{"id":40817,"date":"2023-06-13T07:00:24","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=40817"},"modified":"2026-08-25T09:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:07:09","slug":"hosting-an-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/hosting-an-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s Everything You Need to Know About Hosting an App for the First Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your app doesn\u2019t live entirely on a phone or in a browser. The machinery behind it needs somewhere to run. <strong>App hosting (also called application hosting) is the infrastructure and services that run an application\u2019s server-side components: the databases, APIs, user authentication, and business logic behind every web and mobile app.<\/strong> Your users only ever see the frontend. App hosting is everything that keeps the rest of it online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That server-side \u2014 the backend \u2014 needs storage, computing power, and connectivity, around the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re building a web app, an Android or iOS app, or all three at once, the backend needs a reliable home so it can answer every request your users send.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this is your first time deploying an app for web or mobile, this might seem a tad complicated. But fret not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide will help you compare app hosting models, understand their trade-offs, and choose a sensible setup before launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sound good? Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<h2>Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"definition\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is app hosting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">App hosting refers to the process of providing the necessary infrastructure and services to deploy, run, and manage an application\u2019s server-side components \u2014 for web and mobile apps alike. These components typically handle tasks such as data storage, user authentication, server-side processing, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apps generally consist of two parts: The client-side (frontend) and the server-side (backend). The client-side is the user interface that runs in the browser or on the user\u2019s device, while the server-side manages the data, logic, and communication between the app and various services.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"options\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 app hosting options to consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The server-side components of an app require a reliable environment to operate \u2014 app hosting services provide this environment for web and mobile apps alike. Depending on the needs of the application and the needs of the developers, application hosting can involve various types of infrastructure, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Traditional hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With \u201ctraditional\u201d hosting or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/dedicated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dedicated server hosting<\/a>, your application\u2019s server-side components are hosted on physical servers, often managed by a hosting provider. The provider is responsible for maintaining the hardware, providing network connectivity, and ensuring uptime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could also host your app with a server you own and maintain. (If you don\u2019t mind a hot server running in your bedroom 24\/7.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of traditional hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider traditional hosting like buying a gigantic pickup truck. It\u2019s a high-performance machine. You\u2019ll get full control over the server setup and configuration. You\u2019ll generally get more CPU power and memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<div class=\"glossary-term__above-title\">\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span>DreamHost Glossary<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n    <h3>CPU<\/h3>\n    <p>A CPU is a central processing unit, or \u2018brain,\u2019 of a computer. It interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. The term \u2018CPU\u2019 is often used interchangeably with \u2018processor.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s certainly the best option if you need high scalability, high performance, and total control over the system and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, if you\u2019re looking for a daily driver, it may be a bit overkill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of traditional hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If we could all spring for our own dedicated server, we\u2019d probably do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The obvious limitation is pricing. Although prices vary by provider, renting (or buying) a dedicated server is pretty much always the most expensive option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll also need to know and understand a bit more about hosting and server configuration to get the most out of a traditional hosting setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Virtual private servers (VPS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VPS hosting<\/a> involves dividing a physical server into multiple virtual servers, each with its own operating system and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This allows multiple applications to be hosted on a single physical server while maintaining isolation between them. VPS hosting provides more control and customization than standard web hosting, but less hardware control than a dedicated server, and it still requires server management and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To take our analogy from above, this is more like <i>sharing<\/i> a pickup truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of VPS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VPS is often considered a middle ground: you get a high level of customization and a decent level of performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This also makes it much more affordable than buying or renting an entire server, but for good reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern VPS plans have also cut way down on the setup burden. