--- layout: post title: Free React hosting with Appwrite Sites - Deploy and scale effortlessly description: Learn how to deploy your React app for free with Appwrite Sites. date: 2025-05-20 cover: /images/blog/free-react-hosting/cover.avif timeToRead: 6 author: eldad-fux category: tutorial unlisted: true faqs: - question: "Can I host a React app for free on Appwrite Sites?" answer: "Yes. [Appwrite Sites](/docs/products/sites) has a free tier that supports React deployments with a global CDN, automatic SSL, and DDoS protection. The free plan is enough for most personal projects, portfolios, and small apps." - question: "Does Appwrite Sites work with Vite, Create React App, and other React build tools?" answer: "Yes. Appwrite Sites is build tool agnostic for React. As long as your project produces a static build output (Vite, Create React App, custom webpack, etc), the platform can host it. You just point Sites at your build command and output directory." - question: "How do I deploy a React app to Appwrite Sites?" answer: "You can connect a Git repository for automatic deploys on every push, run `appwrite deploy site` from the CLI, or upload your build folder manually. Git based deploys are the most common workflow because they trigger builds on every commit. See [deploy from Git](/docs/products/sites/deploy-from-git) for setup." - question: "Can I use Appwrite as the backend for a React app?" answer: "Yes. React apps can call [Appwrite Auth](/docs/products/auth), [Databases](/docs/products/databases), [Storage](/docs/products/storage), and [Functions](/docs/products/functions) directly through the web SDK. This is a typical setup for building a full stack React app without managing your own server." - question: "Does Appwrite Sites support custom domains for React?" answer: "Yes. You can attach a custom domain to any Appwrite Site and SSL certificates are provisioned automatically. There is no extra setup required to enable HTTPS." - question: "How does Appwrite Sites compare to Vercel or Netlify for React?" answer: "Vercel, Netlify, and Appwrite Sites all offer free tiers, CDN backed hosting, and Git based deploys for React. Appwrite is open source and includes Auth, Databases, Storage, and Functions in the same project, which removes the need for a separate backend provider. Pick Appwrite if you want hosting and backend under one platform." --- React is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries for building dynamic, interactive web applications. While deploying React apps is generally straightforward, choosing the right hosting platform that balances cost, performance, and developer-friendly features can be a challenge. [Appwrite Sites](/products/sites) provides an optimized hosting environment tailored for modern web applications, including React, with built-in features that enhance performance, security, and deployment workflows. This article explores how Appwrite Sites simplifies React deployment, improves efficiency, and compares with other hosting solutions. # Why Appwrite Sites is an excellent choice for React developers ## 1. Free hosting with no upfront costs For developers and small teams, minimizing hosting expenses is essential. Appwrite Sites offers free hosting, removing financial barriers while ensuring a robust infrastructure. As projects grow, Appwrite provides an easy upgrade path to accommodate increased demands. ## 2. Optimized for static and dynamic React apps React applications can be built as fully static sites or dynamically rendered apps using frameworks like Next.js. Appwrite Sites supports both approaches, allowing static exports to leverage global caching while enabling server-side functionality through **Appwrite Functions**, making it easy to add API endpoints or dynamic content generation. ## 3. Performance-focused global CDN Application speed significantly impacts user experience and SEO. Appwrite Sites leverages a globally distributed [Content Delivery Network (CDN)](/docs/products/network/cdn) to ensure React apps load quickly, reduce latency, and deliver a smooth browsing experience worldwide. ## 4. Built-in security and DDoS protection Security is a crucial consideration for production applications. Appwrite Sites includes [DDoS protection](/docs/products/network/ddos), preventing attacks that could compromise your app's availability. Additionally, it offers **custom domain support with automatic SSL encryption**, ensuring secure communication with users. **Host your React app for free with Appwrite Sites** Benefit from a complete platform to develop, deploy, and build your websites and web apps. [Get started for free](https://cloud.appwrite.io/) ## 5. Preview deployments for seamless collaboration Every deployment on Appwrite Sites generates a **preview link**, making it easy to share, review, and test changes before pushing them to production. This workflow simplifies collaboration and enhances the quality assurance process. ## 6. Multiple deployment options Appwrite Sites provides several flexible methods for deploying React applications: - [Git-based deployments](/docs/products/sites/deploy-from-git): Automatically deploy updates when changes are pushed to the main branch. - **CLI-based deployment**: Deploy manually with a simple command: ```bash appwrite deploy site ``` - **Manual file uploads**: Upload static assets directly via the Appwrite Console. Additionally, Appwrite provides **starter templates** and example projects to help developers get up and running with minimal setup. ## 7. Integrated backend services for full-stack React applications Many React applications require authentication, databases, and serverless functions. Appwrite Sites seamlessly integrates with **Appwrite Auth**, **Appwrite Databases**, and **Appwrite Functions**, enabling developers to build full-stack applications without relying on third-party services. # How Appwrite Sites compares to other hosting platforms | Feature | Appwrite Sites | Vercel | Netlify | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Free hosting | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Static site support | Yes | Yes | Yes | | SSR support (via Functions) | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Global CDN | Yes | Yes | Yes | | DDoS protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Deployment previews | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Custom domains | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Authentication | Appwrite Auth | No | Deprecated | | Database | Appwrite Databases | No Third-party | No Third-party | | Serverless functions | Appwrite Functions | Cloudflare workers | AWS Lambda | | Storage | Appwrite Storage | Cloudflare R2 | No | | Cloud messaging | Appwrite Messaging | No | No | | Realtime database | Appwrite Realtime | No | No | Unlike other hosting solutions that depend on third-party integrations for backend functionality, Appwrite Sites provides an all-in-one solution with built-in authentication, databases, and serverless functions, reducing complexity and improving performance. For developers looking for a hassle-free, high-performance hosting solution tailored for React applications, Appwrite Sites is an excellent choice. Explore more with our [React Quick Start Guide](/docs/quick-starts/react) and start deploying your React apps by visiting [Appwrite Sites](/products/sites).