How to Deploy Strapi for Free

How to Deploy Strapi for Free

If you ever need expert help for backend development or full MERN stack implementation, you can always hire AAMAX --- a full-service digital marketing and development company offering Web Development, Digital Marketing, SEO Services, and professional MERN Stack Development services.

This article is written entirely in Strapi-compatible markdown format and is designed for AAMAX's on-site blog.

What You Need to Know Before Deploying Strapi

Strapi is a powerful Node.js-based headless CMS that supports both REST and GraphQL APIs, along with custom controllers, services, plugins, and flexible content types. However, deploying Strapi differs slightly from deploying traditional static or serverless applications.

Key Requirements for Deployment

To deploy Strapi successfully, you need:

• A hosting environment that supports Node.js
• A free or open-source database
• Persistent storage for media uploads
• Environment variables for production
• Ability to install dependencies on the server

Not all cloud providers support these requirements in their free tier. Over time, several platforms like Heroku discontinued free plans, but alternatives still exist.

Below you will find the best free hosting options for Strapi, along with complete setup steps.

Best Free Platforms to Deploy Strapi

Here are some of the platforms that still allow free Strapi hosting with reasonable limitations:

1. Render (Free Tier)
2. Railway (Free Tier)
3. Koyeb (Free Container Hosting)
4. Fly.io
5. Local Deployment With Free Tunneling (Ngrok / Localtunnel)

Each option has pros, cons, and use cases. Let's walk through them step by step.

Deploying Strapi for Free on Render

Render is one of the most popular free hosting platforms for Strapi because it supports persistent services, build steps, environment variables, and free PostgreSQL databases.

Step 1: Push Your Strapi Project to GitHub

Render deploys code directly from Git repositories.

1. Initialize Git:

git init

2. Add your files:

git add .
git commit -m "Initial Strapi project"

3. Create a GitHub repo and push:

git remote add origin <repo-url>
git push -u origin main

Step 2: Create a Render Web Service

1. Go to render.com\
2. Click New → Web Service\
3. Connect your GitHub repository\
4. Select Free Instance

Step 3: Configure Build & Start Commands

Set:

Build Command:
npm install && npm run build

Start Command:
npm start

Step 4: Add Environment Variables

Render requires specific variables like:

NODE_ENV=production
APP_KEYS=your-app-keys
API_TOKEN_SALT=random-salt-value
ADMIN_JWT_SECRET=your-secret
DATABASE_CLIENT=postgres
DATABASE_HOST=your-db-host
DATABASE_NAME=your-db-name
DATABASE_USERNAME=your-db-user
DATABASE_PASSWORD=your-db-password

Render will automatically provide PostgreSQL credentials.

Step 5: Enable Persistent Disk (Optional)

Strapi stores media uploads in /public/uploads.

In Render: 1. Go to Service → Disks
2. Add a disk of at least 1GB

Step 6: Deploy

Render automatically builds and deploys the service.

Your Strapi admin panel will be available at:

https://your-app.onrender.com/admin

Pros of Render Free Tier - Free PostgreSQL database - Persistent disk support - Auto-deployment from GitHub - Easy configuration

Cons - Cold startup delays - Limited resources (restarts daily) - Slower build times

Deploy Strapi for Free on Railway

Railway is another great option that offers free compute time and managed databases.

Step 1: Create a Project

1. Sign up at railway.app\
2. Click New Project → Deploy from GitHub

Step 2: Add a PostgreSQL Database

Go to Railway Marketplace and choose PostgreSQL.

Railway generates credentials like: - Host - Port - Database name - Username - Password

Step 3: Add Environment Variables

In Railway's Variables panel, add:

NODE_ENV=production
DATABASE_CLIENT=postgres
DATABASE_HOST=<railway-host>
DATABASE_NAME=<railway-db-name>
DATABASE_USERNAME=<railway-user>
DATABASE_PASSWORD=<railway-pass>
APP_KEYS=...
JWT_SECRET=...
API_TOKEN_SALT=...
ADMIN_JWT_SECRET=...

Step 4: Set Deploy Commands

Railway autodetects Node.js, but you can override:

Build: npm install && npm run build
Start: npm start

Step 5: Deploy

Railway automatically scales down unused services, so it's ideal for free Strapi deployments.

Pros - Very fast deployment - Free PostgreSQL - GitHub auto-deploys

Cons - Limited free resource hours per month - Service sleeps when inactive

Deploy Strapi on Koyeb (Free Container Hosting)

Koyeb offers free serverless container hosting, ideal for Dockerized Strapi.

Step 1: Create a Dockerfile

In the Strapi root folder:

FROM node:18-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
RUN npm run build
CMD ["npm", "start"]

Step 2: Push to GitHub

Step 3: Deploy on Koyeb

1. Go to koyeb.com\
2. Click Deploy from GitHub\
3. Choose your repo\
4. Set environment variables\
5. Deploy

Pros - Supports Docker - Very fast - Great for production-like workflow

Cons - No built-in database (need external DB)

Deploy Strapi on Fly.io for Free

Fly.io supports free container hosting with small VMs --- great for small Strapi projects.

