Hosting Options for Node Apps

When hosting Node apps, you essentially have two choices: a fully managed infrastructure such as DigitalOcean’s App Platform, or a virtual Linux server you control yourself. This article examines both options in terms of cost, setup complexity, flexibility, and security.

What Are Node Apps?

Node apps are applications that use Node.js as the backend server or rely on Node.js for server-side rendering in frontend frameworks like Vue or React.

Fully Managed Infrastructure

Examples of fully managed infrastructure include DigitalOcean’s App Platform (DigitalOcean), Heroku’s Dynos (Heroku), or Google’s Firebase Hosting.

These platforms are easy to set up and configure. They offer features such as automatic backups and continuous integration. A big advantage for larger projects is the ability to scale horizontally.

It sounds like a carefree package, right? In many ways, yes, but the major downside is often the price. Most fully managed platforms let you test the service for free, but once the app goes into production or receives significant traffic, the costs can climb quickly.

Hosting on Your Own Linux Server

One of the biggest pros of hosting Node apps on your own Linux server is cost. We’ll get to that shortly. First, here are some considerations when running a Linux VPS:

When you rent a Linux server to run Node apps, you gain maximum flexibility—but also assume a lot of responsibility. You can configure it through a GUI such as Plesk or via SSH directly in the Linux shell. Setting up a Linux system takes time, especially at the start. Key tasks include:

• Securing the server
• Configuring automatic updates
• Setting up a web server (Apache / Nginx)
• Installing Node and configuring PM2

Brad Traversy’s video covers these points well: Brad Traversy Video

Additional resources for setting up and securing your own Linux server:

• Video by Learn Linux TV: Learn Linux TV
• Video by Christian Lempa: Christian Lempa
• Book “Mastering Linux Security and Hardening”: Amazon Link

Cost Comparison

You can rent a Linux VPS for under €10—for example, Dogado offers one for €7.49 with 4 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, and 100 GB storage. DigitalOcean’s cheapest App Platform plan is $5, but that only gets you 1 vCPU and 512 MB RAM. Comparable specs with 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPUs cost $40 per month at DigitalOcean—over four times the price of Dogado’s VPS. Backups at DigitalOcean also incur extra fees, and there are storage and traffic limits that can add more costs.

Other fully managed providers are likewise more expensive than running your own Linux server.

Google Firebase Hosting charges based on storage, data transfer, and Cloud Functions usage. It comes with a generous free tier, but once that’s exhausted, expenses can increase dramatically. Pricing is transparent, but it’s still hard to predict what you’ll ultimately pay.

Conclusion

Fully managed hosting platforms free you from worrying about server configuration and security, but providers charge a premium for that convenience. Keep a close eye on potential costs to avoid surprises. Checking provider reviews on Trustpilot can help gauge customer satisfaction and spot bad actors.

Running your own Linux server is much cheaper, but you need to factor in the effort of setting it up. Decide whether the time investment is worthwhile and whether you’re motivated to dig into Linux. For some, it’s an exciting weekend project with a steep learning curve; for others, it can be a source of frustration. Often it’s a bit of both.

I don’t regret hosting my Node apps on Linux, and I’d make the same decision again. I especially appreciate the independence that comes with running my own infrastructure.