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DreamHost\u2019s Self-Managed VPS<\/a> plans, for example, include a one-click app library (Node.js, Docker, PostgreSQL, and more) that preinstalls a working stack for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of VPS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VPS hosting will always be limited by your share of the resources on the server. The way VPS hosting works is that the CPU power and memory are split across multiple sites or web applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re generally guaranteed a certain amount of resources, but you could experience real-time performance issues if, let\u2019s say, your site goes viral or there\u2019s a significant spike in traffic or users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Cloud hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cloud hosting services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, provide virtualized infrastructure and managed services to host and run applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cloud hosting offers flexibility, scalability, and reliability, allowing developers to easily deploy and manage their applications without worrying about underlying hardware and networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resources can be provisioned or released as needed, and costs are typically based on usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cloud hosting (or cloud computing) is sort of the inverse of VPS. Rather than a single server being divided up into multiple instances, a cloud hosting setup will pull resources from multiple servers to provide the computing power you need to handle your current traffic or users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<div class=\"glossary-term__above-title\">\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span>DreamHost Glossary<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n    <h3>Cloud Hosting<\/h3>\n    <p>Traditional web hosting houses a website on a physical server. On the other hand, \u2018cloud hosting\u2019 uses multiple virtual (remote) servers for the same task.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of cloud hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cloud hosting is, essentially, infinitely scalable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In theory, there are no limitations to the resources you can pull for a specific project. This makes it ideal for site or mobile app hosting, which might see big swings in traffic and users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pricing is also pay-as-you-go based on resources, meaning you only pay for what you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of cloud hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The downside of hosting a mobile app with a pay-for-what-you-use model is that if you get way more traffic or users than expected, your bill could also be higher than you expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Platform-as-a-service (PaaS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PaaS providers, such as Heroku or Google App Engine, offer a complete development and hosting environment, including the infrastructure, runtime, and necessary tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s sort of like leasing a pickup truck, but you can only drive it on certain roads. You don\u2019t have to worry about maintenance or upkeep, but you\u2019re also relying on the company to provide you with everything you need to get up and running with your app. Plus, you\u2019re locked into using the tools and systems offered by the provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of PaaS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PaaS makes it super simple to start, build, and deploy a mobile app. With the right provider, you can be up and running in a matter of hours. You won\u2019t need to tinker with servers or install a bunch of applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most PaaS offerings are also pay-as-you-go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of PaaS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since you\u2019re leasing the pickup truck and can only drive it on certain roads, PaaS has some limitations depending on your chosen provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, they may or may not offer support for popular services like Docker or Kubernetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certain software development kits (SDKs) may or may not be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, if you can find the right provider that aligns with your preferred tool stack, you can use PaaS as a SaaS solution for mobile app development, deployment, and hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One more option has emerged here: self-hosted PaaS software like Dokploy, which recreates the push-to-deploy workflow on a server you control. You get the convenience of the leased truck without the road restrictions, as long as you don\u2019t mind maintaining the truck yourself \u2014 more on this in the one-click section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Mobile backend-as-a-service (MBaaS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MBaaS platforms, like Firebase or Parse (now open-source), are specialized app hosting services designed for mobile applications. They provide pre-built backend components, APIs, and tools that can speed up app development and hosting. (Firebase isn\u2019t mobile-only these days: it positions itself as Google\u2019s mobile <i>and<\/i> web app development platform, complete with a dedicated App Hosting product.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<div class=\"glossary-term__above-title\">\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span>DreamHost Glossary<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n    <h3>API<\/h3>\n    <p>An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of functions that allows applications to access data and interact with external components. An API is essentially a courier that delivers messages from a client to a server and vice versa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of services like user authentication or push notifications. MBaaS offers these out of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s like a dongle for your laptop connected to a bunch of microservices you can tap into with a few clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means you have complete control over the frontend, and then you plug in the dongle to connect to backend services. Bringing it back to the pickup truck metaphor, this would be like leasing a truck, but you can only drive it to certain destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of MBaaS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like PaaS, MBaaS is popular as a quick and simple solution that gets you up and running without much (or any) fuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s ideal for folks who aren\u2019t super deep into backend coding and setup, and who don\u2019t want to deal with managing relational databases and wiring up microservices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s kind of like a template for app development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That doesn\u2019t make it a bad choice for more advanced users, but it can be limiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of