Zenifra vs Vercel

The Vercel alternative for full apps in Brazil

Vercel is excellent for frontends and Next.js, but it bills in US dollars, by card only, and its free plan is for personal use only. Zenifra runs apps, databases, and AI in Brazil, billed in Brazilian reais with PIX.

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The 30-second summary

Choose Zenifra if

Your app is an always-on API or backend with a database.
You want to pay in Brazilian reais with PIX, boleto, or card, without IOF.
You want apps, PostgreSQL, and AI APIs in one console, with support in Portuguese.

Choose Vercel if

Your project is mostly frontend or Next.js and benefits from a global CDN.
You prefer serverless functions that scale on their own per request.
Paying in US dollars with an international card fits your budget.

Zenifra vs Vercel side by side

The criteria that matter most for teams serving users in Brazil.

Where your app runs

Zenifra: Infrastructure in Brazil
Vercel: Functions in 19 regions, including São Paulo (gru1); the default is Washington (iad1)

Execution model

Zenifra: Always-on HTTP applications, from GitHub or a Docker image
Vercel: Serverless functions with a maximum duration of 300 s on Hobby and 800 s on Pro

Billing currency

Zenifra: Brazilian real (BRL)
Vercel: US dollar (USD)

Payment methods

Zenifra: PIX, boleto, and card
Vercel: Credit or debit card only

IOF and exchange rate

Zenifra: None: billing is domestic
Vercel: 3.5% IOF on Brazilian cards, plus the daily exchange rate

Pricing model

Zenifra: Hourly, monthly, or yearly, in Brazilian reais
Vercel: Pro from US$20 per month, with US$20 of usage credit; overages are billed by usage

Getting started for free

Zenifra: 2 free HTTP projects, no card required
Vercel: Free Hobby plan, for personal and non-commercial use only

Managed databases

Zenifra: PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Valkey, and ClickHouse
Vercel: Through Marketplace integrations with third-party providers

AI by API

Zenifra: OpenAI-compatible API with per-project keys and budgets
Vercel: AI Gateway, billed in US dollars

Test environments

Zenifra: Previews billed hourly in Brazilian reais
Vercel: Preview Deployments on every push

Support

Zenifra: In Portuguese
Vercel: In English

Criterion	Zenifra	Vercel
Where your app runs	Infrastructure in Brazil	Functions in 19 regions, including São Paulo (gru1); the default is Washington (iad1)
Execution model	Always-on HTTP applications, from GitHub or a Docker image	Serverless functions with a maximum duration of 300 s on Hobby and 800 s on Pro
Billing currency	Brazilian real (BRL)	US dollar (USD)
Payment methods	PIX, boleto, and card	Credit or debit card only
IOF and exchange rate	None: billing is domestic	3.5% IOF on Brazilian cards, plus the daily exchange rate
Pricing model	Hourly, monthly, or yearly, in Brazilian reais	Pro from US$20 per month, with US$20 of usage credit; overages are billed by usage
Getting started for free	2 free HTTP projects, no card required	Free Hobby plan, for personal and non-commercial use only
Managed databases	PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Valkey, and ClickHouse	Through Marketplace integrations with third-party providers
AI by API	OpenAI-compatible API with per-project keys and budgets	AI Gateway, billed in US dollars
Test environments	Previews billed hourly in Brazilian reais	Preview Deployments on every push
Support	In Portuguese	In English

What it costs in practice

On Vercel, commercial projects need Pro, billed in US dollars, and the database comes from a Marketplace provider with its own billing. On Zenifra, app and database are on the same bill, in Brazilian reais.

Vercel (Pro plan)

Example: a commercial project, which cannot use Hobby, within the included usage credit.

Pro plan (includes US$20 of usage)$20.00
Monthly total: $20.00
With 3.5% IOF on a Brazilian card: $20.70, converted at the daily exchange rate

Usage above the credit and the Marketplace database are billed separately.

Zenifra

App + PostgreSQL from R$17.80/month

Lowest paid application plan plus the lowest paid PostgreSQL plan, in Brazilian reais, without IOF.

Estimate my cost

The scenarios are not a 1-to-1 match: resources differ by plan. Use the calculator to compare with your app’s usage.

Where Vercel comes out ahead

An honest comparison leads to a better decision. These are Vercel’s strengths.

Global CDN

More than 120 points of presence serve static content close to any user.

Next.js first

Vercel maintains Next.js and optimizes how the framework deploys.

São Paulo region

Functions can run in gru1, close to Brazilian users.

Automatic scaling

Functions scale per request without configuring instances.

How to migrate from Vercel to Zenifra

On Zenifra, your app runs as an always-on HTTP server. A Next.js project works with next build and next start.

Create your account and project

Connect the same repository

Use the same GitHub repository. For Next.js, the build runs next build and the start command runs next start on the project port.

Bring your environment variables

Download your production variables with vercel env pull and add them to the Zenifra project.

Move the database next to the app

Create PostgreSQL on Zenifra and restore a dump of your current database with pg_dump and pg_restore.

Validate and point your domain

Test on the Zenifra URL or in a Preview, then point your domain’s DNS when everything checks out.

Migration commands

# 1. Download your Vercel production variables
vercel env pull .env.production --environment=production

# 2. Run Next.js as an HTTP server
npm run build
npm run start -- --port "$PORT"

Start free Read the docs

Questions about Vercel and Zenifra

Short answers to the most common questions when comparing both platforms.

Does Vercel have servers in Brazil?

Yes. As of September 29, 2026, Vercel listed the gru1 region in São Paulo for functions. By default, though, functions run in Washington (iad1) until you change the region.

Can I use Vercel’s free plan for a commercial project?

No. Hobby is for personal and non-commercial use. Commercial projects need Pro, from US$20 per month. On Zenifra you start with 2 free HTTP projects, with no card required.

Can I pay Vercel with PIX or boleto?

No. On Pro, Vercel only accepts credit or debit cards, billed in US dollars. On Zenifra you pay in Brazilian reais with PIX, boleto, or card.

Can I run Next.js on Zenifra?

Yes. A Next.js app runs as an HTTP server with next build and next start, deployed from GitHub or a Docker image.

Where does the database live on Vercel?

Databases on Vercel come from Marketplace integrations with third-party providers. On Zenifra, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and Valkey live in the same console and on the same bill as your app.

Information checked on 9/29/2026 on the official pages: Vercel pricing, Vercel regions, Pro billing, Function limits.