edge), and deployment services (Nelify Workflow)—are what we will principally discuss. 

The applications and websites created using Netlify are scalable and secure. Netlify provides a top-notch platform and makes it simpler for developers to create and publish websites. In addition to its simplicity, serverless deployment is developer-friendly. Using the platform’s build scripts, you can host your website or web application quickly. 

With its exclusive global edge network, growing web applications no longer necessitates managing or patching servers. To enable contemporary web development tools and workflows, it provides a brand-new architecture dubbed the JAMstack platforms.     

Netlify’s Features 

• Organize everything into a single project 

The files you create for Netlify Functions should be placed inside your project under the directory netlify/functions and can be written in JavaScript, TypeScript, or Go.

Also read – Which is the best JavaScript Framework – Vue or React? 

Functions typically have a 10-second maximum execution time and are synchronous. However, by appending -the background to the end of the filename, any function becomes an asynchronous function that has a 15-minute runtime limit and can execute in the background.   

• Create and test locally 

You may run a local build, install local plugins, and deploy your site using Netlify CLI. You can even host a local development server that you can share with others. 

The Node-based CLI was completely rewritten for version 2.0 to enhance the site creation process.   

• staging, sneak peek, and rollback 

The popular workflow features of Netlify are shared by Netlify Functions. Deploy Preview links to let you preview each commit. By just clicking a previous deployment, you can roll back whenever necessary.   

• Implement incremental rollouts and A/B testing 

Multiple branches can be deployed and tested, and you can even manage which users see which version. Plan comprehensive tests and iterative updates that affect both the front- and back-end code. A/B tests the complete user workflow rather than simply the color of a button.  

Advantages of using Netlify   

Netlify is a web app development platform that increases efficiency. From cutting-edge logic to local development, it integrates the components of the contemporary decoupled web. Some of the main disadvantages of Netlify are,   

• All edge CDN installations for your front-end code are successfully managed by it. 
• The platform is adaptable and has an intuitive user interface for setting up various online applications. 
• There is adequate documentation available to you to help you through the development process. 
• A 10X faster route to more secure, scalable, and effective websites and apps is guaranteed with Netlify. 
• The all-in-one platform makes site management simpler by collecting all helpful features in one convenient location.   

Netlify use cases  

High-performance static websites and forms for data collection can be hosted with Netlify. You may deploy serverless functions rapidly by integrating third-party BaaS (Backend as a Service) solutions with Netlify’s Lambda functions. 

Netlify can be used in the following situations: 

• automation of email 
• obtaining current API data 
• dynamic image retrieval 
• user input validation access

During the development phase, Netlify performs more complicated tasks as API endpoints. The platform will carry out the remainder of the deployment automatically; all you have to do is supply the code for your function. It simplifies the developers’ tasks.  

You may create and deploy scalable, dynamic apps using serverless features provided by Netlify. The platform enables quick deployment of server-side code that executes on demand in response to events.  

Pricing 

It costs nothing to test out Netlify’s starting package. A Netlify Pro subscription costs $19 per month and gives you access to the platform’s sophisticated features. 

The business pack offers improved collaboration, security, and scalability features for $99 per month per user. With their enterprise edition, which is priced differently, you may have unlimited access and superior assistance.  

What is Vercel?

Vercel is a cloud platform for hosting static websites and fast serverless deployment of front-end frameworks. The technology makes it possible for programmers to host websites with little configuration. Serverless functions, static webpages, and lightweight event-driven APIs are all supported by Vercel, another dependable and strong deployment platform. 

In 2016, Vercel was established under the name Zeit. Their goal was to empower solitary developers to launch their apps with ease.

They revised their goal statement to “to provide the ideal workflow for designing, previewing, and shipping Jamstack sites” after changing their name to Vercel. For this purpose, they’ve established three areas of fulfillment: develop, preview, and ship. They created Next.js in collaboration with Google and Facebook to address the Build component. It is a versatile react framework for creating professional-level applications. 

Vercel enables you to deploy websites that scale automatically and without oversight. It provides a live-editing environment to obtain the needed UI elements. You also receive precise performance ratings that aid in the development of useful information.  

Vercel Key features   

• Endless scalability 

Every tier of the infrastructure, from the ingress layer to the storage and caching systems and functions, scales up and down dynamically. 

• Advanced edge caching 

To prevent and accept interruptions and increase autonomy, Our Edge maintains copies of crucial metadata. Integrations with the framework guarantee the best caching and purging. 

• Observability 

You never have to skip introspection thanks to real-time records of every touchpoint, one-click integrations with top platforms, and built-in performance metrics. 

• Atomic deployment 

The domains used by Vercel serve as pointers, and every deployment is immutable. An atomic swap operation is reverting and deploying. 

• Asset protection 

In order to avoid interfering with already-running traffic as you ship, Our Edge automatically saves several concurrent versions of an app together with all of their JS, CSS, and other assets. 

