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Node.js Hosting
Done Right

Deploy your Node.js applications to a managed Docker platform. Includes PostgreSQL, Redis, and persistent volumes out of the box. No server management required.

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# docker-compose.yml
services:
  api:
    image: my-node-app
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - DATABASE_URL=${DATABASE_URL}
  db:
    image: postgres:16
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
  • 🇪🇺 Hosted in Germany, GDPR by default
  • 🐳 Run Docker apps (Compose supported)
  • 🗄️ Built-in MySQL, Postgres, Redis & volumes
  • 🔐 HTTPS, metrics, and isolation per project
  • 💳 Per-project cost tracking · from €2.5/month

What "Node.js hosting" means today

Node.js applications are fundamentally different from static sites. They are long-running processes that listen on a port and handle requests dynamically.

Long-running processes vs. Static hosting

Services like Vercel or Netlify are optimized for static frontends and serverless functions. While they can run some Node.js code, they aren't designed for long-running servers, WebSockets, or background workers. Real Node.js hosting keeps your application running 24/7, ready to handle traffic instantly without "cold starts."

Why Node apps need app hosting

A full-stack Node.js application (like an Express, NestJS, or Fastify API) often needs to maintain state, connect to a database pool, or run scheduled tasks. CDN-based hosting simply cannot support these architectural patterns effectively. You need a platform that understands containers and services.

How Node.js apps are typically hosted

Modern Node.js deployment has converged on a standard set of practices:

  • Containers: Wrapping the app in Docker ensures consistent behavior across dev and prod, handling Node versions and native dependencies.
  • App + Database Separation: The Node process is stateless. Data lives in a dedicated database service (PostgreSQL, MySQL) connected via network.
  • Environment Variables: Configuration (API keys, DB credentials) is injected via process.env, keeping secrets out of the codebase.
  • Background Workers: Heavy tasks (email sending, image processing) are offloaded to worker processes consuming a Redis queue.
  • Persistent Storage: If the app handles user uploads, it needs a mounted volume to store files safely outside the ephemeral container.

Node.js hosting on Hostim.dev

We provide a managed platform that maps directly to the standard Node.js architecture.

Docker or Git Deploy

Push your code or a pre-built Docker image. We handle the build and deployment process automatically.

Built-in Databases

Spin up managed PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Redis instances alongside your app with a single click or line in your compose file.

Persistent Volumes

Mount volumes for your uploads or local database files. Data persists across deployments and restarts.

EU Hosting

All data and workloads are hosted in Germany (Falkenstein), ensuring low latency for European users and GDPR compliance.

Is there free Node.js hosting?

"Free" hosting usually comes with significant caveats. Providers offering free tiers often:

  • Sleep or spin down your app after inactivity (causing slow "cold starts").
  • Limit CPU and RAM so severely that even npm install crashes.
  • Restrict database connections or storage space.

Free tiers are excellent for learning and prototypes but often break for real-world applications requiring reliability. Hostim.dev offers a preview tier for testing, but our focus is on reliable, paid production hosting with predictable pricing.

Node.js web hosting vs. App hosting

You might see terms like "web hosting" and "app hosting" used interchangeably, but they refer to different paradigms.

Traditional Web Hosting (Shared): Designed for PHP/WordPress. Often lacks Node.js support entirely, or provides very old versions without the ability to run long-running processes or custom start commands.

App Hosting (PaaS): Designed for modern applications. Provides the necessary environment for containers, build processes, and service orchestration. This is what Hostim.dev provides.

Is Hostim.dev a good fit?

Who it is for

  • Developers who want to deploy standard Node.js projects using Docker.
  • Teams needing EU-based hosting for GDPR compliance.
  • Projects requiring a simple, flat pricing model without calculator spreadsheets.
  • Applications that need persistent storage and managed databases.

Who it is not for

  • Users looking for "serverless" functions or edge-only hosting.
  • Static sites that don't need a backend (use Vercel/Netlify for that).
  • Developers who want to manually manage OS updates and security patches on a VPS.

How to host a Node.js app

The practical workflow on a container-based platform.

  • Create a project: A project groups your Node.js app, databases, and storage in an isolated environment.
  • Add managed services: Create a PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Redis service if your app requires persistence or caching.
  • Prepare your container: Package your app in a Docker image that installs dependencies and starts your server (for example using node or npm start). You can also connect a Git repository with a Dockerfile.
  • Create the app: Create an app from the image or repo, then attach the database and any volumes it needs.
  • Configure environment variables: Define values likeNODE_ENV, API keys, and database connection strings in the dashboard.
  • Deploy and update: Hostim starts the container and keeps it running. Updates are done by redeploying or rebuilding the app, either manually or via CI.

Ready to deploy?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the free tier include?

You can create free MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis databases, and persistent volumes. App containers start at €2.5/month. Each user gets one 5-day trial project with everything included – apps, DBs, volumes, metrics.

Can I deploy with just a Compose file?

Yes. Paste your Docker Compose YAML and we'll generate the services automatically. You can also deploy from a Dockerfile or Git repository (repo should have Dockerfile so our system can build the image).

Where is my app hosted?

On bare-metal servers located in Germany. We do not use AWS, GCP, or other large cloud providers – your data stays in the EU.

Do I need to know Kubernetes?

No. Hostim.dev removes Kubernetes complexity. You manage apps, databases, and resources – not clusters or YAML.

Is this for solo devs or teams?

Right now, each account manages projects individually. Multi-user roles and team collaboration are planned – we're actively listening to early users to shape this.