How to host your mobile app: Full guide for 2024

What options exist for hosting mobile apps?

App hosting can be likened to running software on another entity's infrastructure. By hosting your app on a "remote machine," you only incur costs for the services you utilize, alleviating concerns about investing in hardware or software upkeep. Here are several hosting solutions at your disposal:

Cloud Hosting

In truth, the array of cloud hosting providers available for app hosting is vast. However, their offerings vary in terms of services and pricing, making it crucial to prioritize your app's specific needs. 

Cloud-based servers function akin to Virtual Private Servers (VPS), stepping in to provide additional computing power as needed. Security is a paramount feature of cloud hosting, making it an excellent option for safeguarding sensitive data. Nonetheless, managing the operating system (OS) and software falls upon you or your hired mobile app developer.

VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting mirrors the functionality of dedicated server hosting but is divided into several "virtual" servers. VPS provides security, flexibility, autonomy from neighboring servers, and complete control over your hosting environment, including root access.

Given that VPS plans typically revolve around dedicated RAM allocation, it's simple to configure additional RAM and accommodate unexpected traffic surges for your app in advance.

Unless you choose a managed VPS option akin to dedicated server hosting, you or your mobile app developer must possess some proficiency in system administration.

Dedicated server hosting

When your app demands a specific technical standard, increased speed, or greater memory capacity, a dedicated server emerges as the optimal choice. With a dedicated server, you enjoy absolute autonomy over one physical machine entirely at your disposal. Root access grants you the freedom to customize your app from the ground up.

Depending on your chosen dedicated server provider, storage capacities can range from several hundred gigabytes (GB) to multiple terabytes (TB) of data.

However, this heightened power of a dedicated server comes with a corresponding increase in cost.

Shared hosting

For newcomers embarking on their mobile app journey, shared hosting proves to be the most suitable option. Despite sharing a server with potentially numerous other users and lacking root access, shared hosting stands out for its affordability and user-friendliness.

Depending on your chosen provider, shared hosting offers ample storage space, backups, fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and a set number of email accounts. For instance, Namecheap's Shared Hosting plans include a complimentary domain name, script support for Perl, Python, Node.js, and Ruby, along with unlimited bandwidth.