A Vercel Alternative for AI Apps With a Built-In Database
Compare NEXUS AI and Vercel for AI apps that need a database, Redis, workers, and storage in one deploy: pricing, limits, backups, and migration.
Where AI apps outgrow Vercel
Vercel Functions with Fluid compute run for 300 seconds by default and up to 800 seconds on Pro, with an extended 1,800-second maximum in beta for supported runtimes. The request and response body limit is 4.5 MB. Vercel also offers Workflow, Queues, and Cron Jobs, while its Marketplace connects apps to database and storage providers. Choose the execution and storage model that fits your app: a request-driven function and a continuously running worker have different operational needs.
One deployment with the database built in
On NEXUS AI the app container, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis, background workers, persistent volumes, and S3-compatible buckets deploy together, and connection details are injected as environment variables. Workers run as always-on processes rather than request-bound functions. Standalone databases stay independent of any app, so redeploying or deleting a deployment never touches the data.
Backups belong to the platform, not a third party
With Marketplace databases, backups, restores, and billing are handled by each provider. NEXUS AI backs up Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis on demand or on a schedule with configurable retention, lets you download any backup through a signed URL, and restores in place or into a different Postgres service, for example to seed staging from production.
Pricing: per-seat usage vs flat plans
Vercel Pro has a $20 monthly platform fee with one deploying seat and $20 of usage credit. Additional deploying seats are $20 each; read-only Viewer seats are free. Resources beyond included credit are billed on demand, and new teams get spend notifications at $200 by default. NEXUS AI Starter is $29 with 3 team members, and Pro is $149 with 10. Hosting on NEXUS AI follows plan limits; resources deployed into your own cloud account and calls on your own AI key are billed separately by those providers. Compare the full workload, including database, compute, traffic, and collaborators.
AI agents on both platforms
Both platforms have an MCP server. Vercel MCP can deploy code, read logs, and manage projects. NEXUS AI exposes 74 MCP tools that also cover databases, backups, restores, storage, secrets, and domains, each gated by one of 25 OAuth scopes, so an agent can deploy and read logs without permission to drop data. Both also offer an LLM gateway: Vercel AI Gateway and NEXUS AI Gateway.
When Vercel is the better fit
Stay on Vercel for marketing sites and Next.js frontends that live on its global CDN, incremental static regeneration, and per-branch preview deployments, or if your team already builds with v0 and the AI SDK. A hybrid also works well: keep the frontend on Vercel and run the API, database, workers, and storage on NEXUS AI.
How it works
- Pull your Vercel variables and dump the database.
- Deploy the same repo on NEXUS AI with Postgres, Redis, and your variables.
- Upload the dump, restore it, and copy Blob files into a bucket.
- Verify the app, move your domain, and let agents operate it through MCP.
NEXUS AI and Vercel plans
| Tier | NEXUS AI | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0: 1 deployment, for testing and development | Hobby, $0: personal, non-commercial use |
| Paid | Starter, $29/month: 2 active deployments, 3 team members, custom domain. Pro, $149/month: 5 deployments, up to 10 concurrent containers, 10 team members, AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, one-click rollback | Pro, $20/month platform fee: one deploying seat and $20 usage credit; additional deploying seats $20 each; usage billed separately |
| Databases | Run inside your deployment on your plan | Billed by the Marketplace provider |
| Enterprise | Custom: your cloud account or on-premises, SSO | Custom: SLAs, security controls, and support |
Move an app from Vercel to NEXUS AI
| Step | Command |
|---|---|
| Pull production variables (sensitive values cannot be downloaded, so re-add those by hand) | vercel env pull .env.production --environment=production |
| Dump your Marketplace Postgres using its direct, non-pooled connection string | pg_dump "<direct connection string>" -Fc -f vercel.dump |
| Deploy the same repo with Postgres and Redis (remove the old database URLs from .env.production first; NEXUS AI injects its own) | nexus deploy source --repo https://github.com/you/app --name my-app --provider docker --services postgres,redis --env-file .env.production --environment PRODUCTION --wait |
