Vercel Alternatives in Europe: Functions or an Always-On Next.js Server
Niklas KarolyFounder Nodion
In short
- Vercel Functions run in Washington, D.C. by default for new projects; EU regions such as Frankfurt are opt-in, and the Hobby plan is for non-commercial use only.
- Netlify and Cloudflare keep the function model: Netlify runs Next.js through OpenNext with Frankfurt and Dublin function regions, Cloudflare recommends vinext (beta).
- Nodion runs Next.js as an always-on server: the Node.js buildpack starts it with next start in Frankfurt, next to the database. In this comparison Nodion is the only provider based in the EU.
- Static exports with output: 'export' run as static sites on Nodion; the Node.js docs show both paths.
If you host Next.js or another frontend framework on Vercel and want a provider in Europe, the usual candidates are Nodion, Netlify, Cloudflare Workers, Fly.io and DigitalOcean App Platform. Of these, Nodion is the only provider based in the EU. The deciding difference is the runtime model: serverless functions and edge, or an always-on Node.js server next to your database. This comparison covers both, as of October 2026.
A few facts about Vercel itself: Next.js is maintained by Vercel. For new projects, Vercel Functions run in Washington, D.C. (iad1) by default; regions such as Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm or Dublin are yours to pick. The Hobby plan is for personal, non-commercial use only, and the data processing addendum covers customers on Pro and Enterprise. Vercel has had no Postgres of its own since December 2024; databases come through Marketplace integrations. Since October 2026, Vercel Daemons are in public beta for long-running container processes, without persistent storage.
Sources, checked October 2026: Vercel function regions, Vercel pricing, Vercel DPA, Vercel Postgres, Vercel Daemons, Daemons docs.
Functions or a server
On Vercel, Netlify and Cloudflare, your server code runs as functions: the platform starts and scales instances on demand and can reuse them between requests (Vercel Functions). On Nodion, your app runs as an always-on server, for example with next start, next to the database and workers; Fly.io and DigitalOcean App Platform run apps as servers too. Both models render Next.js on the server; the difference is who manages the processes and where the database and jobs run. Functions suit very spiky traffic, because the platform manages the instances. A server suits apps where background jobs, scheduled tasks or a database in the same region and account belong to the app. Whether the region and the company are in the EU is a second question; more in Why EU hosting matters for SaaS and AI teams.
Pricing model
Vercel Pro charges per developer seat, includes a usage credit and bills usage beyond it; the Hobby plan is for non-commercial use only (Vercel pricing, Pro plan). Netlify Pro is a flat monthly fee with unlimited members and monthly credits (Netlify pricing). Cloudflare's Workers Paid has a monthly minimum charge per account (Cloudflare pricing).
Nodion has no plan or seat fees: apps and databases are metered per second by usage, however many people work in the project (Billing, Pricing).
At a glance
| Provider | Company | Next.js | EU locations | Database |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nodion | Stuttgart, Germany | next start as a server, static export as a static site | EU Central (Frankfurt) | PostgreSQL, MySQL, Valkey and more in the same region |
| Netlify | San Francisco, USA | Through the OpenNext adapter, App Router supported | Functions in Frankfurt, Dublin | Netlify Database (Postgres) |
| Cloudflare Workers | San Francisco, USA | vinext (beta) or OpenNext | Global network; D1 can be restricted to the EU | D1 |
| Fly.io | USA | fly launch detects Next.js and generates a Dockerfile and fly.toml | Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm | Managed Postgres (Amsterdam, Frankfurt) |
| DigitalOcean App Platform | Broomfield, USA | Next.js sample app | Amsterdam, Frankfurt | PostgreSQL, MySQL, Valkey, MongoDB and more |
1. Nodion
Nodion is a cloud platform by Nodion GmbH in Stuttgart, with the EU Central region in Frankfurt. The Node.js buildpack starts Next.js with next start, so with server-side rendering; with output: 'export' it becomes a static site. The app runs always on, workers run as extra processes of the same app, and you attach PostgreSQL, MySQL or Valkey in the same region. For apps from Git, every pull request can get a preview environment with its own URL and a fresh database once you turn previews on. There are no plan or seat fees; billing follows usage.
Best for: Next.js apps with a backend, a database and background jobs at an EU company. Comparison: Nodion vs Vercel.
Sources: Node.js buildpack, Applications and previews, Regions.
2. Netlify
Netlify's docs say it supports all major Next.js features with zero configuration, through the open source OpenNext adapter, including the App Router. Functions run in Ohio by default; Frankfurt and Dublin are yours to pick. Netlify Database is a managed Postgres on the credit-based plans. Netlify is a US company.
Sources: Netlify Next.js, function regions, Netlify Database, Netlify agreement.
3. Cloudflare Workers
Cloudflare runs code on its own global network, with no region picker. For Next.js, Cloudflare recommends vinext, which is still in beta, and documents OpenNext as another path. The D1 database can be restricted to the EU jurisdiction, which according to Cloudflare only controls where the database itself runs and stores data. Cloudflare is a US company.
Sources: Cloudflare Next.js, D1 data location, Cloudflare terms.
4. Fly.io
Fly.io runs apps as Machines in 17 regions, four of them in the EU: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Stockholm. According to its docs, fly launch detects Next.js and generates a Dockerfile and a fly.toml. Managed Postgres is available in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, and running Machines are billed per second. Fly.io is a US company.
Sources: Fly.io Next.js, regions, Managed Postgres, pricing, terms.
5. DigitalOcean App Platform
DigitalOcean's App Platform runs apps in the EU in Amsterdam and Frankfurt and offers a Next.js sample app as a starting point. Managed PostgreSQL, MySQL, Valkey, MongoDB, Kafka and OpenSearch sit next to it. DigitalOcean is based in Colorado, USA.
Sources: Next.js sample app, availability, managed databases, DigitalOcean terms.
Moving from Vercel to Nodion
- Next.js with a server: create the repository as an app with buildpacks;
next startruns on thewebprocess, which getsPORT(Node.js). - Static export: with
output: 'export', Nodion serves theout/folder as a static site (Static sites). - Database: export Postgres from a Marketplace integration with
pg_dumpand restore it into a Nodion database in the same region (Databases). - Cron and background jobs run as cron jobs and processes of the same app (Cron jobs, Applications). Prices are on Pricing.
How to choose
- Next.js as a server next to the database and workers, at an EU company: Nodion, with
next startin Frankfurt. - No seat fees for the team: Nodion bills usage only, however many people work in the project.
- Previews with their own database for every pull request: Nodion's preview environments for apps from Git, once you turn them on.
- Deliberately staying with functions: Netlify and Cloudflare Workers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Vercel alternative in Europe for Next.js?
Nodion runs Next.js with next start as an always-on server next to a managed database in Frankfurt, at an EU company and without seat fees. In this comparison it is the only provider based in the EU.
Where do Vercel Functions run by default?
In Washington, D.C. (iad1) for new projects, according to Vercel's docs. You can pick other regions, including Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm and Dublin.
Can I run Next.js with server-side rendering on Nodion?
Yes. The Node.js buildpack starts Next.js with next start, so pages render on the server. With output: 'export', Nodion serves the static export instead.
Does Vercel have its own Postgres database?
Not any more. Vercel moved existing Vercel Postgres databases to Neon in December 2024 and points new projects to Postgres integrations from its Marketplace.