diff --git a/.env.default b/.env.default
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83b364fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.default
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/dbname
+
+# Optional if you use Vercel (defaults to VERCEL_URL).
+# Necessary in development unless you use the vercel CLI (`vc dev`)
+DRIFT_URL=http://localhost:3000
+
+# Optional: The first user becomes an admin. Defaults to false
+ENABLE_ADMIN=false
+
+# Required: Next auth secret is a required valid JWT secret. You can generate one with `openssl rand -hex 32`
+NEXTAUTH_SECRET=7f8b8b5c5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5e5f5f5
+
+# Required: but unnecessary if you use a supported host like Vercel
+NEXTAUTH_URL=http://localhost:3000
+
+# Optional: for locking your instance
+REGISTRATION_PASSWORD=
+
+# Optional: for if you want GitHub oauth. Currently incompatible with the registration password
+GITHUB_CLIENT_ID=
+GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET=
+
+# Optional: if you want to support credential auth (username/password, supports registration password)
+# Defaults to true
+CREDENTIAL_AUTH=true
+
+# Optional:
+WELCOME_CONTENT=
+WELCOME_TITLE=
diff --git a/src/lib/config.ts b/src/lib/config.ts
index eabe9284..cd94e412 100644
--- a/src/lib/config.ts
+++ b/src/lib/config.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ export const config = (env: Environment): Config => {
 		registration_password: env.REGISTRATION_PASSWORD ?? "",
 		welcome_content: env.WELCOME_CONTENT ?? "Welcome to Drift.",
 		welcome_title: env.WELCOME_TITLE ?? "Drift",
-		url: throwIfUndefined("DRIFT_URL"),
+		url:
+			throwIfUndefined("DRIFT_URL", true) ||
+			`https://${throwIfUndefined("VERCEL_URL")}`,
 		github_client_id: env.GITHUB_CLIENT_ID ?? "",
 		github_client_secret: env.GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET ?? "",
 		nextauth_secret: throwIfUndefined("NEXTAUTH_SECRET"),