What would Vercel run for your app?
Imagine a client portal that shows a different set of documents to each person. Vercel can deliver its pages and run supported code to handle requests. That code, called a Function when it runs this way on Vercel, might check who has signed in and look up their documents.
Vercel has a documented path for Next.js, the framework used to build many apps with pages and server-side code. You still need somewhere to store the documents and rules that tell the app who is allowed to open them.
What should you set before the first deployment?
Before you import a new project or trigger its first deployment, confirm which records, files and email services it can reach. Vercel uses Production settings for the first deployment of a new project, even when you ask for a preview. A failed or canceled first attempt can count without serving a live site.
If you are rehearsing, put test connections in Production for that test project. Make sure any email can only reach a destination you control. In New Project you can import a repository, the saved project containing the app’s code. A deployment is the process of preparing and releasing a version of that code.
Put private service credentials in Vercel’s Secret environment variables. Environment variables are settings the app reads outside its source files. Check the app reads those credentials only in code that stays on the server. Once the test app is online, use two test accounts to check that each can open its own document and neither can open the other’s.
When do you need your own domain?
You can use the vercel.app address supplied with a successful deployment. Add a domain you own when you want a stable public name to share.
In Settings, open Domains and use the DNS records Vercel shows for your domain. DNS tells browsers where to find the app. If you are moving DNS management, carry over the records your email relies on. Before sharing the new address, check that a test sign-in email leads back to it.
Where do accounts, records and documents live?
Use a database for information such as which customer owns a document. Vercel Blob can store the uploaded file itself. You can connect a database through Vercel’s Marketplace or use a compatible service you already have.
Those two services can have different access rules and recovery options. Keep a record of which file belongs to which customer. For a recovery test, check whether you can open a copied record and the correct copy of its file together.
Which preview link should you send to a reviewer?
Share the link for the exact deployment if you want someone to check a particular change. A branch link can move forward as you push more changes. A branch is a separate line of work in the code project.
After the first deployment, work on a branch other than the live one can get a Preview deployment. Before triggering it, confirm which database, file store and email settings Preview will use. Settings changes apply to new deployments, so create a new one after replacing a connection.
A generated address can be open to anyone if it is outside your project’s Deployment Protection settings. Check the exact link in a signed-out browser before sharing it. Use a restricted preview and disposable documents for a portal test.
What does a business app cost to run on Vercel?
Hobby is for personal, non-commercial work. For a business app, price the paid plan and the work it does. A document download can run a Function, read from file storage and send data out. Those can be separate usage charges.
In Fluid compute, an active CPU hour counts time spent doing work. A GB-hour combines how much working memory is reserved and for how long. A Function waiting for a database can keep memory allocated even when it is not doing CPU work. Use the rates for the project’s billing mode and region.
Decide what you want to happen if spending jumps. A notification lets you investigate. Pro’s optional automatic pause can take several minutes to apply, interrupts production deployments and leaves some charges, including retained storage, running.
| Part of the bill | Allowance or charge |
|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 for personal, non-commercial work. For most features, going past a limit can mean waiting until 30 days have passed before using it again. |
| Pro | $20 per month for the plan, with one person who can deploy and $20 in monthly usage credit. Each extra paid deploying team member costs $20 per month. Usage beyond the credit and paid extras can add charges. |
| Functions using Fluid compute | For example, in Washington, D.C., $0.128 per active CPU hour and $0.0106 per GB-hour of allocated memory. Pro requests to Functions cost $0.60 per million, subject to usage credit. Older billing configurations can differ. |
| Other usage | Price data delivery, builds, file storage and databases for your app. The plan fee alone does not tell you what those will cost. |
What returns when you roll back the portal?
Instant Rollback points your production address at an eligible earlier app deployment. Before using it, check that version’s service settings and whether it can still read documents and records created since the update. The rollback keeps the earlier version’s settings and does not restore your database.
Use Instant Rollback on the project’s Production Deployment. Hobby can choose the immediately previous production deployment. Pro and Enterprise can choose eligible deployments that previously served a production domain. After the switch, try opening a known document with a test account.
Vercel disables automatic assignment of new deployments to your production domains after a rollback. Promote the corrected deployment when it is ready to resume normal publishing.
What changes when customers upload large documents?
A Vercel Function can receive up to 4.5 MB in the body of a request. If a user needs to upload a bigger file, check whether the app should send it directly to file storage, with permission from the app.
If you move hosts, keep the code, the settings that connect its services, the customer records and the files. Check that the replacement opens a copied file for the right account before directing the domain to it. A feature tied to Vercel can require changes to the app as well as a new hosting account.
Where can you learn the next steps?
- Check your app before going liveA practical release record covering customer access, failed actions, phone screens and recovery.