Best free hosting for developers in 2026
We compared 8 platforms with free tiers to see what works, what doesn't, and who each one suits.
What we compared
We looked at 8 platforms with free tiers for deploying web apps, APIs, and bots. For each one we checked whether apps stay on or sleep, whether it asks for a credit card, the resource limits, the supported languages, and how easy it is to deploy.
1. Deplexo
Free tier: 128 MB RAM, 1 shared CPU, 250 MB disk, 1 app. The app stays on and never sleeps, and you don't need a credit card. Deplexo auto-detects Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, Rust, Java, PHP, and Elixir, and runs apps in containers with locked-down defaults.
Best for: developers who want git-push deploys on a free tier that stays on. Learn more about free hosting on Deplexo.
2. Render
Free tier: 512 MB RAM, but sleeps after 15 minutes of inactivity, and waking up takes 50+ seconds. Supports Node.js, Python, Go, Rust, and Docker.
Best for: apps that can live with a cold start delay.
3. Railway
One-time $5 trial credit, then $1/month on the usage-based free plan. An app that runs all the time uses up credits fast. You need a credit card. The developer experience is good, there are quick-start templates, and Docker is supported.
Best for: short-lived tasks or apps with low usage.
4. Fly.io
No free tier. It's pay-as-you-go only, though new users get a short trial. Apps run as Firecracker microVMs on a global edge network, and you manage them with the flyctl CLI.
Best for: apps needing global distribution.
5. Koyeb
Free tier with 512 MB RAM, but scales to zero after 1 hour of inactivity, with a 1-5s cold start. It's Docker-native and also supports buildpacks. Acquired by Mistral AI in February 2026.
Best for: Docker-native workflows.
6. Coolify
Coolify is open source and self-hosted, so it's free if you already have a server. It supports Docker Compose and has a one-click app marketplace.
Best for: developers who already have a VPS.
7. DigitalOcean App Platform
There's no free tier for apps; plans start at $5/mo. The documentation and tutorial library is huge, and databases and infrastructure are managed for you.
Best for: teams willing to pay for reliability.
8. Vercel
The free tier covers frontends and serverless functions. It doesn't suit persistent backends because of the 10-second function timeout. Vercel is built around Next.js and static sites.
Best for: Next.js frontends and static sites.
Which one should you pick?
It depends on what you need:
- Always-on hosting for free: Deplexo
- Fine with cold starts: Render
- Global edge deployment: Fly.io
- Self-hosting: Coolify
- Frontend only: Vercel
See our head-to-head comparisons for more detail on each platform.