| Find the new database service ID | nexus db services my-app |
| Upload the dump | nexus db backup-upload <service-id> ./vercel.dump |
| Restore it into the new database | nexus db restore <service-id> <backup-id> --yes |
| Create a bucket for files from Vercel Blob, then copy them with any S3-compatible tool | nexus bucket create uploads |
| Check the app, then point your domain at it | nexus deploy logs my-app --follow |
NEXUS AI vs Vercel
| Capability | NEXUS AI | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly platform plans; own cloud resources billed separately | $20 Pro platform fee, additional deploying seats, and usage |
| Team members | Included: 3 on Starter, 10 on Pro | One deploying seat included; additional paid deploying seats; free Viewers |
| Free plan | Testing and development only | Personal, non-commercial use only |
| Run your own Postgres or Redis with persistent disk | Yes, in the same deployment | No; use Marketplace providers such as Neon, Supabase, or Upstash |
| Background workers | Always-on worker processes | Queues, Workflow, and Cron Jobs |
| Function duration limit | Not function-based | 300 s default, 800 s max on Pro (1,800 s in beta) |
| Database backups and restores | Built in for every database service | Handled by each Marketplace provider |
| File storage | S3-compatible buckets with per-bucket credentials | Vercel Blob |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes: 74 tools, each gated by an OAuth scope | Yes: Vercel MCP, including deploys |
| AI app builder | Built in | v0 |
| LLM gateway | NEXUS AI Gateway | Vercel AI Gateway |
| Deploy into your own AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure account | Google Cloud on Starter; all three on Pro | Vercel-managed infrastructure |
| Global edge CDN and ISR | Put your own CDN in front | Built in |
Research sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Vercel alternative for AI apps with a built-in database?
Look for a platform that runs the database, cache, and background workers in the same deployment as the app. NEXUS AI deploys the app with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis, always-on workers, volumes, and S3-compatible buckets together, backs the databases up, and lets AI agents operate all of it through scoped MCP tools.
Can I run a database on Vercel?
Vercel's Marketplace connects applications to database providers, including Postgres and Redis integrations, and can inject their connection variables into your project. Check the selected provider's pricing, backup, and recovery settings. NEXUS AI can deploy database services alongside an app on its managed runtime or use supported managed databases in your cloud account.
Is NEXUS AI cheaper than Vercel?
It depends on the workload. Compare deploying seats, database, compute, storage, and traffic. NEXUS AI includes 3 team members on Starter ($29) and 10 on Pro ($149), with managed hosting subject to plan limits. Deployments into your own cloud account and your own AI-key usage have separate provider charges. Vercel includes one deploying seat and $20 usage credit in its $20 Pro platform fee, then charges for additional deploying seats and usage.
Can I keep my frontend on Vercel and move the backend?
Yes. Deploy the API, database, workers, and storage on NEXUS AI, then point your Vercel frontend at the NEXUS AI API URL through an environment variable. You keep Vercel's CDN and preview deployments for the frontend.
Does NEXUS AI run Next.js apps?
Yes. NEXUS AI detects Next.js in a repository and runs it as a Node.js server container, so API routes and server-side code run alongside your database, Redis, and workers in the same deployment.
How do I migrate from Vercel to NEXUS AI?
Pull production variables with vercel env pull, re-add any sensitive values, dump your Marketplace Postgres with pg_dump, deploy the repo with nexus deploy source and --env-file, then upload and restore the dump with nexus db backup-upload and nexus db restore. The full commands are in the migration table on this page.
Can AI agents deploy to NEXUS AI the way they deploy with Vercel MCP?
Yes. Connect Claude, Cursor, Codex, or another MCP client to https://mcp.nexusai.run/mcp. Beyond deploys and logs, agents can create databases, back up, restore, attach storage, and manage secrets, limited to the OAuth scopes you grant.
About NEXUS AI
NEXUS AI is an agentic AI app builder and full-stack deployment platform. Explore the AI App Builder, learn more on the About page, read the documentation, or contact the team through nexusai.run/contact.
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