I'm thinking about creating a more affordable deployment platform after seeing the issues with Vercel's pricing, especially the $96k incident with Cara. My idea is to build something that offers Git-push deployments for frameworks like Next.js, Vite, and Astro, with a simple flat pricing model around $7-15 per month, with no surprises. The platform would allow users to choose between self-hosting or a managed cloud service, while providing features like preview deployments, custom domains, and automatic SSL certificates. I'm not looking to compete in areas like edge functions, AI features, or enterprise compliance right off the bat. Here are a few questions I'd love to hear your thoughts on: 1. Would you consider switching from Vercel for a platform like this? 2. What would be the main feature that would make you willing to pay? 3. Would you be interested in contributing if the project is open-source? I really want to validate this idea before I start building, so feel free to critique or suggest what might be missing.
5 Answers
I think your idea has potential! Keep refining it, and don’t lose hope. Good luck on this journey!
Someone has definitely attempted this before—just like The Simpsons predicted!
There's already a VPS solution with Dokploy that serves a similar purpose. But I guess what you're aiming for is a fully managed option without any server headaches, right? That's definitely a niche that could appeal to many. But do you think enough developers would switch from self-hosting to a managed service for simpler pricing?
Exactly! But that's the challenge – how many developers would actually pay for the convenience?
Have you thought about using Cloudflare Workers instead? That could also be a solid alternative to what you're proposing.
Totally agree! It might be worth considering how that integrates into your vision.
Your pricing model raises some questions. If you want to include features like preview deployments, those could rack up costs quickly. You need to think about your tech stack too—like whether you're using buildpacks or Dockerfiles for deployments. Maintaining the low pricing while offering advanced features will probably be tough, especially if competitors are leveraging higher-tier pricing to balance things out. What's your take on scaling your services?
Yeah, I hear you! Flat pricing may not be entirely feasible. But what if you set it up like:
- $10/month for one app with limited previews and bandwidth?
- $25/month for more apps with plenty of resources?
You could implement features like auto-sleep for previews to control costs.
That's more like it! I'm thinking of using budget options for builds and static setups. What cost challenges have you faced in your work?
Yep, that's a good point! With services like Coolify out there, it seems like there's definitely some interest in managing deployments without the typical hassle.