Top 10 Free Hosting Providers for Your React App

React is a dominating JS library that developers prefer to use to build highly responsive UI applications.

The Statista survey also rated React on the top of the most utilized web frameworks’ list with 40.14% votes of the coders. However, hosting a React application isn’t as easy as deploying a simple HTML or JS program. Indeed, the selection of the exemplary service to host React app free is a complicated task.

However, this article is going to be an informative guide because it will share one of the top free hosting providers for React apps.

What is React?

React is a component-based and open-source library of JavaScript that is utilized to quickly create UIs of mobile and web applications. Facebook initially used this JS library in 2011 and 2012 to deal with Instagram Stories and Facebook’s News Feed section. Withal, Facebook made it public in 2013.

Although React is a suitable choice to code single-page applications but it could also be an excellent option to build big applications because it alters the data without loading the page. Its MVC architecture and features like scalability and speedy app development are making it ideal for JS programmers.

Around 10076 companies declared on StackShare that they use React. Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Uber and Pinterest are the prominent tech giants that use React for their different projects.

React Advantages

Here are the significant React advantages:

Saves Time

The use of React permits the coders to work independently on both the backend and client sides. So, developers are only responsible for their part instead of the entire stack.

Similarly, React also facilitates businesses with code reusability features. Yes, its components are reusable, and their reusability doesn’t influence or change the other elements of React application. These properties of React definitely save a lot of app building and updating time.

Improves User Experience

React team emphasizes building applications with highly dynamic user interfaces. To achieve this goal, they use Virtual Document Model (DOM). Though many other frameworks are also practicing DOM, but typical DOM approach makes modifications in different app functions, including queries and input. These changes also negatively affect the response rate of an application.

Luckily, React uses the Virtual DOM, and this feature conducts the updates without influencing the other elements of the user interface. The use of Virtual DOM also enhances the speed, and you can witness its benefits while using Facebook chat and News Feed sections.

Stable Coding

Stable coding is another advantage of React. This framework works on a downward or one-direction data flow due to which child structure’s modifications don’t alter the parent’s formation. Indeed, Facebook has converted this MVC model into a pure View Approach for the sake of stable coding.

Open-Source Library & Friendly Community

React is one of the most beneficial open-source libraries of JavaScript. Developers can find numerous free to approach resources to build React applications. Only at GitHub, React has more than 176k stars and 35.6k forks. The backing of Facebook also makes it a tested and reliable UI library for users.

Similarly, React owns a vast and friendly community. Around 95582 developers mentioned on StackShare that they are associated with React. It also has big community support on platforms like Stack Overflow, Hashnode and Dev. So, you just need to join these communities to get answers to your React related problems.

SEO-Friendly

React confers an SEO-friendly interface to build applications that dominates it among the competitors. React apps perform very well when it comes to search engine rankings because of the advantages of Virtual DOM, rendering and the ability to function on servers efficiently.

React Limitations

• The consistent updates of React annoy the developers because every time, they need to learn new tactics to deal with these changes.

• React also doesn’t provide appropriate documentation. Many coders complain that they need to script the documentation on their own with React.

• The use of JSX syntax in React also leads to many complications for coders.

Top 10 React Hosting Providers

Here are the best platforms that developers and businesses can use to host React apps seamlessly.

1. Back4App

Back4App is one of the best places to host React apps that doesn’t only allow the deployment of an app but also permits building applications on this low-code platform.

In addition, Back4App enables the startups to host their React app without paying anything with its Free Plan. Luckily, this React app hosting platform doesn’t ask for a credit card to proceed with Free Plan.

The MVP Plan for shared hosting starts from $15/month, and Dedicated Hosting begins from $400/month if you pay annually. Under their ‘Docs’ page, they also especially shared an A-to-Z guide to build, deploy and test React app.

Please read the article Step-by-step guide to build a React App for a detailed tutorial.

Core Features

Container Deployment — This product allows users to build and deploy applications quickly and outsource the complexities of managing servers. To know more, please checkout Back4app Containers.

Backups & Data Recovery — All hosting plans of Back4App give proper backups and data recovery solutions to users. Indeed, as a cloud platform, it will keep all of your backups, and you can access them anytime, anywhere.

Blockchain Data Storage — If you are willing to store your React applications’ data on Blockchain, then Back4App will not disappoint you. This newly introduced feature of this hosting platform confers programmers a very easy to administer interface in this regard.

Worldwide Data Centers — O Back4App also offers worldwide data centres. The significant locations of its data centres are the United States, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

Cloud Support — You can also avail cloud support from other vendors, including Amazon Web Services, Alibaba and Microsoft Azure, under its dedicated hosting category.

Keep reading to learn more about the best React hosting platforms.