MBaaS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While many of the larger MBaaS providers have a lot of flexibility and tons of extensions or services, you\u2019re still limited to what they offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That limits the amount of customization you can do and the amount of control you have over the environment and app performance, and generally relies heavily on the provider to ensure everything goes smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Containers and serverless<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two newer models round out the list. Containers package your app\u2019s code together with its runtime and dependencies so it runs the same way on any server \u2014 Docker is the industry-standard format, and platforms like Google Kubernetes Engine run fleets of containers at scale (per Google Cloud\u2019s hosting options guide, 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serverless goes one step further: you hand the platform a function, some source code, or a container, and it spins up instances only when requests or events arrive. Google Cloud, for example, points web backends and event-driven apps to its serverless Cloud Run platform, which scales automatically and can scale to zero, so you aren\u2019t billed during periods of zero requests (Google Cloud, 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In pickup-truck terms, serverless is a rideshare. A truck shows up when you have something to haul, and you don\u2019t pay a dime while it sits idle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of containers and serverless<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Portability and pricing. A containerized app moves between providers with little rework because the container carries its environment with it. And pay-per-use billing with scale-to-zero means a low-traffic app can cost next to nothing between bursts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You also skip server management entirely on serverless platforms: no OS updates, no capacity planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages of containers and serverless<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a learning curve: Docker and (especially) Kubernetes are their own skill sets. Serverless platforms also impose constraints that traditional servers don\u2019t \u2014 Cloud Run caps request timeouts at 60 minutes, for example (Google Cloud, 2026) \u2014 and like any pay-per-use model, a traffic spike can spike the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your app is event-driven, spiky, or already containerized, this model deserves a hard look before you rent fixed servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"infrastructure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choosing the right hosting infrastructure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the short version: heavy, predictable traffic points to a dedicated server or VPS; variable or unknown traffic points to cloud, serverless, PaaS, or MBaaS; and if backend work isn\u2019t your thing, MBaaS does the most for you. The table below compares all six options at a glance, and the sections that follow dig into each factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Option<\/th><th>Cost model<\/th><th>Scalability<\/th><th>Control<\/th><th>Management burden<\/th><th>Best for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Dedicated server<\/td><td>Fixed monthly (highest)<\/td><td>Vertical (upgrade the hardware)<\/td><td>Total<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>High-traffic, resource-heavy apps<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>VPS<\/td><td>Fixed monthly (low)<\/td><td>Limited to your slice of the server<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Medium (lower with one-click app installs)<\/td><td>Steady, predictable workloads on a budget<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cloud hosting<\/td><td>Pay-as-you-go<\/td><td>Near-unlimited<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Medium\u2013high<\/td><td>Fast-growing or spiky traffic<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Containers &amp; serverless<\/td><td>Pay-per-use, can scale to zero<\/td><td>Automatic<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Low\u2013medium<\/td><td>Event-driven and variable workloads<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PaaS<\/td><td>Pay-as-you-go or tiered<\/td><td>Automatic, within platform limits<\/td><td>Medium<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Fast launches on a supported stack<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MBaaS<\/td><td>Tiered or usage-based<\/td><td>Automatic<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Lowest<\/td><td>Mobile backends without backend code<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is your mobile app going to be as big as Flappy Bird? (Flappy Bird? Anyone?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then you\u2019ll need an option that allows for scalable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you know, for sure, that you\u2019ll be getting a lot of traffic and need a lot of resources, then dedicated or VPS hosting is probably best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re not 100% sure how much traffic you\u2019re going to receive or you know it will fluctuate, then you\u2019ll probably want a pay-for-what-you-use option: Cloud hosting, serverless, PaaS, or MBaaS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you running state-of-the-art, resource-intensive tech that\u2019s going to eat up tons of computing power? Better go with a dedicated server for your quantum computing mobile app. (Okay, quantum-computer-powered mobile app hosting isn\u2019t a thing. <i>Yet<\/i>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re running an average application, then any of the other hosting options will probably suffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DevOps &amp; frameworks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the big question: How did\/will you build the world\u2019s hottest new app?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chances are, you have specific ideas about the languages, frameworks, microservices, and overall architecture you will use. (And if an AI coding assistant scaffolded half your backend, count that as part of the stack too \u2014 a platform that deploys straight from a Git repo will take AI-generated projects with less friction than a raw server.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider finding a PaaS or MBaaS that aligns with that stack. Already shipping with Docker? A container platform, or a VPS you configure yourself, keeps that workflow intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can\u2019t find the right provider, you\u2019ll need to get a bit more custom and look at cloud, VPS, or getting a \u201cdedi\u201d (that\u2019s slang for dedicated server).