Vercel →
Full-Stack EU Hosting, Not Just Frontend
Vercel is great for frontend. But if you need backend hosting in Europe with GDPR compliance, Runsite is the answer.
Best Vercel alternative: quick answer
The best Vercel alternative depends on your stack, but for EU-based indie developers and small startups, Runsite is the strongest option: GDPR-compliant hosting in Frankfurt (eu-central), predictable EUR pricing with hard spending caps, and a permanent free tier that needs no credit card. Unlike Vercel, your data never leaves the EU or falls under the US CLOUD Act, so compliance is the default rather than a configuration step.
// comparison
Runsite vs Vercel
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff, just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Backend Hosting | ✓ Full containers, any stack | Serverless functions only |
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | Edge only, origin = US |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity, full compliance | ✗ US company |
| Managed PostgreSQL | ✓ From €5/mo | Via Vercel Postgres (Neon) |
| Docker Support | ✓ Any Dockerfile | ✗ Not supported |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + alerts | Soft limits only |
| Frontend Hosting | Static files via S3 | ✓ Fast global CDN |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | ✓ With limits |
Pricing and feature details verified June 2026. Always confirm current rates on Vercel’s official pricing page.
// in-depth comparison
Vercel vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Give Vercel its due: for frontend work, it is arguably the best deployment platform available today. The Next.js integration just works, preview deployments are instant, and the global edge network delivers fast load times worldwide. If your project lives in the browser, it is genuinely hard to beat.
Backend hosting is where the model strains. Serverless functions have execution time limits, cold starts affect API latency, and the origin servers for your data sit in the US regardless of which edge locations cache your content. Per-invocation pricing can also lead to unpredictable bills during traffic spikes. Runsite takes a different approach: persistent Docker containers that run any language or framework, with all compute happening in EU data centers and fixed monthly pricing capped by hard spending limits.
Vercel stays the right choice for pure frontend projects. But if you need to deploy a Python API, a Go microservice, or a full-stack app with EU data residency, Runsite fills the gap that Vercel's serverless model leaves open.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
Run Any Stack
Django, FastAPI, Go, Rust: Runsite runs any language in Docker containers. Serverless functions are not your only option.
EU Data Residency
Vercel's edge runs globally but origin servers are in the US. Runsite keeps everything in Europe.
Predictable Pricing
No per-function invocation charges. Fixed monthly pricing with hard spending limits.
// vercel problems → runsite solutions
Common Vercel frustrations. Sound familiar?
Every Vercel frustration, solved.
Vercel problem
"Vercel is frontend-only"
Need to deploy a Python API or Go service? Vercel's serverless model doesn't support long-running backend processes.
Runsite solution
Full container hosting, any stack
Deploy Django, FastAPI, Express, Go, or Rust in persistent containers. No cold starts, no function timeouts.
Vercel problem
"Origin servers are in the US"
Vercel's edge caches content globally, but your serverless functions and data origin are US-based.
Runsite solution
EU-only infrastructure
Compute, storage, and databases all run in EU data centers. True data residency, beyond edge caching.
Vercel problem
"Surprise bills from function invocations"
Serverless pricing is unpredictable. A traffic spike can lead to unexpected charges.
Runsite solution
Fixed pricing + hard spending caps
Predictable monthly bills. Set a cap, get alerts. No pay-per-request surprises.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live, in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central // same platform, other angles
Keep exploring
Deploy Your Backend in Europe
Vercel for frontend, Runsite for backend. Or go all-in on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →