Do I really need two servers for my web app?

Once your app requires scalability, generally you might end up needing separate servers. But if you want to start gradually, consider running everything on a single machine with a good plan for when to scale. Just keep an eye on performance and adapt as your user base grows. You can break things apart later if the need arises!

To clarify, if your frontend is mainly handling static content, you might not really need a separate server just for that. You could serve static files alongside your backend and just focus on making those connections work well. It also helps when building your mobile app later on since it can easily interface with the existing backend.

You don't necessarily need two separate servers. Whether you can run both the frontend and backend on the same server depends on how your app is structured. Some approaches like using server-side rendering can minimize the need for multiple servers. Plus, with Firebase, you typically shouldn’t run into bandwidth problems unless you're really pushing limits. Think about using Docker for a more flexible setup if you want to keep things separate without the hardware investment.

You can actually run both the frontend and backend on the same server if resource availability is good. The idea of separating them usually helps with development and management rather than scaling. Still, if bandwidth is a concern, you might eventually hit some limits regardless of how you set this up. Just keep monitoring your I/O performance to see what works best for you.

Honestly, I think separating servers isn't necessary, especially with your current user base. For a basic site, you could probably manage with just one server without much trouble. It's better to wait before making any drastic changes until you really see a reason.