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t have any allegiance to particular tool stacks and you\u2019re willing to learn whatever it takes to get your app up and running, then PaaS or MBaaS are probably the best options.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"one-click\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How one-click apps changed VPS hosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The classic app hosting trade-off between control and convenience is shrinking. Many VPS providers now preinstall complete application stacks, so you get root-level control and a working environment in one step. DreamHost\u2019s Self-Managed VPS plans include a one-click app library covering runtimes, databases, deployment platforms, and self-hosted AI tools.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This isn\u2019t a seventh option \u2014 it\u2019s what changed inside the VPS option, and it isn\u2019t unique to one host: DigitalOcean and Linode ship similar app marketplaces. Here\u2019s what DreamHost\u2019s version looks like for the stack this guide has been describing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/nodejs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Node.js<\/a><\/strong>: The runtime arrives preinstalled, with PM2 (which keeps your app running and restarts it if it crashes), an Nginx reverse proxy (which routes incoming web traffic to your app), and SSL already configured. That\u2019s the environment setup you\u2019d otherwise assemble by hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/docker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Docker + Portainer<\/a><\/strong>: If your app already ships as a container, both arrive preconfigured, and Portainer lets you manage multi-container stacks from a visual dashboard instead of the command line.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/dokploy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dokploy<\/a><\/strong>: The self-hosted PaaS we mentioned earlier. Connect GitHub or GitLab, push your code, and Dokploy handles builds, databases, and SSL from a visual dashboard. It\u2019s a Heroku- or Vercel-style workflow, except you pay a flat monthly rate and the whole thing stays portable because it runs on your server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Databases<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/postgresql\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PostgreSQL<\/a> comes preinstalled, and full root access means you can add whatever extensions your app needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/supabase\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supabase<\/a> bundles a database, auth, file storage, and real-time APIs as an open-source Firebase alternative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI and automation<\/strong>: The same library includes n8n for workflow automation and always-on AI agents like OpenClaw. Because they run on your server rather than someone else\u2019s platform, your workflows, credentials, and data stay under your control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every Self-Managed VPS plan pairs the app library with full root access and unmetered bandwidth with $0 overage fees, so a traffic surge doesn\u2019t come with a transfer bill. Sustained growth still means moving up a plan tier, but you\u2019ll see that coming. What one-click installs don\u2019t do is manage the server for you: patching the OS, watching resource usage, and handling backups are still yours. You\u2019re saving the setup, not the upkeep. In pickup-truck terms: it\u2019s still the shared truck \u2014 it just arrives with the toolbox already bolted in and the tank full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"provider\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choosing an app hosting provider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every app has its own requirements in terms of performance, scalability, security, and functionality. While there\u2019s no shortage of options to meet these requirements, the abundance of hosting providers does not make it easy to pick the right one from the bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The section above may have helped you narrow down which hosting option is right for you, but now there are a bunch of different providers offering that specific solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say you\u2019ve landed on cloud hosting, but there are 20 different vendors that offer some flavor of cloud computing products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unless you want to sign up for a trial with every single one of them to see which one works out best (hey, we\u2019ve all been there), you\u2019ll want to research a few key factors to help you narrow it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a primer on the factors you need to consider to choose the right hosting solution for your app:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Performance and reliability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps the most crucial feature of any hosting product is its performance (in reality and not just on paper) and its reliability when users are trying to access your app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do some digging. Look for information on the location and number of data centers that the provider has, see which CDNs they connect with, and read real user reviews to get a sense of how often there are issues with uptime or latency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<div class=\"glossary-term__above-title\">\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span>DreamHost Glossary<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n    <h3>CDN<\/h3>\n    <p>CDN is an abbreviation for \u2018Content Delivery Network\u2019. It refers to a geographically-distributed network of web servers (and their data centers). The entities that make up a CDN collaborate to ensure speedy content delivery via the internet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for providers that offer service level agreements (SLAs) with uptime guarantees and clear procedures for handling outages and downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assess the provider\u2019s security measures, such as data encryption, user authentication, access controls, and regular security updates. Ensure the provider complies with relevant data protection regulations and industry standards for your specific use case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 1\/2\/3, or other seals of approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may also want to do a bit of digging to see if this particular host has experienced past security issues and how they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/legal\/government-requests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handle legal or government requests<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understand their pricing model (e.g., pay-as-you-go, fixed monthly fees, or tiered plans) and