How to Deploy Node.js Backend for Free

Deploying a Node.js backend without spending a dime is entirely possible today. While building your API or server locally is straightforward, the leap to production often seems daunting. Many developers focus on code quality and functionality but overlook the details of free hosting limitations—like idle timeouts or storage caps. How do you pick the best platform without running into hidden gotchas?

Here’s the good news: understanding each free tier’s trade-offs empowers you to make smart choices. In this guide, you'll learn clear steps and tips for deploying on popular free hosts such as Heroku, Vercel, and other emerging platforms. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to keep your Node.js app running smoothly—and without any hosting bill.

Choosing a Hosting Platform

Picking the right platform can save you headaches later. Free tiers vary in uptime, performance, and add-ons. Here are three top contenders:

• Heroku: 550 free dyno hours per month, easy CLI, but sleeps after 30 minutes of inactivity.
• Vercel: Instant deployments, global CDN, but optimized for serverless functions rather than long-running servers.
• Railway: 5 free projects, simple UI, generous resources but limited team collaboration on free tier.

Tip: > If you need a classic always-on server, Heroku’s dynos work best. For event-driven APIs, Vercel functions shine.

Preparing Your Codebase

A clean codebase ensures smoother deployments. Follow these steps:

1. Use Git: Version control is mandatory. If you’re new to Git or GitHub, check this guide to get started.

2. Procfile: For Heroku, create a file named Procfile at project root with:

   web: node index.js

3. Environment Variables: Never hard-code secrets. Use process.env.PORT and other env vars:

   const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
   app.listen(port, () => console.log(`Server on ${port}`));

4. package.json: Specify start script:

   {
     "scripts": {
       "start": "node index.js"
     }
   }

Deploying to Heroku

Heroku remains a favorite for free Node.js hosting. Follow these steps:

1. Install Heroku CLI:

   curl https://cli-assets.heroku.com/install.sh | sh

2. Login and Create App:

   heroku login
   heroku create my-node-app

3. Git Push:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Initial deploy"
   git push heroku main

4. Set Config Vars (for secrets):

   heroku config:set MONGO_URI="your_mongo_uri"

5. Open App:

   heroku open

Heroku will build your app, install dependencies, and assign a URL. Remember: free dynos sleep after 30 minutes idle. A simple cron or uptime monitor can keep it awake.

Using Vercel for Node.js

Vercel is known for front-end and serverless functions but can host an Express app using their Serverless Functions API.

1. Install Vercel CLI:

   npm i -g vercel

2. Add vercel.json:

   {
     "version": 2,
     "builds": [{ "src": "api/index.js", "use": "@vercel/node" }]
   }

3. Move Server Code: Place your Express entry point in /api/index.js and export a handler:

   const express = require('express');
   const server = express();
   
   server.get('/', (req, res) => {
     res.send('Hello from Vercel!');
   });
   
   module.exports = server;

4. Deploy:

   vercel --prod

Vercel auto-provisions a global edge network. You pay nothing for light usage, but longer CPU tasks may time out.

Alternative Free Options

Beyond Heroku and Vercel, consider these newcomers:

• Render: Free web services sleep after 15 minutes. Unlimited invites.
• Fly.io: Deploy close to users using Docker. 3 shared-cpu-1x VMs free.
• Railway: Spin up Postgres or Redis alongside your app easily.

When choosing, balance startup time, regional availability, and sleep behavior. Always read their fair-use policies to avoid unexpected downtime.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Free tiers mean resource limits. Keep your app healthy:

• Uptime Monitoring: Use services like UptimeRobot (free) to ping your endpoint.
• Logging: Pipe logs to Papertrail’s free plan or Heroku’s built-in logs: bash heroku logs --tail
• Automated Restarts: Implement process managers like PM2 locally for testing, then rely on platform restarts.

Pro Tip: Schedule a simple cron job on a free service to wake Heroku dynos every 25 minutes.

Conclusion

Deploying a Node.js backend without paying a cent is simpler than ever. Each platform—Heroku, Vercel, Render, Railway, Fly.io—has its strengths and quirks. Start by structuring your code for easy builds, leverage Git for versioning, and choose the platform that best fits your project’s needs. Keep an eye on idle times, set up basic monitoring, and secure your environment variables. With these steps, your Node.js app will be live, stable, and free.

By understanding hosting limitations and using the right tools, you can focus on building features, not wrestling with infrastructure. Ready to launch your next Node.js API into production? Get started today and keep innovating.