Exploring Heroku alternatives for deploying Node.js apps

With Heroku retiring its free tier in 2022, developers seeking alternatives for deploying Node.js applications have a variety of options, including Render, Railway, Fly.io, Koyeb, Back4App, Cyclic, Porter, and Adaptable, each offering free tiers and distinct features. These platforms allow for the deployment of applications using GitHub repositories and provide various functionalities such as serverless functions, static site deployment, and backend services, with some offering additional services like databases and cron jobs. While static deployments can be achieved on platforms like Netlify, GitHub Pages, and Vercel, serverless functions are supported by Netlify and Vercel, allowing for backend functionality without continuous server operation. The shift from Heroku's free tier has fostered a competitive environment among deployment services, driving innovation and offering developers diverse solutions, ranging from metered pricing models to platforms that provide continuous deployment, autoscaling, and serverless infrastructure.