I'm working on a basic presentation site for a local clothing brand and need a simple backend solution for a VIP program signup form. Given that I expect only a few hundred registrations each month, I'm aiming to keep costs very low or even free. I looked into Supabase, but I'm concerned about its project auto-pause feature and lack of automated backups, which would require some extra setup with GitHub Actions. Are there any no-fuss database services that are either completely free or very affordable for such low traffic? Would options like Firebase, MongoDB Atlas, Cloudflare D1, or even Google Sheets (with some automated processes) be better choices? Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
I dealt with a similar issue and set up an EC2 instance that connects to my home server. It lets me run a decent database without breaking the bank. It's a bit more techy but could be worth it!
For a few hundred signups a month, keeping it simple is key. Using Google Sheets with a small API or tools like Zapier is a great way to go. It’s easy to back up too! If you're looking for a real database, Firebase or Cloudflare D1 are solid low-maintenance options, all three can handle your traffic well.
Cloudflare D1 should fit your needs perfectly! It has a 10GB storage cap, which is quite generous for your scale. You likely won’t hit that limit, and it could remain free for as long as you need it.
You can find a simple cPanel hosting plan with a MySQL database for around $5 a month. Another option is to use a managed WordPress host with plugins that manage signups, plus protection from spam through services like CloudFlare or Akismet.
Google Forms linked to Google Sheets is a great MVP approach. It allows you to quickly confirm whether you need a more complex setup without any investment upfront.
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