01
Describe the backend
Choose runtime, budget, database, region, card availability, and risk tolerance. ShipCheap keeps the questions narrow because backend hosting decisions fail on concrete constraints.
ShipCheap Decision Board
How it works
Pick a backend host by constraints, not vibes.
ShipCheap turns backend requirements into ranked hosting options, then checks the billing paths that usually surprise people after launch.
02
Match provider fit
The recommendation engine compares your requirements against provider traits: free tier, card requirement, always-on support, runtime fit, data fit, region coverage, and billing risk.
03
Stress-test the bill
The simulator models traffic, storage, jobs, bandwidth, logs, and spend controls so a cheap first deploy is checked against the uncomfortable growth case.
04
Verify before launch
Provider pages keep official sources and launch checks close to the decision, because pricing, quotas, and account rules change faster than most comparison tables.
Signals ShipCheap weighs
Budget fit
Free, under $5, under $10, under $25, or custom
Data fit
Postgres, Redis, MySQL, document stores, SQLite, or external DB
Risk fit
Card requirement, free-tier safety, spend controls, and usage exposure
What “best” means here
ShipCheap is not trying to name the most powerful cloud. It is trying to find the provider that best fits the backend you are actually deploying, with the fewest surprise-bill paths.
- Can the provider run this backend shape without forcing a different architecture?
- Can a beginner start safely, especially if they do not want to attach a card?
- What costs appear when the app gets users, bots, storage, logs, or background jobs?
- Which provider docs should be checked before trusting a recommendation?
The final answer still needs a live check.
ShipCheap narrows the field and exposes risk. Before production, use each provider page’s official sources to verify current quotas, card rules, regions, and pricing.