Want to push your local environment to production for the world to see? No problem. This guide is your ultimate resource for finding hosting solutions for apps, static websites, personal projects, and more.
Modern web and software development have become much more complex than traditional website hosting. Apps are often wrapped in Docker containers, managed with Kubernetes, or run on environments like Node.js. Customising a VPS for every production deployment can be inefficient.
A full-stack app requires several layers: front-end (framework), back-end (data access), and storage (database). The ideal hosting platform provides tools to manage all these layers seamlessly. This article will guide you through finding such platforms.
Who are these hosting platforms for?
The platforms mentioned in this roundup are ideal for developers, particularly those looking to showcase personal projects or host static portfolio sites. They cater to developers working with the modern web stack.
Whether you work in front-end, back-end, or both, this roundup is for you. Many of the cloud platforms listed also offer middleman services like PaaS (Platform as a service), providing the infrastructure so you can focus on writing code.
1. Vercel
If you work with React, you’ve likely heard of Vercel. It’s the parent company behind the immensely popular Next.js framework. Vercel focuses on streamlined workflow integration with native support for continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD). Deploying is as simple as selecting a repository from GitHub, and Vercel will build it automatically.
The platform is optimised for frameworks like Next, React, Vue, Ember, Nuxt, Angular, and over 30 other popular frameworks. Vercel also supports team collaboration, offering tools with world-class collaboration features.
New deployments triggered by a git push are held in preview mode, allowing you and your team to verify changes before they go live. Vercel is trusted by teams at companies like Hashnode, Facebook, Zapier, Uber, and many others.
2. Netlify
Netlify is the go-to platform for deploying modern web projects. It features an integrated system that allows you to quickly deploy projects from GitHub and GitLab. Simply provide the URL of your project and build specifications, and you’re done.
In addition to its user-friendly UI, Netlify offers free SSL and access to a super-fast CDN. Another standout feature is its Serverless support. For instance, if you want to connect Gatsby with the WordPress API, you can use the Functions Playground to create and deploy your first Serverless function instantly.
Netlify also maintains an active project page on GitHub, having published over 240 packages for open-source collaboration. In other words, their hosting service is built by developers, for developers.
3. Fly
Fly specialises in full-stack deployment through containerised images. The platform automatically provisions resources based on incoming load and offers out-of-the-box configurations for networks, load balancers, and SSL management.
Backed by YCombinator, Fly excels in providing a global CDN for back-end services, ensuring your app services are delivered from the location closest to your users. This approach is as close as it gets to a native CDN experience.
If you already package your apps with Docker, using Fly is a no-brainer. The platform also excels in providing detailed tutorials. Recently, Fly began offering free access to Postgres databases, including up to 3GB of free data storage.
4. Render
Render delivers developer-friendly cloud solutions, supporting the deployment of Docker containers, web applications, static websites, and PostgreSQL databases. This cloud service eliminates the need for DevOps, making it easier to manage your projects.
Render offers a generous free tier. From your Render dashboard, you can select Web Services to get started. Simply provide a link to your GitHub repository, and Render will automatically handle the build configuration and deploy it to a live address.
The platform works well with frameworks like Django and Phoenix and supports languages such as Elixir, Rust, Go, and Node.js, among others. However, Render uses a “sleep when inactive” method, with a current limit set to 15 minutes. This means it might not be the best choice for publishing a production-ready application. Instead, you can use Render’s free cloud services to tinker with personal projects, explore new frameworks, and experiment with libraries without needing to build the infrastructure yourself.
5. Koyeb
Koyeb is a serverless-first platform providing hosting services for developers, suitable for projects such as web apps, API services, serverless events, and various workers.
Although Koyeb is serverless and doesn’t directly associate with a traditional cloud interface, it’s still a great fit for this roundup. You can build your app directly from Git or by using a Docker image. Git deployments are straightforward, requiring only a connection to your repository through Koyeb’s dashboard.
With automated builds, your projects will be continuously deployed. The official Koyeb documentation includes example apps, such as Python & Flask, Node.js & Express, and PHP & Laravel, to help you get started.
6. GitHub Pages
We can’t talk about hosting for developers without mentioning GitHub Pages! While you won’t be able to host full-stack apps with GitHub Pages, it is incredibly useful for personal projects such as portfolios, documentation, and blogs.
Technically, you can deploy a React app to GitHub Pages, but there are limitations that might make it less feasible in practice.
By default, GitHub Pages provides extensive support for deploying Jekyll sites. All site information is pulled from your repository, and new content is published by updating your repository. For more details, you can refer to the official documentation.
7. Fleek
Fleek is a unique addition to this list, focusing on services for the Open Web and decentralised solutions.
One example is deploying and hosting your application on IPFS. Fleek combines P2P and custom Edge solutions to deliver optimal performance. In simpler terms, Fleek is building solutions to make Web3 accessible to everyday developers. This includes working closely with technologies like Ethereum, Filecoin, and others.
If you’re already developing within the blockchain ecosystem, Fleek provides tools to help you transition towards decentralised protocols.
8. Qovery
If you have no prior experience in managing cloud infrastructure, then Qovery is for you. The platform is designed to help startups scale their operations, and it currently supports AWS, DigitalOcean, and Scaleway.
To use Qovery services, you’ll need an account on one of these cloud providers. AWS, in particular, offers generous free plans, which, when combined with Qovery’s features, can create a powerful combo—especially for small-scale projects that you’re not ready to fully commit to.
Qovery’s core features allow you to build directly from Git, deploy in various stages, and use Kubernetes to scale when demand grows. This makes it a versatile tool for startups looking to manage their infrastructure efficiently.