Where to host a small web tool or API
Most small utilities need no server. This page compares the two common choices and when each fits.
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Pricing and limits are not reproduced because they change; each row links to the vendor's own page.
| Option | Type | Good for | Watch out for | Pricing and terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Pages | Static and edge | Static sites plus small server-side functions close to users. | Functions run in a Workers-style runtime, not full Node.js, so some libraries need changes. | Official page |
| Netlify | Static and serverless | Static sites with built-in forms, redirects and serverless functions. | Free-tier limits apply and change; read the current plan page. | Official page |
| Vercel | Static and serverless | Frameworks such as Next.js, with preview deployments per branch. | The free Hobby plan is limited to non-commercial use under Vercel's terms; check before running ads or a paid product. | Official page |
| Hetzner Cloud | VPS | A server you control: databases, long-running processes, custom software. | You patch, secure and back up the machine yourself. | Official page |
| DigitalOcean | VPS and managed services | Virtual servers plus managed databases and app hosting from one vendor. | Managed add-ons cost more than the bare server. | Official page |
| Vultr | VPS | Virtual servers in many regions. | Same self-management burden as any VPS. | Official page |
Start with the question: do you need a server at all?
A tool like a JSON formatter is static HTML and JavaScript. It needs a place to serve files and nothing else. A static or edge host does that with no operating system to maintain, which is why every tool on this site is hosted that way.
When a VPS is the better choice
Choose a virtual private server when you need a database you control, a background worker, a long-lived socket connection or software that does not fit a serverless runtime. The trade is time: you own updates, firewalls and backups.
How to compare fairly
Check four things on each vendor's own pricing page, because they change often: what is free and for what use, bandwidth or request limits, how overages are billed, and whether commercial use is allowed on the free plan. Prices are deliberately not copied here so this page cannot go stale.
Our approach to affiliate links
We may earn a commission from some of these vendors in future. That never decides which vendors appear or how they are described; the table lists every common option in each category and states the downsides. Until a program approves this site, vendor names are plain text and the only links go to the vendors' own pricing pages.