Postgres Next.js Starter

Postgres Next.js Starter is a minimal Next.js boilerplate from Vercel that connects a Next.js app to a Vercel Postgres database, giving developers a runnable starting point for full-stack applications.

What is the Postgres Next.js Starter?

The Postgres Next.js Starter is a starter template that pairs the Next.js framework with a Vercel Postgres database. It takes database connection details from environment variables and produces a working web application ready for further development. The template is published in the Vercel examples repository and can be deployed directly to Vercel through a one-click deploy flow.

Key Features

• Next.js framework — The template is built on Next.js, using the standard project structure created by create-next-app.
• Tailwind CSS styling — The project includes Tailwind CSS for utility-first styling out of the box.
• Vercel Postgres integration — The app is pre-configured to read database credentials from environment variables, with a .env.example file showing the required keys.
• One-click deploy — A deploy button on the GitHub README clones the repository to your Vercel account and provisions the Postgres integration automatically.
• pnpm-based setup — The recommended installation path uses pnpm create next-app with the example repository URL.
• Live demo — A deployed demo is available at https://postgres-starter.vercel.app/ so you can see the app running before you copy it.

Who is the Postgres Next.js Starter for?

The template is aimed at developers who want a fast start with Next.js and a relational database. It suits React developers learning how to wire server-side data fetching to Postgres, teams prototyping a new product idea with minimal setup, and anyone who wants a reference implementation of Vercel Postgres integration.

Use cases for the Postgres Next.js Starter

• Full-stack developers: bootstrap a Next.js app with a Postgres backend in minutes instead of configuring the connection yourself.
• Prototypers: verify an idea quickly by deploying the starter and then replacing the default content with your own data model.
• Learners: study how environment variables like the ones for Vercel Postgres are used in a Next.js serverless environment.

How does the Postgres Next.js Starter work?

You can use one of two paths. The first is to click the "Deploy with Vercel" button, which clones the repository into your Vercel account and links the Postgres integration. The second is to run pnpm create next-app using the example URL, copy .env.example to .env.local, fill in the database credentials from your Vercel Storage Dashboard, and run pnpm dev for local development.

Alternatives to the Postgres Next.js Starter

The same Vercel examples repository offers related starters: postgres-prisma, which uses the Prisma ORM to interact with Postgres, postgres-kysely, which uses the Kysely query builder, and postgres-sveltekit, which pairs Vercel Postgres with the SvelteKit framework instead of Next.js.

FAQ

Does the Postgres Next.js Starter require a Vercel account?

Yes, deploying to Vercel requires an account, but you can also run the project locally by setting the environment variables yourself. The template itself is open source from the Vercel examples repository.

What database does the Postgres Next.js Starter use?

It uses Vercel Postgres, a serverless Postgres database offering from Vercel. The starter reads the connection information from environment variables, so you can point it at any Postgres instance by changing those values.

How do I get the database connection string?

After deploying to Vercel, the Postgres integration automatically provides the environment variables. If you clone the repo, you copy .env.example to .env.local and fill in the values from your Vercel Storage Dashboard.

Can I use this starter with my own Postgres database?

Yes, because the connection is driven by environment variables, you can replace the Vercel Postgres credentials with any Postgres connection string, though the template is optimized for Vercel Postgres.