Struggling to find the top hosting platform for Node.js on the market? Have questions about where to host Node.js? Don’t worry. We have all the information you need for hosting Node.js effectively right here.
As one of the biggest runtime environments for JavaScript, Node.js is invaluable to countless developers all over the world. This immense popularity has grown consistently since Node.js launched in 2009, thanks in large part to the huge community of companies leveraging it daily.
Anyone with experience of Node.js will understand exactly why it’s so popular. It’s ideal for everything from full end-to-end app development to the intricate creation of an individual component within a complex application.
Research shows that businesses primarily utilize Node.js for back-end, full stack, and front-end development. For organizations revolving around rapid environments and aiming to maximize productivity, Node.js is an outstanding option. It’s designed to be incredibly scalable for growing businesses, and is fantastic for creating cutting-edge applications for diverse users. It scales to a high standard with no need to invest in a lot of expensive hardware.
On top of this, Node.js offers support for the popular NPM (Node Package Manager). Developers can take advantage of the package to build their applications easily, due to the extensive portfolio of modules included within it.
But it can be a major challenge to find a dependable, safe platform for Node.js (when compared to, say, WordPress and similar PHP apps). There are two popular methods of hosting Node.js apps:
- Managed: This enables you to concentrate on the application’s code and a service provider takes responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure.
- Cloud VM: You can utilize your preferred OS and take charge of installing, deploying, and managing everything independently.
So, two different options — but which is right for you?
If you would rather avoid the complexities of system administration, a managed platform is typically recommended for a more streamlined process. But if you’re willing to invest considerable time into installing and administering, the cloud VM may be the better option.
With this in mind, let’s look at the platforms available — which will you choose?
DigitalOcean
With DigitalOcean, you can take advantage of a streamlined one-click install and deployment process for your Node.js. This is a famous option in the development community, and it’s extremely cost-effective, with deals starting from just $5 each month.
Want to install Node.js by yourself? DigitalOcean allows for plain droplet requests and a selection of OS options for self-installation. Multiple infrastructure services include object storage, load balancer, firewall, and more. Users can build enterprise-ready applications with ease.
Organizations using DigitalOcean have the freedom to scale up and down as they see fit. Being able to pay for the droplet (VM) size you choose means that the fees are predictable, for easier finance management.
AWS
It should come as no surprise that this market leader is regarded as one of the strongest contenders for hosting modern applications to a high standard. AWS offers a wealth of services to satisfy all users’ needs. You have the option to provision a suitable VM and install your Node.js and all related software (or you can choose Elastic Beanstalk).
This supports the following roster of languages:
- JS
- Ruby
- Python
- .Net
- Go
- Java
This is by no means an exhaustive list — it supports many more.
The biggest benefit of leveraging Elastic Beanstalk is that there’s no need to worry about your infrastructure. You’re free to deploy applications using your preferred tools for efficient development release.
The key factors of this Node.js hosting platform include:
- Integrates easily and effectively with additional AWS services
- Application can be scaled to your goals and requirements thanks to auto-scaling and load balancing
- Pay as you go structure
You can get started with AWS without charge, via the free tier.
Heroku
Heroku is known for being particularly friendly to developers, as it’s designed to support numerous languages (e.g. Node.js) and environments. It’s part of Salesforce, a major brand with a solid reputation.
Heroku provides a free package with 512MB of memory, and one web or worker to help you get started.
The key elements of this hosting platform for Node.js include:
- Integrate third-party software seamlessly
- Multi-region app deployment
- Packaged with many services and plugins
- Documentation suited well to beginners and seasoned developers
Redhat OpenShift
This PaaS (platform as a service) is available to start using for free. Redhat OpenShift provides users with automatic scaling, so apps won’t run slower because of increased traffic. You can use a native privacy feature to access your own database securely, and host up to three applications for free.
OpenShift is a great option for newcomers looking to experiment with their new Node.js apps, and you can set up a custom domain as part of the free plan as well. It’s a solid option for enterprises and individual developers alike.
Google Cloud
Using Google Cloud, you can host an application wherever the powerhouse brand’s products appear. Choose from four options:
- App Engine: Google manages your infrastructure on your behalf with this PaaS service
- Compute Engine: Utilize a VM with your preferred OS, to install it however you like; you can take full control, managing the server yourself
- Kubernetes Engine: This enables you to run a Node.js app within containers
- Cloud Functions: This option lets you make your function to execute on the Google infrastructure; this solution is serverless and you’ll pay for the code runs
Like the sound of Google Cloud? It provides as much as $300 in credit for users looking to try it, and it’s ideal if you want to make enterprise-ready apps.
Platform.sh
This Node.js hosting platform is fully automated and managed. It’s designed for hosting Node.js applications within clusters, for a higher standard of performance and improved availability.
This is optimized for the latest development frameworks, and other highlights of this Node.js hosting platform include:
- Integration for Git
- Suitable for agile scaling
- SSL certificates are free
- Ready for micro services
- 24/7 support
Azure
Microsoft Azure is an obvious addition to this list, as it’s one of the market’s biggest cloud computing platforms and has data centres throughout 54 different regions. You can choose from various options, as with other major AWS and GCP solutions. Pick from:
- Virtual machines: Environment setups with Windows or Linux
- App Service: This is fully-managed — you deploy your code and Azure handles the rest
- Functions: This is serverless computing for scaling and meeting your specific demands
- Cost-effective structure: You only pay for whatever you actually use
NodeChef
Still wondering where to host Node.js? NodeChef is another high-quality option. This Node.js hosting platform for mobile and web applications supports a number of other languages, such as Java, PHP, and more.
You can use NodeChef for hosting applications within a docker container, and you can pick from SQL and NoSQL database. Its highlights include:
- Real-time logging
- One-click scalability
- Deployment with one click
- SSL provisioning automatically
- Numerous locations for data centers
- Metric monitoring
NodeChef is billed hourly and prices start from $9 each month.
Node.Js Hosting with Plesk
Plesk is an innovative web hosting platform for automating hosting routine tasks and scaling hosting business. It is compatible with Linux and Windows operating systems, has ecosystem of 100+ extensions and supports various web development environments including Node.Js. To use Node.Js with Plesk it is enough to have Plesk-driven VPS server, install there Node.Js extension and follow these instructions.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this guide helps you to find the right hosting Node.js option for your goals. It’s worth making the most of free credit or free trial deals, to try multiple platforms without risk. Make sure you run a scan of your Node.js app to identify security weaknesses when your code goes live.
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