
Several platforms offer free options for deploying Python applications, each with its own features and limitations. Here are some of the top contenders:
- Render: Render is a cloud service that allows you to build and run apps and websites, with free TLS certificates, a global CDN, and auto-deploys from Git[1]. It supports web apps, static sites, Docker containers, cron jobs, background workers, and fully managed databases. Most services, including Python web apps, have a free tier to get started[1]. Render’s free auto-scaling feature ensures your app has the necessary resources, and everything hosted on Render gets a free TLS certificate. It is a user-friendly Heroku alternative, offering a streamlined deployment process and an intuitive management interface.
- PythonAnywhere: This platform has been around for a while and is well-known in the Python community[1]. It is a reliable and simple service to get started with[1]. You get one web app with a pythonanywhere.com domain for free, with upgraded plans starting at $5 per month.
- Railway: Railway is a deployment platform where you can provision infrastructure, develop locally, and deploy to the cloud[1]. They provide templates to get started with different frameworks and allow deployment from an existing GitHub repo[1]. The Starter tier can be used for free without a credit card, and the Developer tier is free under $5/month.
- GitHub: While you can’t host web apps on GitHub, you can schedule scripts to run regularly with GitHub Actions and cron jobs. The free tier includes 2,000 minutes per month, which is enough to run many scripts multiple times a day.
- Anvil: Anvil is a Python web app platform that allows you to build and deploy web apps for free. It offers a drag-and-drop designer, a built-in Python server environment, and a built-in Postgres-backed database.
When choosing a platform, consider the specific needs of your application, including the required resources, dependencies, and traffic volume. Some platforms may have limitations on outbound internet access or the number of projects you can create.
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