100xBuilder

Next.js developers have been funneled toward Vercel for too long. Sure, it’s easy to get started, and it takes care of a lot of the headaches that come with deploying web apps. But you know what else comes with Vercel? A fat bill that just keeps getting bigger the more you scale. Suddenly, that “free to start” service becomes a financial albatross around your neck.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Kamal 2 is here to shake things up, and it’s doing it the right way—with freedom, flexibility, and a whole lot less sticker shock. Combine it with Docker, and you’ve got a deployment workflow that’s portable, powerful, and way more cost-effective than any managed service. It’s what we’ve used at 37signals to bring apps like HEY home to our own hardware, and it’s perfect for developers looking to own their stack.

1. Take Back Control: A Smarter Way to Deploy

Here’s the thing: Vercel charges you for convenience, and at a certain scale, that convenience isn’t worth the price. Their servers, their rules, their limits. It’s like paying premium rent on a penthouse you can never move out of. With Kamal 2, you’re in control. You decide where your app lives—whether it’s on low-cost cloud providers like Digital Ocean, Hetzner, or even your own bare-metal servers.
Kamal 2 is your ticket to run lean and mean. Instead of shelling out for Vercel’s markups, you get the flexibility to:

•	Scale up when you need extra capacity on AWS, Google Cloud, or wherever.

•	Scale down when you don’t need the extra horsepower and save a bundle.

•	Mix and match—put some workloads on the cloud, others on your own servers, and keep those costs in check.

When you’re not locked into a single platform, you get the freedom to build your business on your terms. That’s the real value here.

2. Zero-Downtime Deployments: Because Downtime is for Amateurs

Kamal 2 handles zero-downtime deployments right out of the box. That means rolling restarts, where new instances of your app come online before the old ones go offline. For your users, that means no downtime during updates, even when you’re pushing major changes.
This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a requirement if you’re running a serious web app. Why should you pay Vercel to manage this when you can handle it yourself with a few Docker commands? Kamal 2 gives you the tools without the handcuffs, letting you control exactly how updates and deployments roll out.
And if you’re diving into self-hosted tutorials and want to learn to do this yourself, 100xBuilder has you covered with step-by-step guides that make setting up zero-downtime deploys as easy as it gets.

3. Build, Don’t Rent: Turn Your Skills Into a Business

If you’re a developer with an itch to start a side hustle or build the next SaaS product, why should you hand over your profits to Vercel just for hosting? 100xBuilder is a community and toolkit that helps you build, launch, and scale your own projects. It’s not just another tutorial or boilerplate—it’s a mindset.
With 100xBuilder, you get:

• A Next.js boilerplate that makes spinning up your new idea a breeze.

• Kamal 2 tutorials for deploying on your terms, whether that’s on a cheap Digital Ocean droplet or your own hardware.

• Guides for using AI coding tools like Cursor to speed up development. Automate the repetitive stuff so you can focus on building the features that matter.

No more excuses about how you don’t have the time or resources to start your business. With Kamal, Docker, and the 100x Value Kit, you can go from idea to MVP in hours, not days.
What is 100xBuilder?
100xBuilder isn’t just a starter template—it’s a community of people who are tired of the same old excuses. You don’t need a massive team, and you don’t need millions of dollars to build something real. You just need the right tools and a willingness to take control.
Whether you’re launching your first side project or trying to bootstrap a startup, this is where you should be. 100xBuilder combines the Next.js boilerplate, Kamal 2, and AI tools into a killer toolkit for building and shipping fast. Want to go global with your app? You’ll find the support and resources here to make that happen.

4. Simple Setup, No Nonsense: Get Your App Live with Ease

Kamal 2 is built for developers who value simplicity over buzzwords. No more fiddling with YAML files, no more Kubernetes nightmares. If you can build a Docker image of your Next.js app, you’re 90% of the way there. Kamal 2 takes care of the rest. All you need is a list of IP addresses, and you’re off to the races.
You get:

• Auto-provisioning of servers with Docker.
• Faster deployments thanks to Docker layer caching.
• • A straightforward deployment model that doesn’t require a 12-week bootcamp to understand.

For those of you who already know your way around Docker, this is music to your ears. And if you need a little guidance, 100xBuilder’s tutorials make sure you’re never stuck guessing what comes next. No more “vendor surprise”—just your app, your way.

5. Own Your SaaS: From MVP to Profit Without the Vercel Tax

Here’s the thing—if you’re serious about building a SaaS business, you’ve got to think about the long term. Sure, it’s easy to spin up a Next.js app on Vercel when you’re just starting out. But when those bills start coming in, you’ll realize you’re paying way too much for something you could do yourself.
With Kamal 2 and 100xBuilder, you can:

•	**Launch production-ready apps** without the cloud tax.

•	Automate customer workflows with **AI coding tools** like Cursor.

•	Scale your app on **your own hardware** or switch to low-cost cloud options when you need to.

It’s about keeping the money you earn instead of sending it off to some faceless cloud company. That’s how you build a sustainable business—by owning the means of your production.

6. Portability Is Power: No More Vendor Lock-In

Kamal 2 isn’t just a deployment tool; it’s a freedom tool. By using containerization, you can deploy your Next.js app wherever you want. On the cloud, on bare metal, on both at the same time. The choice is yours, and the power is yours.
With Kamal 2, you get a clear migration path:

• Start small with a cloud VM when you’re just getting off the ground.
• Move to a bare-metal setup when you need consistency and control.
• Mix and match deployments as your business scales.

This isn’t just about saving money (though you’ll do plenty of that). It’s about taking back control of your stack. It’s about making sure your infrastructure choices aren’t dictated by some company’s profit margins but by what works best for you.

Conclusion: Build on Your Own Terms, Not Vercel’s

Vercel is great if you want someone else to make the decisions for you and you’re happy to pay for the privilege. But if you want control, flexibility, and the freedom to scale without bleeding cash, Kamal 2 is the way to go. It’s the tool you need to deploy Next.js apps like a pro—without locking yourself into someone else’s walled garden.
And if you want to turn your skills into a side gig or a full-blown business, 100xBuilder is here to help you do just that. It’s about building smart, deploying fast, and owning your future.
Join us. Be a 100x Builder. Take control of your app, your stack, and your business. Because why settle for being another Vercel user when you could be the master of your own domain?