Render
Render Services Inc. · 🚀 PaaS
Render is a unified cloud to build and run all your apps and websites with free TLS certificates, a global CDN, private networks and auto deploys from Git.
Free-tier constraints
- Offer type
- Perpetual
- When idle
- Sleeps
- Credit card
- Not required
- Commercial use
- Unknown
- At the limit
- Service suspends
- Data expiry
- Not published
Free-tier compatibility
- ✓Static hosting
- —Serverless
- ✓Long-running processes
- ✓Docker
- ✓WebSockets
- —Cron
- —Background workers
- —Persistent disk
- ✓Custom domains
Overview
Render is a unified cloud for running web services, static sites, databases, workers and cron jobs — with auto-deploys from Git, free TLS and a global CDN. It aims to be a modern, simpler Heroku: choose a service type, point it at a repository, and Render builds and runs it.
The free tier includes free static sites, 750 instance hours per month for web services (which sleep after about 15 minutes of inactivity), and a free managed PostgreSQL database that expires after 30 days. Several regions are available.
It is well suited to full-stack apps, APIs and side projects that need an always-deployable server and a database, where occasional cold starts on the free plan are acceptable. Confirm the latest free-tier details on the provider’s site.
Sources and verification
Checked 2026-08-18Pros
- ✓One platform for web services, static sites, databases, workers and cron
- ✓Auto-deploys from Git with free TLS
- ✓Free static sites and a free Postgres to start
- ✓Straightforward, Heroku-like model
- ✓Multiple regions
Cons
- ✕Free web services sleep after about 15 minutes of inactivity
- ✕The free managed Postgres is time-limited
- ✕750 instance hours per month cap on the free plan
- ✕Less edge-focused than Cloudflare or Vercel
Best for
- →Full-stack apps and APIs that need an always-deployable server
- →Side projects that want a free database to start
- →Teams migrating off Heroku
Compare with
Getting started
- 1 Create a Render account and a new service
- 2 Connect your Git repo and choose the service type (web, static, worker, cron)
- 3 Set the build and start commands
- 4 Add a managed PostgreSQL or Redis if needed
- 5 Deploy — Render auto-deploys on every push
Related guides
Features
- ✓Auto Deploys from Git
- ✓Free TLS Certificates
- ✓Private Networks
- ✓Managed Databases
- ✓Background Workers
- ✓Cron Jobs
Languages
FAQ
Free web services spin down after about 15 minutes of inactivity and cold-start on the next request. Paid instances stay always-on.
No. Render's free PostgreSQL database expires 30 days after creation, with a short grace period before deletion.
Yes. Render supports background workers and scheduled cron jobs alongside web services.
Deploy these projects to Render
Open-source projects and templates that run on Render's free tier.