Render

Build, deploy, and scale your apps with unparalleled ease

Freemium

About Render

Render positions itself as the modern Heroku alternative—a unified cloud platform where you can deploy web services, static sites, databases, cron jobs, and background workers all in one place. Connect your GitHub/GitLab repo, and Render auto-deploys on every push. The platform supports Docker, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, Rust, and more. Free tier includes static sites (unlimited), web services (with spindown after inactivity), and PostgreSQL (90 days). Paid services are priced clearly: web services start at $7/mo (always on), PostgreSQL at $7/mo, and Redis at $10/mo. Render's Infrastructure as Code via render.yaml lets you define your entire stack in one file. Private networking connects services securely. The platform is simpler than AWS/GCP and more full-featured than Vercel (which focuses on frontend). Limitations: fewer regions than major clouds (US, EU, Singapore), free tier services spin down after inactivity, and some advanced features available on higher tiers. Best for developers wanting Heroku simplicity without Heroku pricing, full-stack apps needing databases, and teams preferring managed infrastructure.

Key Features

Git-based auto-deploy from GitHub/GitLab

Web services with Docker and native runtimes

Managed PostgreSQL and Redis databases

Static sites with global CDN

Cron jobs for scheduled tasks

Private networking between services

Infrastructure as Code via render.yaml

Preview environments for pull requests

Built-in DDoS protection and SSL

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Simpler than AWS/GCP with fair pricing
• Full-stack platform (unlike frontend-focused Vercel)
• Free tier includes database for 90 days
• Easy migration from Heroku
• Transparent pricing without surprises
• Good documentation and support

Cons

• Fewer regions than major cloud providers
• Free tier services spin down after inactivity
• Can be slower than edge platforms (Cloudflare, Vercel)
• Less mature than established clouds
• Some features require Team plan
• No native serverless functions (use web services)

Best For

Full-stack apps needing database and backend Developers migrating from Heroku Side projects and MVPs Teams wanting managed infrastructure simplicity Startups who don't want AWS complexity