Fly.io
No free tier (short trial only), usage-based from $2.19/mo per VM
Deploy Docker containers to servers around the world with a single command
Fly.io takes your Docker container and runs it on servers around the world. Your app in Tokyo, Sao Paulo, and Amsterdam simultaneously, not behind a CDN, but actually running there. For apps where latency matters (real-time features, APIs, databases), this is the real deal.
There is no free tier any more: a new organization gets a trial of two machine hours or seven days, whichever ends first. After that, pricing is usage-based and billed per second, starting at $2.19 a month for a shared-cpu VM with 256 MB of RAM. The tradeoff versus Railway or Render is complexity: Fly gives you more control over where your code runs, but you need to understand containers, config files, and networking basics. If you just want to push code and forget about it, Railway is easier. If you want your API to respond in under 50ms for users worldwide, Fly.io is worth the setup.
Best for Developers who deploy Docker apps close to users in several regions and pay only for running machines.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | Usage-based | Billed per second; shared-cpu-1x 256 MB from $2.19/mo; no free tier, short free trial |
Prices checked on the vendor's page
Pros
- Run your app in 30+ regions close to users: real global distribution, not just CDN caching
- Billed per second: a small app on one shared-cpu machine costs a few dollars a month
- Built-in Postgres, Redis, and object storage so you can run a full stack
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Railway or Render: you need to understand Dockerfiles and fly.toml config
- Billing can be unpredictable: outbound bandwidth costs and machine scaling add up
- Email support costs from $29/mo on top of usage; without it there is only the community forum
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