1Best Overall
Koyeb
LowApp hosting
Free tierNo cardDockerAgent MCP
Estimated monthly price
$0 /mo
Free starter options plus paid instances for production use
Why it fits
Matches your Docker preference.
ShipCheap Decision Board
Backend hosting decision board
Current pick: KoyebPick a backend host before the bill picks you.
Rank backend platforms by cost, card requirements, database fit, and billing risk before you deploy.
Low-risk options
10 providers
No-card paths
15 providers
Active filter
Node.js API
Scenario packs
Start from a real beginner situation
One click fills the calculator. Then rank providers or jump into bill risk.
Student, no card
FastAPI + Postgres, free budget, low billing risk, no credit card.
Prefer no-card paths and verify free-tier sleep behavior.
Side project under $10
Node API with Postgres, always-on, tight monthly budget.
Set spend alerts before attaching a card.
Always-on Discord bot
Worker-style backend that must stay awake, low spend tolerance.
Always-on free tiers are rare — model idle compute carefully.
Docker API prototype
Containerized backend with Redis, flexible region, medium risk.
Check bandwidth and log retention before public launch.
Top Recommendations
Koyeb selected. Choose another card to update the preview.
2Developer Friendly
Northflank
MediumApp hosting
Free tierNo cardDocker
Estimated monthly price
$0 /mo
Free plan available; paid plans and resource usage depend on containers, databases, and infrastructure choice
Why it fits
Matches your Docker preference.
3Great for Scale
Render
MediumApp hosting
Free tierNo cardDockerAgent MCP
Estimated monthly price
$0 /mo
Free static sites; paid web services commonly start around low monthly tiers
Why it fits
Matches your Docker preference.
Comparison Preview
Side-by-side snapshot of key platform details. See full comparison for more.
| Platform | Free Tier | Monthly Cost (est.) | Always-On | Database | Docker | Credit Card | Billing Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koyeb | Yes starter limits | $0 - $7 | Yes | PostgreSQL | Yes | No | Low |
| Render | Yes starter limits | $0 - $7 | Yes | PostgreSQL | Yes | No | Medium |
| Railway | No | $5 - $20 | Yes | PostgreSQL | Yes | Yes | High |
| Fly.io | No | $5 - $20 | Yes | PostgreSQL | Yes | Yes | Medium |
| Vercel | Yes starter limits | $0 - $7 | No | PostgreSQL | No | No | Medium |