Next.js Runs on $5 Shared Hosting After Dev Discovers Phusion Passenger—Internet Still Insists It

A DevOps engineer recently successfully hosted a Next.js project on $5 shared hosting, defying conventional wisdom that it requires a Virtual Private Server or Vercel. The engineer was tasked with hosting a client's "vibe coded" Next.js project, which had been generated by AI tools, on a budget shared hosting plan with cPanel. Despite initial doubts, the engineer discovered that Phusion Passenger, a component of the cPanel stack, could bridge the gap between Node.js and shared hosting. By creating a custom server and building the project locally, the engineer was able to host the Next.js application on the shared hosting plan, with a cold start time of 10-15 seconds. This solution is suitable for freelancers, budget clients, and simple applications with few users, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional hosting options. The achievement highlights the potential for creative workarounds in hosting complex applications on limited infrastructure.