Best VPS for Node.js: Top Hosting Picks for JavaScript Apps

Building with Node.js? A VPS for Node.js gives you the control to run Express, Next.js, Nest.js, or any JavaScript framework with the exact configuration you need.

Why Host Node.js on a VPS?

Unlike PaaS platforms (Vercel, Render, Railway), a VPS gives you full control, persistent processes, and predictable pricing — no surprise bills when traffic spikes.

VPS vs. PaaS for Node.js

Feature	VPS	PaaS (Vercel, etc.)
Cost	Fixed $5-20/mo	Variable, can spike
Control	Full root access	Limited
Long-running processes	Yes	Often limited
WebSockets	Full support	Sometimes restricted
File storage	Full filesystem	Usually ephemeral
Setup	More manual	Easy deploys

Popular Node.js Use Cases

• REST/GraphQL APIs
• Next.js applications
• Express/Fastify backends
• Discord/Telegram bots
• Real-time apps (Socket.io)
• Queue workers (Bull, Agenda)
• Full-stack apps

Node.js VPS Requirements

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	1 vCPU	2+ vCPU
RAM	1GB	2GB+
Storage	20GB SSD	40GB+ NVMe
Bandwidth	1TB	2TB+
Node Version	18 LTS	22 LTS

Node.js is lightweight. A small VPS handles significant traffic with proper optimization.

Top VPS Picks for Node.js

1. Hostinger VPS (Best Value)

$4.99/mo | 1 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 50GB NVMe

Great for Node.js applications:

• 4GB RAM runs multiple Node apps easily
• NVMe for fast npm installs
• 24/7 live chat support
• Easy scaling when you grow

Why it's best for Node.js: Generous RAM means you can run your app + database + Redis without issues.

2. DigitalOcean (Best Developer Experience)

$6/mo | 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB SSD

Loved by Node developers:

• App Platform for easy deploys
• Excellent documentation
• Managed databases available
• Great CLI (doctl)

3. Hetzner Cloud (Best Price/Performance)

€3.79/mo | 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 40GB NVMe

Incredible value for Node.js:

• 2 vCPU for concurrent requests
• 20TB traffic included
• Fast EU and US locations
• ARM servers for 50% savings

4. Vultr (Best for APIs)

$6/mo | 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB NVMe

Fast global deployment:

• 32 locations worldwide
• Deploy APIs near users
• One-click Node.js image
• High-frequency compute option

5. Linode (Best Documentation)

$5/mo | 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB SSD

Excellent for learning:

• Extensive Node.js guides
• Simple, clean interface
• Managed MySQL available
• Good support

Quick Node.js Deployment

Step 1: Get Your VPS

Choose Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Step 2: Install Node.js (via nvm)

apt update && apt upgrade -y
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install 22
nvm use 22

Step 3: Install PM2 (Process Manager)

npm install -g pm2

Step 4: Deploy Your App

# Clone your repo
git clone https://github.com/yourname/yourapp.git
cd yourapp
npm install

# Start with PM2
pm2 start npm --name "myapp" -- start
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Step 5: Set Up Nginx Reverse Proxy

apt install nginx -y

# /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}

ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
nginx -t && systemctl reload nginx

Step 6: SSL with Let's Encrypt

apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

Provider Comparison

Provider	RAM	Price	Best For
Hostinger	4GB	$4.99	General apps
DigitalOcean	1GB	$6	Dev experience
Hetzner	4GB	€3.79	Price/performance
Vultr	1GB	$6	Global APIs
Linode	1GB	$5	Learning

Node.js Performance Tips

1. Use PM2 Cluster Mode

Utilize all CPU cores:

pm2 start app.js -i max

2. Enable Gzip Compression

// Express
const compression = require('compression');
app.use(compression());

Or at Nginx level:

gzip on;
gzip_types text/plain application/json application/javascript text/css;

3. Use Redis for Sessions/Caching

apt install redis-server -y

const Redis = require('ioredis');
const redis = new Redis();

4. Set NODE_ENV to Production

pm2 start app.js --env production
# Or in ecosystem.config.js

5. Monitor Memory Usage

Node.js can leak memory. Monitor with:

pm2 monit

Set memory limit restarts:

pm2 start app.js --max-memory-restart 500M

6. Use Connection Pooling

For databases, always pool connections:

// PostgreSQL with pg
const { Pool } = require('pg');
const pool = new Pool({ max: 20 });

Deployment Workflows

Git-Based Deploys

# On server, create deploy script
cat > /opt/deploy.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
cd /var/www/myapp
git pull origin main
npm ci --production
pm2 restart myapp
EOF
chmod +x /opt/deploy.sh

GitHub Actions CI/CD

# .github/workflows/deploy.yml
name: Deploy
on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Deploy to VPS
        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v1.0.0
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.HOST }}
          username: ${{ secrets.USER }}
          key: ${{ secrets.SSH_KEY }}
          script: /opt/deploy.sh

Docker Deployment

FROM node:22-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm ci --production
COPY . .
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["node", "app.js"]

docker build -t myapp .
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --restart unless-stopped myapp

FAQ

How much RAM for a Node.js app?

• Simple API: 512MB-1GB
• Express + Database: 1-2GB
• Next.js: 1-2GB
• Full-stack with workers: 2-4GB

PM2 vs. Docker for Node.js?

Both work well:

• PM2: Simpler, great for single-app deployments
• Docker: Better isolation, easier to replicate environments

Should I use a reverse proxy?

Yes. Nginx handles:

• SSL termination
• Static file serving
• Load balancing
• Request buffering

How do I handle environment variables?

# PM2 ecosystem file
module.exports = {
  apps: [{
    name: 'myapp',
    script: 'app.js',
    env: {
      NODE_ENV: 'development'
    },
    env_production: {
      NODE_ENV: 'production',
      DATABASE_URL: 'postgres://...'
    }
  }]
};

Can I run multiple Node.js apps?

Yes! PM2 manages multiple apps:

pm2 start api.js --name api
pm2 start worker.js --name worker
pm2 start bot.js --name bot

Conclusion

For Node.js applications, Hostinger provides the best starting point:

✅ 4GB RAM at $4.99/mo — room for app + database + Redis
✅ NVMe storage — fast npm installs and builds
✅ 24/7 support — help when deployments go wrong
✅ Easy upgrades — scale as traffic grows

Deploy your JavaScript apps with full control, predictable pricing, and the flexibility to run anything Node.js can do.