Whether you’re wondering how to run a Python script, deploy a Python application on a server, or simply looking for the best cloud hosting solutions for your Python projects, we’ve got you covered.

In this comparison, we’ll look at five popular hosting platforms with native Python support. You’ll notice that Heroku is included at the end to round out the comparison.

This comparison explores the following criteria:

• Free Tier

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance

• Deployment Method

• Workloads Supported

• Native Python Support

• Dockerfile Support

• Regions Supported

• Underlying Infrastructure

• Documentation for Python Deployments

All of these solutions help you deploy your applications on the cloud in no time. This comparison’s criteria will help you identify the best solution for your project. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best hosting platforms for your Python applications in 2024.

1. Koyeb

Website: https://www.koyeb.com/

• Free Tier: Deploy one service and one managed PostgreSQL database.

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance: eNano Instance is charged per second. Costs $1.61 if you run it for the entire month.

• Deployment Method: Git-driven and Docker-based deployments. CLI and control panel.

• Workloads Supported: Full-stack applications, web services, APIs, background jobs, and databases.

• Native Python Support: ✅ Native buildpacks identify and build Python projects deployed on the platform.

• Dockerfile Support: ✅Build from Dockerfile is also supported for those who need more control over the build process.

• Regions Supported:Six regions across three continents. San Francisco (US), Washington D.C. (US), Frankfurt (Germany), Paris (France), Tokyo (Japan), and Singapore.

• Underlying Infrastructure: Koyeb runs directly on bare metal machines.

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Deploy Python Flask on Koyeb

• Deploy Python Django on Koyeb

• Deploy Python FastAPI on Koyeb

• Deploy Python via Git on Koyeb

• Deploy a Celery Worker on Koyeb

2. pythonanywhere.com

• Free Tier: One web application

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance: $5 per month

• Deployment Method: Deploy via GitHub or Bitbucket. Cannot deploy Docker containers. CLI and dashboard.

• Workloads Supported: Web applications, cron jobs, databases, and static sites.

• Native Python Support: Yes

• Dockerfile Support:No support for building from Dockerfiles.

• Regions Supported:1 location in US East. An EU version of the platform runs workloads in the Frankfurt region.

• Underlying Infrastructure:PythonAnywhere runs on top of AWS.

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Deploy Python Flask on PythonAnywhere

• Deploy Python Django on PythonAnywhere

3. Render

Website: https://render.com/

• Free Tier: 750 hours for one service each month.

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance: $7 per month.

• Deployment Method: Git-driven and Docker-based deployment. CLI and control panel.

• Workloads Supported: Web services, static sites, databases, and cron jobs.

• Native Python Support:Native runtimes allow you to deploy Python on Render.

• Dockerfile Support:Build from Dockerfile is also supported.

• Regions Supported:Four regions across three continents: Oregon (US), Ohio (US), Frankfurt (Germany), and Singapore.

• Underlying Infrastructure:Render runs on top of AWS and GCP.

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Deploy Python Django on Render

• Deploy Python Flask on Render

• Deploy a Celery Worker on Render

4. Fly.io

• Free Tier: $5 sign-up credit. Free resources let you deploy up to 3 services.

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance:$1.94 per month

• Deployment Method: Applications, cron jobs, queues, and databases.

• Workloads Supported: Dockerized applications.

• Native Python Support:Built-in Python builder.

• Dockerfile Support:Build from Dockerfile is supported.

• Regions Supported:35 regions worldwide supported.

• Underlying Infrastructure: Fly.io runs on bare metal machines.

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Deploy Python Flask on Fly.io

• Deploy Python Django on Fly.io

5. DigitalOcean App Platform

Website: https://www.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform

• Free Tier: Build and deploy 3 static sites for free.

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance:$5 per month.

• Deployment Method: Git-based deployments and pre-built Docker images.

• Workloads Supported: Applications, static sites, cron jobs, and databases

• Native Python Support:Native buildpacks identify and build your Python projects.

• Dockerfile Support:Build from Dockerfile is supported.

• Regions Supported:9 regions supported.

• Underlying Infrastructure: DigitalOcean App Platform runs on DigitalOcean’s infrastructure

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Deploy Python Flask on DigitalOcean App Platform

• Deploy Python Django on DigitalOcean App Platform

6. Heroku

Website: https://www.heroku.com/

• Free Tier: Heroku discontinued the free tier.

• Cost of Cheapest Paid Instance:$5 per month.

• Deployment Method: Git-based deployments and pre-built Docker images.

• Workloads Supported: Applications, background jobs, cron jobs, databases.

• Native Python Support: Yes, Heroku’s native buildpacks identify and build Python projects.

• Dockerfile Support: While Heroku does support building from a Dockerfile, Heroku only recommends using the Heroku container stack for advanced use cases. Heroku’s default buildpack system is recommended.

• Regions Supported:Two regions are supported without an enterprise plan: Europe and the United States.

• Underlying Infrastructure:Heroku runs on top of AWS.

Documentation for Python Deployments

• Getting started with Python: https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python

• Deploy Python and Django Apps on Heroku: https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/deploying-python

Conclusion: Deploy where you want!

We covered a lot: free tiers, deployment methods, workload compatibility, underlying infrastructure, and which paid plans won’t break the bank. Hopefully, you've discovered some insights that will help you make the best choice for your project.

To wrap up this comparison, please remember that your hosting platform can make a difference in your app’s performance and in freeing up your time from DevOps to spend focusing on building your apps. Wishing you happy and fast deployments!