Hosting is a crucial factor to consider even before you start developing your application. Having used most platforms, I am going to give you an honest opinion on the best choices for Indie Hackers and small to medium projects.

For large applications with big teams, you need to reconsider many aspects of hosting. However, for small creators, there are numerous viable and affordable options.

I will cover both frontend and backend hosting solutions. Let's dive into the various use cases you might face as a developer and identify the best hosting platform for each.

Digital Ocean

We start with Digital Ocean, one of the most well-known hosting providers that can kickstart most basic tasks. While not distinguished for exceptional reliability, it is reliable enough for small projects.

Downtime

Its downtime is minimal. If you are working with CMSs like WordPress or Joomla, it has a Marketplace with many pre-built solutions.

Pricing

Digital Ocean has transparent pricing with no hidden fees, so you know exactly what you are paying.

Kubernetes

Digital Ocean is a good choice for Kubernetes because of its user-friendly interface and competitive pricing per cluster.

Use Cases

I recommend Digital Ocean for side projects or small applications. It is also a good option for Kubernetes, offering a lot of flexibility. However, I would not consider it for larger projects.

Hetzner

Hetzner is more of a marketplace than a traditional hosting platform. Still, it deserves mention for its affordable Bare Metal Servers.

On their server auction page, you can find powerful systems for just over $30/month, whereas similar systems on Digital Ocean would cost over $300/month.

Reliability

Hetzner offers bare metal servers, so you need to handle some basic uptime systems. They provide backup tools that are adequate for most use cases.

Pricing

I once used Hetzner and had a machine for a couple of months. After my billing failed a second time, I received a letter threatening legal action for an unpaid $35 bill. This is understandable, but other providers like Digital Ocean or Vultr usually give multiple warnings.

Despite this, Hetzner has clear rules and no hidden fees, and I would choose them again.

Use Cases

Hetzner is ideal for those who need servers for multiple projects and want to host many side projects, mostly for testing purposes. Note that you need substantial server knowledge as you have to configure everything yourself.

Heroku

Heroku is excellent for deploying Java, Kotlin, Node, or frontend projects. They offer many addons like databases and caching providers such as Redis for an extra charge.

Pricing

Heroku might not be the cheapest option because it uses AWS, but the convenience it offers is worth the cost.

Reliability

Heroku is very reliable, thanks to AWS. Expect little to no downtime.

Use Cases

I recommend Heroku for indie projects, especially for Java or Kotlin. Deploying a Spring Boot API on Heroku is easy, and the built-in CLI simplifies the process. It might not offer extensive functionalities, but for getting your MVP out quickly, it is an excellent option.

Netlify

Netlify is a popular choice for frontend developers, particularly those working with static sites and JAMstack architecture. It offers seamless deployment and integrates well with Git, allowing for continuous deployment from repositories like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.

Pricing

Netlify offers a generous free tier, perfect for personal projects and small sites. Their pricing scales reasonably for advanced features and higher usage limits.

Reliability

Netlify is known for its reliability and speed, using a global CDN to ensure quick load times and minimal downtime.

Use Cases

I recommend Netlify for static sites, single-page applications, and front-end projects that benefit from its integration with modern development workflows. It's particularly suited for projects prioritizing speed and ease of deployment.

Vultr

Vultr is known for its high-performance cloud infrastructure. It offers various services, including compute instances, block storage, and load balancers, making it suitable for different applications.

Pricing

Vultr provides competitive pricing with a pay-as-you-go model, ensuring you only pay for what you use. Their pricing is straightforward, with no hidden fees, and they offer various plans to fit different budgets and needs.

Reliability

Vultr boasts a robust infrastructure with a global network of data centers, ensuring high availability and low latency. They claim to provide 100% uptime, but I have experienced some downtime with my K8S cluster.

Use Cases

I recommend Vultr for developers seeking a cost-effective yet powerful hosting solution. It's ideal for small to medium-sized applications, development environments, and even production workloads due to its flexibility and reliability. However, working with K8S might present unexpected issues compared to AWS or Google Cloud.

AWS

Amazon Web Services is a leading cloud platform offering a vast array of services, from compute and storage to machine learning and IoT. AWS is known for its scalability, handling anything from small projects to enterprise-level applications.

Pricing

AWS uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which can be cost-effective for small-scale projects but might become expensive as your usage scales. They offer a Free Tier for limited access to many services, great for starting.

The pricing is not very clear, and unexpected costs due to DDoS attacks are common, so setting up limits is crucial.

Reliability

AWS is renowned for its reliability and global presence. With multiple availability zones and a strong focus on redundancy, AWS ensures minimal downtime and high availability.

Use Cases

I recommend AWS for any project requiring scalability, flexibility, and a wide range of services. It's suitable for everything from startups to large enterprises, offering the tools and infrastructure needed to support complex and high-traffic applications.

Final Words

In conclusion, choosing the right hosting platform depends on your project's specific needs and scale. For indie hackers and small to medium projects, platforms like Digital Ocean, Hetzner, Heroku, Netlify, and Vultr offer cost-effective and reliable solutions.

Each platform has its strengths, whether it's ease of deployment, pricing, or flexibility. For larger, more complex applications, AWS provides the scalability and comprehensive services needed to support enterprise-level projects.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at kourouklis@pm.me, and I will respond.

You can also keep up with my latest updates by checking out my X here: x.com/sotergreco