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Turso vs Vercel
Side-by-side comparison of Turso and Vercel.
Quick summary
Turso — SQLite for production. Turso is a distributed SQLite database built on libSQL, offering edge replicas and a generous free tier.
Vercel — The frontend cloud. Vercel is the platform built by the creators of Next.js, offering edge-first hosting, preview deployments, and serverless functions.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Turso | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $20/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Engine | SQLite (libSQL) | — |
| Branching | No | — |
| Free Tier | 500 databases, 9GB | — |
| Serverless | Yes | — |
| Scale-to-zero | Yes | — |
| Point-in-time Recovery | Yes | — |
| Edge Network | — | Yes |
| Custom Domains | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | Yes |
| Bandwidth (free) | — | 100GB |
| Preview Deployments | — | Yes |
| Build Minutes (free) | — | 6000/mo |
| Serverless Functions | — | Yes |
Turso
SQLite for production
Pros
- Edge replicas close to users
- Very generous free tier
- Low latency reads
Cons
- SQLite limits write scale
- Newer tool, less tooling
Vercel
The frontend cloud
Pros
- Best-in-class Next.js support
- Fast global edge network
- Excellent DX with Git integration
Cons
- Expensive at scale
- Vendor lock-in with Edge runtime
- Function timeout limits
Which should you choose?
Choose Turso if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Vercel if a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Turso or Vercel?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Turso is the safer default because Turso is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. Vercel is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Turso cheaper than Vercel?
Turso starts at $29/mo, while Vercel starts at $20/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Turso to Vercel?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Turso-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most database migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Turso or Vercel open source?
Turso is open source; Vercel is a proprietary managed service.
Does Turso or Vercel have a free tier?
Both Turso and Vercel offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Vercel. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.