Next.js AWS Deployment Options Comparison
Introduction
Deploying Next.js on AWS can be confusing, there are too many services, hidden costs, and performance trade offs. What works great for an MVP might burn your budget at scale, and what’s “fully managed” often means “limited control.”
Impact: Choosing the wrong deployment stack can lead to high bills, cold starts, scaling issues, or even downtime when traffic spikes. Developers often discover too late that their stack doesn’t match their workload or team skills.
AWS has offered multiple ways to host web apps, from Amplify and Lambda to EC2. But not all options are as simple/efficient for your use case, especially for frameworks like Next.js 15, where server-side rendering (SSR), incremental builds, and caching matter.
Goal
Why did we make this rule book?
To simplify how teams choose and deploy Next.js applications on AWS.
To avoid costly, insecure, or poorly optimized setups caused by trial-and-error deployment choices.
To provide clear cost, performance, and scalability comparisons between all major AWS options.
What will you achieve?
Identify the best AWS deployment way for your Next.js app based on scale, traffic, and team expertise.
Compare the real trade-offs between Amplify, OpenNext (Lambda), Containers, and EC2 without trial and error.
Deliver a secure, scalable, and cost-efficient deployment using Infrastructure as Code that follows the best practices
Who is this for?
Developers, DevOps, and platform engineers are deploying Next.js 15+ workloads on AWS. especially teams evaluating using Amplify, OpenNext, CDK, or Fargate for production ready workload.
Workflow
Stakpak uses this rule book to compare the different infrastructure choices, estimate costs, and automate deployment across different environments.
1. Preparation
Define expected traffic (Small, Medium, or High).
Identify application rendering type (SSR, ISR, SSG).
Assess team expertise (DevOps, IaC, or managed hosting).
Set baseline security standards (TLS 1.2+, HTTPS-only).
Determine budget and scaling needs.
2. Option Assessment
Review AWS deployment options: Amplify, OpenNext (IaC), CDK NextJS, Containers, and EC2.
Compare costs, complexity, and scalability trade-offs.
Eliminate non-viable options (e.g., Amplify for heavy SSR, Serverless Framework for legacy only).
Select preferred Infrastructure-as-Code tool (AWS CDK or Terraform).
3. Design & Infrastructure Setup
Design architecture diagram (CloudFront, Lambda, Fargate, or EC2).
Define IaC templates using CDK/Terraform.
Configure CI/CD integration and environment variables.
Request and validate ACM SSL certificates.
Enforce HTTPS redirection and modern TLS policies.
4. Deployment
Deploy to staging first using IaC pipeline.
Run automated tests and load tests.
Validate SSR, ISR, and API behavior.
Verify SSL/TLS configuration, security headers, and monitoring setup.
5. Validation
Compare cost estimates against actual usage metrics.
Monitor CloudFront hit ratio, Lambda duration, or ECS task utilization.
Perform security scans and compliance checks.
Confirm logging and alerting integrations (CloudWatch, AWS Config).
6. Rollout & Optimization
Roll out progressively (rolling or blue/green strategy).
Scale based on metrics:
Small/Medium: OpenNext + IaC
High Traffic: ECS Fargate
MVP: EC2 manual deploy
Optimize costs by adjusting memory, caching, and data transfer settings.
Document configurations for reproducibility and audits.
7. Maintenance & Migration
Automate renewals of SSL/TLS certificates.
Regularly patch dependencies and update IaC modules.
Re-evaluate architecture as traffic grows:
EC2 → OpenNext → Containers.
Integrate with Stakpak guardrails for ongoing cost and security checks.
Use Cases
References
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