Step 1: Install Fly CLI

flyctl auth signup
flyctl auth login

Step 2: Launch App

Inside your Strapi folder:

flyctl launch

Step 3: Configure the Dockerfile

Fly.io detects the Dockerfile automatically.

Step 4: Add PostgreSQL

flyctl postgres create

Step 5: Add Environment Variables

Configure DB + Strapi secrets:

flyctl secrets set NODE_ENV=production ...

Step 6: Deploy

flyctl deploy

Pros - Global edge deployment - Free small VM - Good performance

Cons - Some technical complexity

Deploy Strapi for Free Using Local Hosting + Free Tunneling

If you want a temporary, free solution for demos or development:

Step 1: Run Strapi Locally

npm run develop

Step 2: Use Ngrok

ngrok http 1337

The tunnel URL becomes public:

https://random.ngrok.io

This is ideal for: - Showcasing Strapi projects to clients - API testing - Mobile app integration

Choosing the Best Free Deployment Option

Platform Best For Free Limitations

---

Render Beginners Daily restarts, slow startup Railway Fast deployments Monthly free usage cap Koyeb Docker deployments External database required Fly.io Edge hosting More complex setup Ngrok Temporary use Sessions expire

Free Database Options for Strapi Deployment

Strapi requires a database that is compatible with its Node.js architecture.

Recommended Free Databases

• Render PostgreSQL
• Railway PostgreSQL
• Supabase (Free Tier)
• ElephantSQL (Free Tier)

Do not use SQLite in production.

Configuring Environment Variables for Production

All production deployments require a .env file or cloud-based secrets.

Sample production environment variables:

NODE_ENV=production
HOST=0.0.0.0
PORT=1337

APP_KEYS=your-app-key
API_TOKEN_SALT=random-value
ADMIN_JWT_SECRET=jwt-admin-secret
JWT_SECRET=jwt-secret

DATABASE_CLIENT=postgres
DATABASE_HOST=your-db-host
DATABASE_PORT=5432
DATABASE_NAME=your-db-name
DATABASE_USERNAME=your-db-user
DATABASE_PASSWORD=your-db-password

Without proper environment variables, Strapi will not build.

Setting Up Media Storage for Free

Strapi media uploads need persistent storage. Free options include:

Local Disk (Free on Render)

• Use Render "Disks" for free storage.

Cloud Storage Free Tiers

• Cloudinary (free)
• Supabase Storage (free)
• AWS S3 (free for 12 months)
• Backblaze B2 (free tier)

Using Cloudinary is the simplest: 1. Install provider:

npm install @strapi/provider-upload-cloudinary

2. Configure .env:

<!-- -->

CLOUDINARY_NAME=
CLOUDINARY_KEY=
CLOUDINARY_SECRET=

Optimizing Strapi for Free Hosting

Free hosts have limited resources, so it's important to optimize.

Optimization Tips

• Use PostgreSQL instead of SQLite.
• Use Cloudinary for media to reduce disk usage.
• Remove unused plugins.
• Use PM2 in production mode (if allowed).
• Keep dependency list minimal.

Testing Your Deployed API

Strapi provides a live API once deployed.

Example REST endpoint:

GET https://your-domain.com/api/articles

If using GraphQL:

POST https://your-domain.com/graphql

Test using: - Postman - Insomnia - Browser - Frontend applications

Securing Your Free Deployment

Free plans still need security hardening.

Security Checklist

• Disable public access for sensitive content types
• Require API tokens for frontend queries
• Disable unused routes
• Enable HTTPS (handled by most hosts automatically)
• Use environment secrets instead of plain text variables

Free platforms like Render, Railway, and Fly.io automatically provide SSL.

Troubleshooting Common Deployment Issues

Build Errors

Caused by: - Missing environment variables - Wrong Node version - Missing build command

Database Errors

Check: - Host - Port - Username/password - SSL requirements

Media Not Saving

Enable: - Persistent storage - Cloud storage configuration

Infinite Restart Loop

Usually caused by: - Crashes during server startup - Wrong start command

Conclusion

Deploying Strapi for free is absolutely possible and can be done through several platforms --- including Render, Railway, Fly.io, and Koyeb. Each platform offers unique advantages depending on your needs, whether it's database support, Docker compatibility, or ease of configuration.

By following the steps in this guide, you can launch a fully functional Strapi backend with zero hosting cost and start connecting it to your MERN Stack projects, mobile applications, or web platforms.

If you need expert help building or deploying a production-level Strapi or MERN stack application, consider hiring AAMAX --- specialists in Web Development, Digital Marketing, SEO, and MERN Stack Development services.