I'm new to back-end development, transitioning from front-end and game development. I'm learning how to host servers with Node.js and Express. My current project involves a server that allows two clients (essentially games) to communicate by sending packets with position and rotation updates for "player" objects approximately every 1/30th of a second.
I've previously used Render for a simple Express CRUD app and Vercel for a Vite app, and I'm considering using Railway for hosting. Since my application is only expected to have around 50 users a month, I'm uncertain how different hosting options will handle the websocket traffic, especially since constant updates like these may require more bandwidth and CPU usage. I'm worried that even a short test could exceed free tier limits on these services. I'm also looking into strategies to reduce unnecessary traffic from the front-end, like implementing an AFK state or adjusting the update rate for client positions.
Could anyone share their experiences with hosting websocket applications and whether free tiers are worth testing? Will prices be manageable even with a small user base?
3 Answers
You might want to check out Oracle Cloud's free tier, or snag an affordable VPS from well-known providers like Hetzner or DigitalOcean. They usually have solid options for low traffic applications.
I recommend going for a $5 VPS and scaling up as needed. This way, you'll have more control and won't have to worry about hitting the limits of free tiers. It's also a cost-effective solution if you need higher performance later on.
In my experience, 50 users should fit comfortably within a free tier for most services, but I also think getting a cheap VPS might be the safer bet. It’s smart to do some load testing to gauge what you can expect if you get more users later on.
Good point! I've heard that Hetzner has some low-tier VPS options for about $2-$3, which is a steal. Just make sure you're ready for a bit of a learning curve if you haven't set up a VPS before.