Deploying Next.js on Vercel — Complete Guide 2026

Step-by-step guide to deploying Next.js applications on Vercel. Custom domains, environment variables, CI/CD, performance optimization, and SEO.

Next.jsVercelDeploymentCI/CD

After deploying 20+ Next.js apps on Vercel, here's my production-ready workflow covering everything from initial setup to performance monitoring.

Why Vercel for Next.js

Vercel is built by the same team that creates Next.js, so the integration is seamless. You get automatic ISR, edge functions, and zero-config deployments.

Step 1: Project Setup

Connect your GitHub repo to Vercel. Every push to main triggers a production deployment. Feature branches get preview URLs automatically.

Step 2: Environment Variables

Add env vars in the Vercel dashboard under Settings. Use separate values for Production, Preview, and Development. Never commit secrets to your repo.

Step 3: Custom Domain

Add your domain in Project Settings → Domains. Vercel provisions an SSL certificate automatically. Point your DNS to Vercel's servers.

Performance & SEO Checklist

Enable ISR for pages that change periodically
Use next/image for automatic image optimization
Add sitemap.ts and robots.ts in your app directory
Set metadataBase in your root layout
Verify your domain in Google Search Console