evaluate whether it aligns with your budget and expected usage patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But take that one level deeper and make sure that you calculate how your costs might tally up based on your real-world requirements. Since hosting pricing can sometimes be complex, you\u2019ll want to carefully consider how the fees might add up before deciding which is most affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a rough sketch for a small app with a modest user base: unmanaged VPS plans across the industry typically run roughly $5\u2013$20\/month (see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DreamHost VPS hosting<\/a> page for current plans), while a dedicated server usually costs several times that. Pay-per-use platforms can undercut both at low traffic: Google\u2019s App Engine standard environment includes 29 hours of F1 instance time free per day (per Google Cloud, August 2026), and serverless platforms that scale to zero don\u2019t bill you at all between requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever you\u2019re leaning toward, run your expected usage through the provider\u2019s own pricing calculator before you commit. The cheapest sticker price isn\u2019t always the cheapest bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider the level of support and maintenance offered by the provider. Look for providers with comprehensive documentation, responsive customer support, and proactive monitoring to address potential issues before they impact your app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ease of use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evaluate the provider\u2019s user interface, management tools, and automation options to ensure they are easy to use. This can simplify your app deployment and maintenance processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stack compatibility, portability, and lock-in<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check that the provider runs your languages, runtimes, and operating system before anything else \u2014 a great platform that doesn\u2019t support your framework is no platform at all. Watch for contracts and up-front commitments, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then ask the question nobody asks until it hurts: how hard is it to leave? Standard building blocks travel well. A containerized app or a plain SQL database can move to a new host with modest effort, and code written for a VPS or dedicated server runs anywhere comparable. Proprietary pieces don\u2019t travel: rewriting an app built around a platform\u2019s own APIs and services is real engineering work, so PaaS and MBaaS carry the highest exit costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t have to avoid managed platforms \u2014 just choose with the exit in mind. Prefer standard runtimes and databases where you can, keep your data exportable, and know what a migration would take before you sign up.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Messaging on the website is one thing, but hearing from real customers will tell you what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check reviews, case studies, and testimonials from other developers and businesses using the provider. This can give you insights into the provider\u2019s strengths and weaknesses and help you make a more informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"implement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to implement app hosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to the inherently technical nature of app development, it can be a bit more complex to configure a hosting environment so that it\u2019s able to support the server-side components of a mobile or web app. So here\u2019s a quick overview of the process to help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One shortcut before the list: on a VPS with one-click apps, step 3 mostly disappears and the SSL setup in step 6 arrives preconfigured \u2014 installing Node.js from DreamHost\u2019s app library delivers the runtime, process manager, and web server ready to go. Deploying your code, configuring your database, and pointing your domain are still on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Choose a hosting provider: <\/b>Based on your application\u2019s requirements, scalability needs, cost, and other factors, select the appropriate app hosting provider and type (e.g., traditional hosting, VPS, cloud hosting, containers\/serverless, PaaS, or MBaaS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Sign up for an account: <\/b>Register for an account with your chosen hosting provider, and select the appropriate plan or resource allocation based on your needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Set up the hosting environment: <\/b>Depending on the provider and hosting type, you may need to configure the server environment, install an operating system, set up a web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx), and install necessary runtime environments and frameworks (e.g., Node.js, Python, Ruby on Rails).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Deploy your application&#8217;s server-side components: <\/b>Upload your application\u2019s backend code and files to the hosting environment using the provider\u2019s recommended deployment method (e.g., Git, FTP, or provider-specific tools). This includes server-side scripts, database files, and any required dependencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Configure the database: <\/b>If your application uses a database, create and configure the database instance (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) according to your application\u2019s requirements. You may also need to import your database schema and initial data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Set up domain and security certificate: <\/b>If you have a custom domain for your application, configure the DNS settings to point to your hosting provider\u2019s servers. Additionally, install and configure an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/your-connection-is-not-private\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SSL certificate<\/a> to enable secure HTTPS connections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Configure security features and access controls:<\/b> Implement and configure security measures such as user authentication, data encryption, and access controls to protect your application and its data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Test your deployment: <\/b>Ensure that your application is running correctly on the hosting environment by testing its functionality and performance. Address any issues or bugs that arise during testing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Monitor and optimize: <\/b>Once your application is live, continuously monitor its performance and resource usage. Identify bottlenecks and optimize your hosting environment as needed (e.g., by adding resources, implementing caching, or using a content delivery network).