Vercel specializes in frontend deployment with superior Next.js optimization and faster global edge performance, while AWS Amplify offers broader full-stack capabilities including backend services, databases, and authentication in a single platform.
Vercel vs AWS Amplify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Edge-first platform optimized for Next.js and modern full-stack web applications.
Full-stack AWS service providing frontend hosting, backend APIs, databases, and authentication in one platform.
Primary Use Case. Next.js Optimization. Built-in Database Solutions. Cold Start Time (ms). Free Tier Monthly Limit. Authentication Systems. Global Edge Network Locations
Choose Vercel if you're building modern frontend applications, require Next.js optimization, or prioritize deployment speed and simplicity. Choose AWS Amplify if you need a comprehensive full-stack platform with integrated backend services, databases, and are already invested in the AWS ecosystem.
Vercel: Covina, California, USA | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Enterprise market leader | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Native Vercel Postgres | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Basic (paid plans enhanced) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Detailed Web Analytics | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Unlimited free tier | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 200+ edge locations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: <100ms average | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Limited (via Docker) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Automatic per git branch | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: SOC 2, DDoS, WAF included | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: $0 (hobby tier) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 1 (Node.js primary) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: None (external only) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Integrations via marketplace | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: $20 (Pro plan) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Supported Languages (via Framework/Docker)
Vercel: 35+ frameworks | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 1 GB (Vercel Postgres) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Free tier (limited) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 15-20 services | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Limited (Node.js focus) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Unlimited Functions (100GB bandwidth) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 0 native; integrations available | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: API integrations only | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: $0.10-0.50 per Serverless Function GB-hr | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Automatic (280 edge locations) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 1/10 (git push automatic deployment) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 180+ edge locations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: PostgreSQL only (Vercel Postgres) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Not included (external service required) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Next.js optimized (Node.js compatible) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Limited deployments, 12 serverless function invocations/day | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: None (requires third-party) | AWS Amplify: DynamoDB, RDS, MongoDB Atlas
Serverless Function Cost (per 1M invocations)
Vercel: $2.00 | AWS Amplify: $0.20 (Lambda)
Vercel: OAuth providers only | AWS Amplify: Cognito, OAuth, custom rules
Vercel: Native (created by Vercel team) | AWS Amplify: Supported with Community SDK
Vercel: Beginner-friendly | AWS Amplify: Intermediate (requires AWS knowledge)
Vercel: 85ms (with edge caching) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 2 (connect GitHub, auto-deploy) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 0 (integrations only) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 99.95% (global) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Unlimited (auto-scales serverless) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Estimated Learning Time for New Developer
Vercel: Yes (Node.js, Python, Go) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Native first-class support | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 30-50ms faster than origin | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: $20 (Web Analytics) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 15-25% faster | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: No, Pro+ required | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: < 1 (git push) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: Limited (requires external platform) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: 30+ (optimized for Next.js) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: Pay-as-you-go (no guaranteed free bandwidth)
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: ~50-100ms (Lambda optimized)
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: React, Vue, Next.js, Nuxt, Angular, custom backends
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: DynamoDB, RDS, Aurora natively integrated
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: AWS Cognito with advanced MFA, social login, custom flows
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: 600+ (CloudFront)
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: Unlimited with custom CI/CD pipelines
Vercel: N/A | AWS Amplify: 30-60 minutes
How to choose between Vercel and AWS Amplify
Vercel vs AWS Amplify — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Vercel vs AWS Amplify. Contains 101 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Vercel vs AWS Amplify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Vercel vs AWS Amplify.
Can I use Vercel for full-stack applications with a database?
Vercel is primarily frontend-focused. While you can connect to external databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) via API routes or serverless functions, you don't get managed database solutions. For integrated backend services, AWS Amplify is better suited.
Is AWS Amplify expensive compared to Vercel?
Vercel has a more generous free tier (100GB bandwidth vs 15GB), but AWS Amplify's serverless function costs ($0.20 per 1M invocations for Lambda) are significantly cheaper than Vercel's ($2.00 per 1M). Overall costs depend on your usage pattern—Vercel is cheaper for static/light traffic sites; Amplify wins at scale with heavy backend usage.
Which platform is better for Next.js applications?
Vercel is objectively better for Next.js because it's built by the Next.js creators. It offers native Image Optimization, Font Optimization, and Edge Middleware with zero configuration. AWS Amplify supports Next.js but requires manual optimization setup.
Can I deploy React or Vue apps on both platforms?
Yes, both platforms support all modern frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte, Angular). However, Vercel's optimization features are Next.js-specific. For non-Next.js apps, the playing field is more level, though Vercel still has faster edge performance.
Which platform has better global performance?
AWS Amplify has 200+ CloudFront edge locations vs Vercel's 35+. However, Vercel's edge network is more optimized for serving static content and serverless functions, resulting in faster actual response times (100ms vs 200ms average cold start).
How to Choose Between Vercel and AWS Amplify
Primary Use Case: Vercel has Frontend-first static & serverless apps, while AWS Amplify has Full-stack applications with backend.
Next.js Optimization: Vercel has Native support by creators, Edge Middleware, while AWS Amplify has Supported but less optimized.
Built-in Database Solutions: Vercel has Postgres via partners only, while AWS Amplify has DynamoDB, RDS, AppSync GraphQL included.
Cold Start Time (ms): Vercel has 50-150ms average, while AWS Amplify has 100-300ms average.
Free Tier Monthly Limit: Vercel has 100GB bandwidth, unlimited deployments, while AWS Amplify has 15GB storage, 25 compute hours.
Authentication Systems: Vercel has OAuth providers only, while AWS Amplify has Cognito, OAuth, custom rules included.
Global Edge Network Locations: Vercel has 35+ locations worldwide, while AWS Amplify has 200+ CloudFront edge locations.