Vercel is popular for frontend deployments. Zero-config Next.js, preview URLs, edge functions. But Vercel is a US company on US-controlled infrastructure. For many projects, that’s fine. For some, it’s a dealbreaker.
Where it gets complicated
Even for a Canadian company serving Canadian users, API routes and server components run on Vercel’s infrastructure. That data passes through US-controlled servers. As a US company, Vercel can be compelled to hand over data under the CLOUD Act, regardless of where it originated. “Edge” doesn’t mean “your jurisdiction.” You can’t guarantee Canadian data stays in Canada. Serverless functions execute wherever Vercel decides – compliance becomes ambiguous.
B2B SaaS handling client data, applications processing personal information under PIPEDA, healthcare, legal tech, financial services, government contractors, and agencies with compliance-conscious clients should care. But compliance isn’t the only reason. If you don’t want your infrastructure subject to US law, that’s valid. You don’t need a regulatory requirement to prefer Canadian jurisdiction.
The Next.js problem
Vercel makes Next.js, and Next.js is excellent. But using Next.js doesn’t mean you have to use Vercel. Next.js runs anywhere Node.js runs: any VPS, Docker, Kubernetes, other PaaS providers, or self-hosted solutions like Coolify. You lose some Vercel conveniences, but you gain control over where your code runs and data lives.
What Canadian alternatives look like
A proper Canadian alternative needs: Canadian infrastructure (servers in Toronto or Montreal), Canadian jurisdiction (operated from Canada, not a US company with a Canadian data centre), full-stack support (server components, API routes, databases), modern developer experience (git-based deploys, automatic SSL), and a transparent stack. MapleDeploy delivers all of these: Canadian infrastructure, operated from Canada, same git push workflow.
Practical considerations
What Vercel features do you actually use? If it’s just deployments, alternatives are straightforward. If you’re deep into Vercel Analytics, KV, and edge middleware, migration takes more effort. Do you need edge performance? For most B2B applications, single-region deployment from Toronto is fast enough for North American users. Edge only matters for global consumer traffic. Be clear about your compliance requirement. “We should probably care” is different from “our contracts require it.” The latter justifies more migration effort.
For purely static sites, Vercel works fine. But if you’re handling user data and need Canadian jurisdiction, Vercel can’t help – their architecture makes it impossible to guarantee where data flows. MapleDeploy gives you certainty: Canadian servers, Canadian operation, Canadian jurisdiction. Plus the git push workflow and managed databases you expect.