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Plan for scaling and disaster recovery: <\/b>Develop strategies for handling increased demand and ensuring application availability, including redundancy, failover mechanisms, regular backups, and disaster recovery plans.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time.jpg.webp\" alt=\"How to Implement App Hosting for the First Time\" class=\"wp-image-40821 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-600x450.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-1200x900.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-730x548.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-1460x1095.jpg.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-784x588.jpg.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-1568x1176.jpg.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/06\/How-to-Implement-App-Hosting-for-the-First-Time-877x658.jpg.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"evaluate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evaluate before you invest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you invest in a solid hosting environment from the start, you can enhance your app\u2019s performance, reliability, scalability, and security, leading to happier and more satisfied users. However, with the number of options out there in the wild, it\u2019s important to carefully consider your app\u2019s requirements and establish evaluation criteria that help you choose the right platform for your hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At DreamHost, we\u2019re all about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/web-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web hosting<\/a> with purpose. We believe that with the right tools and support system, every developer can bring their dreams to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you go, here are quick answers to the app hosting questions we hear most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">App hosting FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the difference between app hosting and web hosting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Web hosting serves websites; app hosting runs an application\u2019s backend \u2014 its databases, APIs, and authentication. The two overlap: a VPS or dedicated server can do both jobs, while specialized platforms like PaaS and MBaaS handle application backends only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I host an Android app\u2019s backend?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anywhere that runs your server stack: a VPS, a dedicated server, a cloud platform, a PaaS like Heroku, or an MBaaS like Firebase. The app itself ships through the app store \u2014 only its server-side components live on your host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I host a mobile app on a VPS?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Your app\u2019s API and database run on a VPS like any other server-side software. You get more control than a managed platform offers, but you\u2019re responsible for securing, maintaining, and scaling the server yourself; a one-click app install handles the initial setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does app hosting cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It ranges widely by model. Unmanaged VPS plans typically run roughly $5\u2013$20\/month, pay-per-use serverless platforms can cost almost nothing at low traffic, and dedicated servers cost the most. Run your expected usage through each provider\u2019s pricing calculator before committing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need my own server to launch an app?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. PaaS and MBaaS platforms manage servers for you \u2014 you deploy code, and they handle the infrastructure. You only need your own server (VPS or dedicated) when you want full control over the environment and its configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the fastest way to host an app on a VPS?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use a one-click app install. DreamHost\u2019s Self-Managed VPS plans include an app library that preinstalls complete stacks (Node.js with PM2 and Nginx, Docker + Portainer, Dokploy for Git push-to-deploy, plus databases like PostgreSQL and Supabase), so the environment is ready as soon as the server is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subscribe to our blog to stay up-to-date on our latest ideas, tutorials, reviews, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small\"\n>\n    <div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder-x2.webp 2x\"  alt=\"Ad background image\" \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"content-btm\">\n    <h2\n      class=\"h2--md\"\n    >\n      App Hosting on a DreamHost Self-Managed VPS\n    <\/h2>\n    <p\n      class=\"p--md\"\n    >\n      Launch your backend from the one-click app library \u2014 Node.js, Docker + Portainer, Dokploy, Supabase, and more \u2014 with full root access, unmetered bandwidth, and $0 overage fees.\n    <\/p>\n\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Explore the App Library                    <\/a>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your app doesn\u2019t live entirely on a phone or in a browser. The machinery behind it needs somewhere to run. App hosting (also called application hosting) is the infrastructure and services that run an application\u2019s server-side components: the databases, APIs, user authentication, and business logic behind every web and mobile app. Your users only ever [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1034,"featured_media":40818,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"App Hosting: What It Is and How to Choose - DreamHost","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"App hosting runs your app\u2019s backend\u2014databases, APIs, and auth\u2014so you can compare models and pick the right setup before launch.","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"App Hosting: What It Is and How to Choose - DreamHost","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"App hosting runs your app\u2019s backend\u2014databases, APIs, and auth\u2014so you can compare models and pick the right setup before launch.","toc_headlines":"[[\"definition\", \"What is app hosting?\"], [\"options\", \"6 app hosting options to consider\"], [\"infrastructure\", \"Choosing the right hosting infrastructure\"], [\"one-click\", \"How one-click apps changed VPS hosting\"], [\"provider\", \"Choosing an app hosting provider\"], [\"implement\", \"How to implement app hosting\"], [\"evaluate\", \"Evaluate before you invest\"], [\"faq\", \"App hosting FAQs\"]]","hide_toc":false,"show_updated_at":"1","footnotes":""},"categories":[804],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web-hosting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - 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