Why migrate
Why teams are leaving Vercel
Frontend Only, No Backend
Vercel cannot host databases, APIs, or backend services. You need external providers for anything beyond static sites and serverless functions.
Per-Seat Pricing Adds Up
At $20/seat/mo for Pro, a team of 5 costs $100/mo before adding bandwidth, build minutes, and serverless execution overages.
Next.js Lock-In
Heavily optimized for Next.js. Other frameworks get fewer features. Serverless functions have execution time limits and cold starts.
Vercel vs Elestio: Before & After Migration
What changes when you consolidate your full-stack on Elestio (or pair it with Vercel for frontend).
| Criteria | Vercel (Before) | Elestio (After) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $20/user/mo (per-seat) | Per-VM from $11/mo (team included) |
| Backend hosting | Serverless only (no persistent) | Dedicated VMs, always-on processes |
| Databases | None (use external providers) | 50+ managed databases |
| Managed applications | None (frontend only) | 400+ managed services |
| Bandwidth | 1TB included, then $0.15/GB | Generous bandwidth included, no overages |
| Cold starts | Serverless cold starts on functions | None -- always-on VMs |
| Infrastructure | Serverless (no VM access) | Dedicated VMs with root access |
| Cloud providers | Vercel Edge Network only | 9 providers, 100+ regions |
| Support | Email (Pro) / priority (Enterprise) | 24/7 expert support (email + dashboard) |
| Automated backups | Not applicable (stateless) | Daily automated backups included |
Migrate Your Full Stack to Elestio in 5 Steps
Consolidate backend, databases, and CMS on Elestio. Optionally keep Vercel for frontend.
Map Your Current Architecture
Identify all external services your Vercel project depends on: databases (PlanetScale, Supabase, Neon), CMS (Contentful, Sanity, Strapi), backend APIs, auth providers, file storage. These are the services you'll consolidate on Elestio.
Deploy Backend Services on Elestio
From Elestio's catalog, deploy your database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB), CMS (Strapi, WordPress, Ghost), auth (Keycloak), and any other backend tools. Choose your cloud provider and region. Everything deploys fully managed.
Migrate Data to Elestio
Elestio provides built-in migration tools in the dashboard for most databases. Follow our step-by-step migration guides to transfer your data. Our support team can assist you directly if needed.
Update API Endpoints & Environment Variables
Update your frontend application's environment variables to point to the new Elestio-hosted backend endpoints. Set up custom domains with SSL for your APIs and CMS. Test all integrations while the old services are still running.
Go Live & Cancel External Services
Once verified, redeploy your frontend (on Vercel or Elestio) pointing to the new backend. Cancel your external database providers, CMS subscriptions, and other third-party services. Your full stack is now consolidated and managed.
What You Get After Migration
A complete full-stack platform instead of a patchwork of third-party services.
Full-Stack Hosting
Backend, databases, CMS, auth, monitoring -- all in one platform. No more juggling 5 different service providers with 5 different billing accounts.
No Per-Seat Pricing
Your entire team accesses Elestio at no per-user cost. A team of 5 or 50, the pricing stays the same. Costs scale with infrastructure, not headcount.
No Bandwidth Surprises
Predictable per-hour pricing with generous bandwidth included. No $0.15/GB overage charges. No metering anxiety during traffic spikes.
Always-On Infrastructure
Dedicated VMs that never spin down. No serverless cold starts. Persistent processes, WebSocket connections, and background jobs work natively.
Cost Savings: Vercel + External Services vs Elestio
Vercel is just the tip of the iceberg. Factor in all the external services you need for a full stack.
| Scenario | Vercel + External Services | Elestio Full Stack | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Frontend + 1 DB + CMS (2 developers) |
~$90-140/mo $40 Vercel + $50-100 external DB/CMS |
$42/mo 3 managed services on Elestio |
53-70% |
| Medium Frontend + DB + CMS + Auth (5 developers) |
~$200-300/mo $100 Vercel (5 seats) + $100-200 services |
$56/mo 4 managed services |
72-81% |
| Production Full stack + monitoring + multiple DBs (10 developers) |
~$400-600/mo $200 Vercel (10 seats) + $200-400 services |
$84/mo 6 managed VMs, full stack |
79-86% |
Reviews
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Real reviews from real users on Trustpilot.
"I'm in the IT industry for over 25 years and Elestio stands out in many ways. The managed services are top-notch, support is incredibly fast, and the platform just works. Couldn't be better!"
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I keep using Vercel for my frontend and use Elestio for backend?
Absolutely. Many teams use Vercel for frontend deployment and Elestio for backend services, databases, and CMS. This gives you the best of both worlds -- Vercel's CDN for static assets and Elestio's managed infrastructure for everything else.
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Does Elestio have per-seat pricing like Vercel?
No. Elestio charges per VM, not per user. Your entire team can access the dashboard at no extra cost. Unlike Vercel Pro at $20/user/month, Elestio pricing doesn't scale with team size.
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Can Elestio host Next.js or React applications?
Yes. You can deploy Node.js applications including Next.js on Elestio using the CI/CD feature. However, Elestio excels at backend services, databases, and full-stack applications. For pure static/Jamstack sites, Vercel may still be a good fit alongside Elestio.
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How much can I save by moving my backend from external services to Elestio?
Teams using Vercel Pro (5 seats at $20/user = $100/mo) plus external databases ($50-200/mo) typically spend $150-300/mo. Moving backend and databases to Elestio costs $42-84/mo for the full stack, saving 50-70%.
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What databases can I deploy on Elestio?
Elestio offers 50+ managed databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse, MariaDB, CockroachDB, and more. All fully managed with automated backups, updates, and monitoring included.
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Does Elestio charge for bandwidth like Vercel?
No. Elestio uses predictable per-hour pricing per VM (~$11/mo if 24/7) with generous bandwidth included. Unlike Vercel which charges $0.15 per GB of bandwidth overage on Pro plans, Elestio has no bandwidth surprises.