Congratulations on building your amazing application! Now comes the crucial decision: where should you deploy it? With various options available, the choice depends on your project’s scope, ambition, and budget. Let’s explore some options.

For Toy Projects and Demos

If you’re looking for a playground or a platform to try out new ideas, consider these options:

  1. Replit - Replit offers unlimited apps but limits resource usage. It’s perfect for test projects, providing a dedicated URL on the repl.co subdomain. You can use pre-made templates, install packages, and work with any programming language.
  2. Glitch - Glitch is a playground suitable for Node.js apps and simple websites. Apps sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity, but the editor is exceptional, and cloning apps is easy. It’s an incredibly creative platform.

These options are ideal for quick demos and providing playgrounds for tutorials.

More Serious Options

If your project demands a more serious approach, consider these platforms:

  1. Vercel - Vercel is a reliable choice for serious projects. Their hobby plan is generous, and you get a nice subdomain (vercel.app). It integrates seamlessly with Next.js, making it an excellent choice for Next.js applications.
  2. Netlify - Netlify excels at hosting static sites, providing an excellent free plan. While they lack backend functionality, you can leverage serverless functions to perform server-side tasks.
  3. CloudFlare Pages - Similar to Netlify, CloudFlare Pages offers unlimited bandwidth for static sites. You can also take advantage of their serverless functions.
  4. Railway - Railway offers a free starter plan and supports various templates for modern apps, including SvelteKit, Next.js, Vite, Rails, Discord bots, and Nuxt.js.

Complete Solutions

If you’re looking for more complete solutions, consider these options:

  1. Render - Render provides an excellent free plan that includes static site hosting, functions (Node.js/Python/Rust/Go/Ruby), and a free database.
  2. Supabase - Supabase offers a comprehensive free plan with 2GB of bandwidth and 1GB file storage. It’s an ideal choice for building real apps. If you outgrow the free plan, you can opt for self-hosting.
  3. Firebase - Firebase, backed by Google, features a free plan that includes database access, authentication, and more.
  4. Fly.io - Fly.io’s free plan is perfect for experimenting with their services, which include databases, load balancing, and monorepos.

Self-Hosting with a VPS

Alternatively, you can consider using your own Virtual Private Server (VPS). While this option requires more effort, it allows you to learn valuable skills that can be reused later. Here are some notable VPS providers:

  1. DigitalOcean - DigitalOcean is a favorite VPS provider that offers a variety of plans starting from $4/m. With a DigitalOcean referral code, you can enjoy $200 in free credits for the first 60 days.
  2. Other VPS providers - Apart from DigitalOcean, there are numerous other VPS providers available, offering various plans at different price points. Some popular alternatives include Linode, Vultr, and AWS Lightsail.

To manage your VPS effectively, you can utilize projects like Dokku or CapRover.

While there are many more platforms to explore, this list should give you an idea of where to start when deciding the best platform to deploy your projects. Enjoy the journey!