Simple Hosting for Side Projects
You built a thing. Now you want to put it on the internet. Do you really need Kubernetes, edge functions, and a CI/CD pipeline? Let's talk about when complexity helps and when it just gets in the way.
The Deployment Platform Landscape
There are more ways to deploy a web app than ever before. Each platform has its strengths, but they're not all designed for the same use case. Here's an honest comparison.
The Platforms
Vercel
The gold standard for Next.js deployment. Incredible for production apps that need edge functions, ISR, and tight framework integration.
Great for:
- • Production Next.js apps
- • Teams using Git-based workflow
- • Apps needing edge functions
- • Preview deployments per PR
Overkill for:
- • Quick prototypes
- • Non-Next.js projects
- • Projects not in Git yet
- • Discord bots, background jobs
Railway
A modern Heroku alternative with great UX. Solid choice for full-stack apps that need databases and multiple services.
Great for:
- • Full-stack apps with databases
- • Microservices architectures
- • Teams familiar with Git
- • Apps needing Redis, Postgres, etc.
Overkill for:
- • Simple static sites
- • One-off prototypes
- • Projects you're still iterating on locally
- • AI-assisted development workflows
Fly.io
Powerful container platform with global edge deployment. Great for apps that need to run close to users worldwide.
Great for:
- • Globally distributed apps
- • Low-latency requirements
- • Custom Docker setups
- • WebSocket applications
Overkill for:
- • Apps with users in one region
- • Learning projects
- • Prototypes you're testing
- • If you don't know Docker
DartUp
Purpose-built for Claude Code users. The fastest path from local project to live URL, with zero configuration.
Great for:
- • Claude Code workflows
- • Prototypes and MVPs
- • Side projects
- • Discord/Telegram bots
- • Projects not in Git yet
- • Rapid iteration
Not designed for:
- • Enterprise production apps
- • Massive scale (millions of users)
- • Complex CI/CD requirements
- • Multi-region deployments
The Complexity Tax
Every platform has a learning curve. Every feature adds cognitive load. The question isn't "which platform is best?" but "which platform is best for this project?"
Time to First Deploy
That time difference matters when you're iterating quickly. If you're deploying 5 times a day during active development, friction adds up.
When Simple Wins
Choose the simplest tool that works for your use case:
- Testing an idea? You need speed, not scale. Ship it, get feedback, decide if it's worth investing more.
- Building with Claude Code? You're iterating fast. You need deployment that keeps up with your pace.
- Side project that might never grow? Don't architect for scale you'll never need. Ship it simple, scale it later.
- Learning a new framework? Focus on the framework, not the deployment. Remove unnecessary complexity.
- Sharing a demo? You need a URL, not a CI/CD pipeline.
When Complexity is Worth It
There are absolutely times when Vercel, Railway, or Fly.io are the right choice:
- Production app with a team: Git-based deploys, preview environments, and collaboration features matter.
- Need edge functions or ISR: Vercel's Next.js integration is genuinely excellent for these features.
- Complex infrastructure: Multiple services, message queues, cron jobs—Railway handles this well.
- Global latency requirements: Fly.io's edge deployment is worth the setup complexity.
- Compliance requirements: Enterprise platforms have SOC2, HIPAA, and other certifications.
The Right Tool for the Job
Here's my honest recommendation:
For prototypes and side projects
Use DartUp. Get it live fast, iterate fast, worry about scale later.
For Next.js production apps
Use Vercel. The framework integration is worth it.
For full-stack apps with complex infrastructure
Use Railway. Great balance of power and usability.
For global, low-latency apps
Use Fly.io. Edge deployment done right.
Start Simple, Scale Later
The best part? These aren't permanent decisions. Start with simple hosting, and migrate when (if!) you outgrow it. A prototype on DartUp can become a production app on Vercel. A side project can graduate to Railway.
But don't pay the complexity tax before you need to. Ship simple. Ship fast. Scale when you have the problem of needing to scale.
That's why we built DartUp: for the 90% of projects that just need to be live on the internet without a week of DevOps.
Try the simple option
DartUp is free to start. See how fast deployment can be.