• Online and always timely 

The provisioning and acquisition of resources and metadata are successfully completed through deployment and rollback, ensuring that user traffic is never slowed down or encounters issues. 

• Automatic failover 

The Anycast Edge Network automatically recognizes unstable areas and redirects traffic there. 

• Code execution in several AZs 

All availability zones of a data center’s serverless functions are automatically allocated among them. No traffic is dropped if one goes unavailable. 

• Image Enhancement 

Improve your website’s loading time, user experience, and Core Web Vitals by edge-optimizing your images.  

Advantages of using Vercel 

With Vercel’s integrated CI/CD, you can easily automate your workflows for improved collaboration from conception to deployment. The benefits of using the platform, however, go far beyond that:   

• There are minimal compatibility issues and it is cost-effective 
• It is an efficient frontend application development and deployment tool  
• It is renowned as a multitasking platform with minimal data and power usage. 
• Vercel has a simple file format, is simple to use, and deploys quickly. 
• By providing a live preview site to employees that are constantly updated with your changes, you may collect input early on in the development process.

Vercel applications 

Building front-end frameworks and utilizing static site generators are both possible with Vercel. It can be used to integrate databases, online store applications, and headless content sites. 

Vercel vs Netlify- A Comparative Analysis   

Although Netlify and Vercel appear to have many similar characteristics, they actually differ slightly. There are several benefits that come with both systems. But in order to choose, you must also take into account their dependability and constraints. 

• Serverless functions  

Serverless functions 

are internally powered by AWS Lambda for both Vercel and Netlify. You won’t need an AWS account because they abstracted every aspect of it. You will need to utilize a programming language to create the code because it needs to execute server-side logic. Vercel extends it further by additionally supporting Python and Ruby, while Netlify pushes it further by supporting JavaScript, TypeScript, and Go.   

• Add-ons 

For newbie developers and beginners, platforms provide convenient standard utilities. Although add-ons can accomplish the same task as third-party APIs, they do it more effectively since they are built into your deployment pipeline. 

For instance, you can make use of features like authentication, A/B testing, analytics, and form management with Netlify right out of the box. However, Vercel’s product selection is limited because it only offers analytics.   

• Workflows  

The workflow that initiates the deployment is located beyond the conceptual paradigm of operation of serverless platforms. The source that Netlify and Vercel use to get your project is Git. 

They get your source files from servers like GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket. After logging in, you can choose the repository for connection, and the default configuration will conveniently run the entire deployment pipeline.   

Netlify and Vercel serve different functions even though they both make it possible to deploy web apps quickly. Let’s look at the following distinctions between Netlify and Vercel before deciding which one to choose for your project: 

• AWS Lambda is used by both platforms to support serverless functions at the backend. While Vercel’s free edition has a bandwidth limit of 100 GB, Netlify charges customers based on how much bandwidth they use. 

• While Netlify struggles to provide Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Vercel makes it possible to deploy SSR in Next.js applications rapidly.

Also read – Why do we need Server-Side Rendering with Angular?  

• Vercel requires you to set up authentication outside, whereas Netlify offers an internal platform based on the GoTrue API.   

Netlify makes adding functionality to your site relatively simpler through the following features: 

• Split testing is simple with Netlify for deployments. 
• Without setting up a backend, forms, and submissions may be managed with Netlify Forms. 
• You can set up server-side analytics using Netlify Analytics, a premium service, without using any client-side code. 

Netlify offers a worldwide network with rapid cache validation. Vercel, on the other hand, monitors Web Vitals data from the front end. It monitors your application’s responsiveness, visual stability, and loading speed. This is comparable to the kind of statistics you get from running a lighthouse report. On the actual metrics, you can get additional information here. Anonymization of all the data ensures privacy. It needs to be injected by Vercel as part of the deployment process because it is running on the front end. Your framework of choice will determine this injection. Nuxt.js, Gatsby, and Next.js are the only versions of JS that Vercel presently supports.  

Bottom Line   

Netlify and Vercel are serverless platforms that allow you to launch websites without getting into the complication of dealing with servers. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The pricing also differs, and their purpose is different for different projects.  

It is entirely at the user’s discretion to decide which serverless deployment platform you want to use, especially when deciding between Netlify and Vercel. Vercel might be a better choice if a project was developed with Next.js and requires CLI power. But for small to medium-sized applications, Netlify is better suitable because you can cut down on building and deployment time by using the add-ons that Netlify offers. Both platforms support caching, however, Vercel accomplishes it better if you require it for serverless functions. 

Therefore, it mostly depends on the needs of your project, as Vercel is a platform for collaboration while Netlify focuses more on hosting solutions. 

And if you need help deciding which serverless platform works best for you, then we are here to help! Find assistance from experts at Webuters, that will help you choose the best serverless solution to launch your website.