Vercel vs Netlify: Configuring Security Headers
Updated 2026-10-17
Both hosts let you attach response headers declaratively. This comparison describes common default patterns and where security responsibility sits. Platforms change quickly; verify current behaviour in each vendor's documentation.
| Header method | Vercel | Netlify |
|---|---|---|
| Framework-level | next.config headers() | Framework config where supported |
| Host config file | vercel.json `headers` | _headers file or netlify.toml [[headers]] |
| Edge logic | Middleware | Edge Functions |
| Verify | curl -sI on the production domain | curl -sI on the production domain |
Tip
Make sure headers apply to HTML documents (the page you load), not only to static assets.
FAQ
Do preview deployments need headers too?
They're public URLs, so yes — and protect previews with authentication if they contain unreleased data.
Check your deployed app in ~25 seconds
Free passive scan: leaked keys, Supabase exposure, public config files and headers.
Run a free scan