Hosting · facts read November 6, 2026
Render
Managed hosting for long-running web services, workers, cron jobs and Docker containers. Runs persistent servers and background workers, not just functions.
- Free plan
- Hobby workspace: free web services (512 MB RAM, 750 instance hours/month, spin down after 15 minutes idle), 5 GB bandwidth, 500 build minutes per month.
- Paid from
- $7/month for the smallest paid web service (512 MB RAM).
- Monthly cost at 1,000 users
- $7/month Free instances spin down when idle and aren't for production; the smallest paid web service is $7/month.
- Free plan allows commercial use
- Not stated
- Open source
- No
- Self-hostable
- No
Source: Render pricing, read November 6, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor's page before you commit.
Best for
- Long-running servers and websockets
- Background workers and cron jobs
- Docker-based apps
Watch out for
- Render's docs say not to use free instances for production; they spin down after 15 minutes idle.
- Free Postgres expires 30 days after creation.
How Cuely scores Render
The published scores, from −3 to +3, that decide when Cuely picks it. Method
- +3background jobs or long-running servers. Always-on services, background workers and cron jobs are first-class.
- +2realtime features. Persistent servers hold websocket connections.
- −1traffic comes in viral spikes. A fixed-size server doesn't absorb a sudden spike by itself; you size up or add instances ahead of time.
Render alternatives
Recipes with Render
- AI app that answers questions over your customers' documents · an alternative
- B2B SaaS with auth, billing and email · an alternative
- Marketplace where customers pay providers and you keep a cut · an alternative