I’m working on a Next.js project for an e-commerce site and I’m exploring the best options for storing product images. I have two main approaches in mind and I’d love to get some advice on which one to choose, or if there are better alternatives.

Using an Online Hosting Service: I’m considering using a service like Cloudinary, AWS S3, or another cloud-based solution for storing images. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using such services with Next.js in an e-commerce context? Are there specific services that integrate particularly well with Next.js?

Custom Solution: Alternatively, I’m thinking about implementing my own image storage solution, possibly using a dedicated server or a local file system. What are the challenges and potential pitfalls of this approach for an e-commerce site? How can I ensure scalability and performance if I go this route?

I’m particularly interested in factors like:

Ease of integration with Next.js
Performance and load times
Scalability and handling large volumes of images
Cost and maintenance
Security considerations
Any insights, experiences, or recommendations specific to an e-commerce application would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help!

I tried creating a local storage system for the images, setting up a dedicated server to store and serve the images. I configured the server to handle image uploads and retrievals, and integrated it with my Next.js application.

However, I encountered several issues:

Build Failures: When attempting to build the Next.js application, I ran into errors related to image handling and server configuration.
Performance Issues: Even in development mode, I noticed significant performance bottlenecks when serving images locally.
Scalability Concerns: I am concerned about the scalability of this approach as the number of images grows, especially in an e-commerce context where high performance and reliability are crucial.
I was expecting the local storage solution to be straightforward and cost-effective, but the build issues and potential scalability problems make me reconsider this approach. I’m looking for advice on whether I should persist with this solution or opt for an online hosting service, and if so, which one would be best suited for a Next.js e-commerce site.