self-hosting next.js in 2026: docker, sqlite, and freedom - By Sourav Mishra (@souravvmishra)

hey, i am sourav mishra. vercel is great and all, but sometimes you just don't want to be locked in. self-hosting next.js in 2026 is actually super easy now.

i love self-hosting when i want full control of my data or just want to keep the bills low.

what we're using

• the engine: node.js inside docker.
• the database: sqlite with turso or litefs.
• the network: cloudflare or any basic vps.

setting up docker for next.js

next.js has a standalone mode that is literally made for docker. open your next.config.js and add this:

module.exports = {
  output: 'standalone',
}

this makes your docker image way smaller, up to 80% smaller! it only packs what you actually need.

why sqlite?

for apps that are mostly reading data (like blogs or a small saas), sqlite is crazy fast. it lives right next to your code on the disk. no network lag at all.

does it help with seo?

yep! self-hosting gives you total control over how fast your server responds. a faster server means better seo. i talk more about this in my page 5 recovery plan.

written by sourav mishra. stay independent!