Render
Best for: Backend APIs and web services. The best truly free backend host.
Free Tier Limits (2026)
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 100 GB/month |
| Compute | 512 MB RAM, 0.1 vCPU (shared) |
| Storage | 1 GB disk per service |
| Builds | 500 build minutes/month |
| Projects | Unlimited services |
| Custom domain | ✅ |
| SSL | ✅ Automatic |
| Cold start | 30-60 seconds (spins down to zero) |
| Always free? | ✅ Yes |
Key Strengths
- Genuinely free backend hosting — no trial, no credit card
- Supports Node.js, Python, Go, Rust, Ruby, Elixir, Docker
- Managed Postgres, Redis, and MySQL
- Auto-deploy from GitHub/GitLab
- Automatic HTTPS and DDoS protection
Weaknesses
- 30-60 second cold start on free tier (spins down after inactivity)
- No serverless functions
- 0.1 vCPU is weak for compute-heavy apps
- Free Postgres DB not included (separate $7+/mo)
Best For
- API backends for hobby projects
- Discord bots, small web apps
- Prototype APIs (cold start tradeoff acceptable)
- Full-stack apps with low traffic
Tip
Use neon or supabase for free Postgres, paired with Render for the compute tier.
Sources
- agentdeals.dev comparison table
- Render pricing page
- buildmvpfast.com Render comparison