It’s 2024, and yes, you can still run your backend and frontend servers for free! While services like Digital Ocean (starting at $4) and Heroku (starting at $5) charge a minimum, there are ways to keep your startup costs low without compromising performance. Here's how you can host your product for free—or close to it—without sacrificing quality.

Why Run Servers for Free?

If your startup isn’t making money yet or has just a handful of users, spending on servers doesn’t make sense. You need a solution that’s cost-effective, scalable, and reliable—without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Free Backend Hosting with Google App Engine

Google App Engine (GAE) offers an auto-scalable infrastructure that can host your backend for free when configured correctly.

How to Get Started

Set Up Your App Engine Application

• Go to the Google App Engine section on GCP and create a new application for your region.

Deploy Your API

• App Engine supports multiple languages. If you use Node.js, deploy your API following the documentation.

Use F1 Instances

• Configure your application to use F1 instances (free tier). These provide 384MB of RAM, which is often enough to run two Node.js processes simultaneously.

Adjust Instance Scaling

• Start with one instance. If traffic spikes, you can configure a second instance to handle the load.

Why It Works

GAE offers 28 free instance hours per day. When there’s no API activity, instances are automatically stopped, saving costs. For heavier workloads, you can upgrade to larger instances and only pay when needed.

Step 2: Free Database Hosting

NoSQL Databases

For NoSQL, MongoDB Atlas offers:

• 512MB of free storage—perfect for startups storing lightweight JSON objects.
• Scalability as your data grows.

For larger files (images, documents), use Google Cloud Storage (GCP Bucket) for a minimal cost.

SQL Databases

For SQL lovers, Neon provides:

• A free tier for PostgreSQL hosting.
• A great starting point for database needs without upfront costs.

Step 3: Free Frontend Hosting with Vercel

Vercel is an excellent platform for hosting frontend projects:

• Perfect for React, Next.js, Vue.js, and Vite.
• Includes CI/CD automation, making deployment seamless.
• Free for personal projects and startups in the early stages.

Key Takeaways

How to Run Your Product for Free:

Backend Hosting: Use Google App Engine with F1 instances.

NoSQL Database: Host with MongoDB Atlas.

SQL Database: Opt for Neon for PostgreSQL.

Frontend Hosting: Use Vercel’s free hobby plan.

Running a tech startup is challenging, but these tools allow you to scale efficiently without unnecessary expenses. Focus on building your product, testing the market, and serving your users—without worrying about server costs.

Good luck, and happy building! 🚀