2. Netlify

Netlify is an ideal React hosting and app build cloud platform. Its Starter package is free to use, but you can add paid features like bandwidth, large media and serverless functions. This is considered a cheap React host because its Pro Plan starts from $19/month, and Business Plan charges $99/month.

Developers like to use Netlify to deploy React apps because it only takes 30 seconds to complete this task. The notable companies that are benefiting from Netlify are Livestorm, Kong and DataCamp.

Core Features

Large Media — With considerable media support, you can administer big files just like a script with Netlify. Its free packages grant coders 2500 monthly transformations.

High Performance — If you want to get high app uptime and fast response, you must host your React app on Netlify.

Community Support — It doesn’t matter what plan you are using. You can get very professional and quick community support. However, to get customer service support, you will have to choose its Business or Pro plans.

Analytics — Netlify also gives an opportunity to enterprises to monitor their app’s performance, traffic and users’ behaviour. It is free to analyze 250,000 monthly app users. To monitor analytics without any limit, you can proceed with a Business Plan.

3. Firebase

With Google’s support, Firebase backend is also a prevalent name to host React applications. Mainly when it comes to hosting React web applications, you should consider Firebase.

To start your project quickly, you just need to visit its ‘Build’ category and proceed with the ‘Hosting’ page. Some developers consider Firebase the best way to host React apps.

Core Features

SSD-Backed Hosting — Firebase offers SSD support so you can keep the backup of your React application safe. Even it also speeds up the content delivery duration.

Free SSL Certificate — With Firebase, you also don’t need to invest money to buy SSL certificates. Surely, if you build and deploy an application on this platform, they will give you a free SSL certificate.

Preview Changes — It allows the developers to preview all modifications that you do for any application before going live.

Keep reading to learn more about the best hosting for React apps.

4. Vercel

Vercel is another good hosting service for React App. It was launched in 2015 with the aim of empowering individuals to develop their own web presence and enhance their portfolios and businesses.

Closely following its dream, Vercel has kept its features approachable and straightforward. All that is required from the user is the integration of source code with Vercel.

Core Features

Ease of Use — Users can integrate their code with Vercel by picking this hosting service, creating a user account, and adding straightforward instructions to its command-line interface. It automatically configures and deploys the code, giving users access to the deployed content in a matter of minutes.

Cloud-Based Platform — It runs on the cloud, so it is incredibly convenient to get data on the go and edit it on the go. Cloud-based platforms also give users more secure access to all data and applications.

Integration with GitHub — The developed websites can also be integrated with GitHub and other related services to enhance users’ experience.

Cost-Effective — If the developer is planning to run a single stationary webpage, Vercel will offer free plans. Their plans are surprisingly inexpensive, even for bigger projects.

Teams — Vercel also allows users to collaborate and work in teams to bring the best version of the page forward.

Customer Support — Their features have been effectively explained for beginners on their webpage, and the customer support is easily accessible and available 24/7.

5. Heroku

React Applications can also be deployed for free by using Heroku platform. Heroku was launched in 2007 and merged with Salesforce in 2011. Its founders aimed to provide web developers with an easy solution to host their web pages and give tools to scale them in response to business needs.

Core Features

Convenient to Use — This platform is easy to use and delivers its services immediately. The users need to create a new repository on GitHub and add their code to it. This code will then be pulled to Heroku when a user creates an account and is deployed by clicking ‘Deploy Branch’. The finished project is delivered to the user instantaneously.

Container-Based — Like Versel, Heroku is also a container-based setup. The services are synchronized and secure and improve the user’s overall experience.

Cost-Effective — Heroku allows users to work on five projects for free. The paid plans, however are more expensive than other platforms discussed in this article.

Supports Multiple Languages — Heroku supports Java, Python, and other major programming languages without any additional configuration or setup.

Customer Support — Heroku claims to have teams working 24/7/365 to enhance users’ experience and provide instant support.

Marketplace — To customize the end product according to the needs of each user, Heroku offers an array of Add-ons in its marketplace. The cost of this feature is slightly high and not recommended for beginners.

6. AWS S3

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a product from Amazon with simple storage (S3) being its most used version. It was initially launched in 2006 mainly with the aim of giving users a platform to save their data securely. However, the application later expanded to provide its users with free hosting solutions for platforms like React App.

Core Features

Utility for React App — The users can log into AWS and add their source code as a bucket. The number of users and the level of access given to each user can be defined at the next stage. The code is then configured and deployed. The overall process is more complicated than Heroku and Vercel.

Ideal for Complex Products — In contrast to the former applications, AWS S3 has been developed to deploy pages that require a lot of computing power. However, it is also easy to use and automatically deploys codes at a tremendous speed.

