How to Host React/Next.js on Vercel (Free, 3 Minutes)
Deploying used to be a pain. Vercel isn't. You need: a GitHub account, your project pushed to GitHub, a Vercel account. git init git add . git commit -m "first commit" git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/your-repo.git git push -u origin main Already on GitHub? Skip this. Go to vercel.com → Continue with GitHub. Add New → Project → pick your repo → Import. Vercel detects React or Next.js on its own. No config needed. Click Deploy. Wait about a minute. You get a live link: your-
Deploying used to be a pain. Vercel isn't.
Push your code, click a button, get a live link. Here's the whole thing.
You need: a GitHub account, your project pushed to GitHub, a Vercel account.
1. Push to GitHub
git init
git add .
git commit -m "first commit"
git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/your-repo.git
git push -u origin main
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Already on GitHub? Skip this.
2. Sign up on Vercel
Go to vercel.com → Continue with GitHub.
3. Import your project
Add New → Project → pick your repo → Import.
Vercel detects React or Next.js on its own. No config needed.
4. Deploy
Click Deploy. Wait about a minute.
You get a live link: your-project.vercel.app
Done. Your app is online.
5. (Optional) Custom domain
Domains tab → add your domain → update DNS at your provider. Vercel tells you exactly what to add. It can take a few hours to propagate.
6. (Optional) API keys or a database?
Settings → Environment Variables — add them there, not in your code.
⚠️ Anything starting with NEXT_PUBLIC_ is public. Never put secrets there.
The best part: every git push to main redeploys automatically. Push to any other branch, and you'll get a preview deployment to test before going live.
That's it. No servers, no config files.
Read on my site: https://kimkorngmao.com/notes/how-to-host-react-next-js-on-vercel-free-3-minutes