Customizability — AWS S3 provides a large number of options that can customize the end product according to the user’s needs. However, this large number of options may overwhelm beginners,

Cost — AWS S3 offers a range of plans whose cost varies according to the number of users.

Storage & Security — AWS S3 claims to store all the data in multiple locations and provide easy backups if required. The service is very secure, which makes it popular for web pages and applications.

7. GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages is the most popular platform used for deploying React App and hosting web services. It is either used individually or in conjunction with other services to generate high quality, dynamic, and customizable tools. This tool is a great example of where to host React websites.

Core Features

Utility for React App — GitHub offers many services to web, application, and software developers. In the case of the React App, it follows a straightforward protocol where the users download it, create a repository, and deploy their pages through a command-line interface.

Cost — Publishing a website through GitHub is free of cost. However, using packages for particular programming languages and customization tools may cost more.

Open-Source Libraries — GitHub offers an open-source library to its users that can help them in developing their webpages or adding features that can make them more useful. Furthermore, GitHub’s popularity allows users to find custom solutions on the internet easily.

8. AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify is another tool from Amazon web services that is popular among web developers for deploying their products.

It was launched in 2018 solely to compete with the leading web hosting services. It is known for its well-catalogued libraries that allow users to develop customizable hosting solutions.

Core Features

Usability — It is definitely easy to use for deploying web pages and applications. Once the app is created, the users can download and access Amplify using a command-line interface. The project can be added using straightforward steps and secured to give access to authorized personnel only. The app is deployed automatically once all the steps are complete.

Cloud-Based — This platform is also cloud-based and provides fast and easy synchronization of apps and pages.

Amplify Libraries — AWS Amplify provides an open-source library that aids users in developing and modifying their products. This feature, combined with the ease of use, makes this platform ideal for beginners.

User Authentication — Amplify also allows developers to set up user authentication for everyone who uses their web page or application.

No Custom Settings — Amplify gives limited opportunities to users for getting customized end-products. Therefore, while this platform is great for beginners, it may not be helpful for advanced functions.

9. Render

Although newly launched in 2019, Render is also a popular platform for deploying web pages and applications. It aims to simplify the process of hosting using cloud-based platforms.

Its affordability and simplicity have won thousands of customers over the last two years, and the company continues to add exciting features for its users.

Core Features

User-Friendly Interface — Render is also very easy to use and deploys React apps automatically. The users need to install GitHub and Render. Like Heroku, the source code will be pulled into GitHub and then loaded to render from where it can be deployed in a matter of minutes.

Ideal for Static Sites — In addition to a range of valuable services it provides, render is very popular for deploying single page or static websites.

Cloud-Based — Render is also a cloud-based platform that enables security, backup, and fast deployment.

Cost-Effective & Practical — Render does not charge any hidden fees for its services. It claims to be eighty percent cheaper than other hosting services. Furthermore, every configuration and command is accessible with a click, making the whole process faster than the other platforms discussed in this article. This feature of Render has convinced many developers to shift to it.

Privacy — Render also gives users the option to secure their work by running it on private networks, thereby avoiding any mishaps with confidential data or customized products.

10. Surge

Surge is used for deploying static sites developed using React App and other services. It was developed to provide a single-command web publishing alternative to its users. Since its launch, it has dealt with almost 1.5 million projects and hosted 8.9 million web pages and applications.

It offers 2 types of plans. The first one is entirely free and known as ‘Surge’. With basic SSL and custom domain, it also facilities the app builders with unlimited publishing support. The second package is ‘Surge Professional’, and it charges $30/month.

Core Features

Utility for React App — Users can use a command-line interface to install Surge, build folders with codes, add authentication, and deploy the project. There is no need to install divulge into GitHub and related products to get the end-user product. Additionally, Surge also suggests URLs based on the name of the user’s projects.

Simplicity — Surge is one of the simplest platforms available for the cause based on its straightforward command-line interface. However, the simplicity comes at the cost of making products and pages more complex, dynamic, and customizable.

Speed — Surge is possibly the fastest platform to deploy React apps. According to users, the complete process takes less than 5 minutes which is faster when compared to similar products from Amazon.

Cloud-Based — It is a cloud-based platform like all of its competitors. Consequently, it also provides secure, fast, and consistently synchronized services to its users.

Cost-Effective — Surge offers free plans to its users to make it ideal for beginners and small businesses. It is also useful for users who take up web development as a hobby.

Conclusion

It is crucial to choose the right place to host React apps to run them successfully. In this regard, our list presents both paid and free React hosting services.

Few of them come with fixed prices, some of them offer free tiers and a few stick with a pay-as-you-go pricing policy. It entirely depends on your project’s need that what React hosting plan suits you the most.

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