Free React App Deployment: 11 Proven Methods That Work

Quick Answer

Deploying React applications requires different approaches than traditional HTML/CSS websites. You can deploy your React app for free using serverless hosting platforms like Firebase, Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, or AWS Amplify. These services offer quick deployment, automatic updates, and cost-effective hosting solutions that can get your React application live within minutes using simple command-line tools or drag-and-drop interfaces.

Deploying React, Vue.js, or Angular applications is different from deploying a website built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Web hosting services have a significant impact on your website's performance and user experience. This calls for careful selection of the right hosting platform and deployment strategy.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through popular and free serverless hosting solutions to deploy your React app. With these deployment methods, you can go live quickly, deploy updates on the fly, and even reduce hosting costs significantly.

How do you deploy a React app using Firebase?

Firebase is a versatile cloud platform that allows you to create and deploy various types of web applications. It provides a comprehensive suite of development tools to enhance functionality and scalability. These include real-time databases, user authentication services, Cloud Firestore, cloud functions, and hosting capabilities.

To deploy a React application to Firebase, you'll need to begin by setting up an account on the Firebase website. Once logged in, navigate to the sidebar, select ""Hosting,"" and then click on ""Get started.""

Before you can use Firebase Hosting, you'll need to establish a Firebase project. This is a prerequisite for proceeding with the deployment process. This setup ensures that all the necessary configurations and dependencies are in place to host your application efficiently.

You can manage, view, and deploy Firebase projects via Firebase CLI. Let's see the steps to install it:

npm install -g firebase-tools

Login with your Firebase account or integrate it with your Google account.

firebase login

After logging in successfully, you need to change to the project root directory. Now, you need to initialize a firebase project in your react app by running the following command in the console:

firebase login

You will now be prompted with options in the Firebase Command Line Interface (CLI). This will ask you to set up a Firebase feature for a specific folder. Press the space bar to select the desired features and then press 'Enter' to confirm.

By selecting the appropriate features, you can set up Firebase for your project in a way that meets your specific needs and requirements.

As soon as you choose the hosting option, it will associate your project directory with a firebase project. This enables you to use Firebase services for your React application.

Note: If you choose Create a new project then it will generate a unique project ID for your application.

Now, you'll need to specify the directory that contains all the hosting assets to be uploaded with firebase deploy. However, this will be the public directory where you can publicly access all the files. At last, CLI will ask you if you want to configure your Firebase Hosting as a single-page app. Type 'Y' to configure a single-page app.

You've just completed the firebase initialization process. Now we just need to run a few commands to make our react app functional. Run the below command to build your react app:

npm run build

Run the below command to deploy your react app:

firebase deploy

Your terminal will show the hosting link for the project. You can browse the deployed site link to check whether or not your React app was successfully deployed.

What is Surge and how do you use it for React deployment?

Surge is a streamlined static web publishing platform that simplifies the process of deploying and hosting static websites and web applications. It offers a swift and dependable method for developers to share their web content globally. You don't need to worry about the complexities of server setup or configuration.

Using a straightforward command-line interface, developers can easily publish their static websites or web applications. You can deploy directly from your local development environments. This feature makes Surge an appealing choice for developers looking for a hassle-free hosting solution. It allows them to quickly move from development to deployment.

Follow these deployment steps:

• Create a react app named 'surge_file':

npx create-react-app surge_file

• After you have created your React app, navigate to your project directory which you created above:

cd surge_file

•Install Surge by running the following command:‍

npm install --global surge

•Now, you just need to make a build folder which will narrow down to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to deploy the React app:‍‍

npm run build

• The above command will help you make your react app applicable for hosting and deployment. After you completed the build, execute the following command where it will give you a prompt asking you for the email and password:

surge

• Don't forget to verify your surge account. After you have logged in, it will ask you the location of the build folder. Open the terminal in the build folder and hit enter. As soon as you hit enter, it will ask you for a domain name. Customize it accordingly and make sure it is available to host your application on that URL.

• Now, click on the domain link to check out the working of your application.

project: C:\zipy\surge_file\build\
domain: zipy-project.surge.sh

• Next, you will get a message for successfully publishing your website using surge.

Success! - Published to zipy-project.surge.sh

How does Render work for React app deployment?

Render is a cloud-based hosting platform that streamlines the process for developers to deploy and manage their web applications. It combines various hosting services such as web hosting, container hosting, and database hosting into a single, cohesive platform.

Developers can deploy their web applications and APIs from multiple sources. These include Git repositories, Docker containers, and static files. This makes Render a versatile option for various deployment needs and project requirements.

Render offers two primary methods for deployment. Let's explore each of these methods in detail:

How do you use the Render Dashboard?

Render Dashboard provides an intuitive way for deploying and managing your services, databases, and other resources. You can also monitor their performance and usage effectively. Follow these steps to deploy your React app:

• For every hosting service, you need to create an account and make sure your project is stored in a GitHub repository.

• On the dashboard, click 'New Static Site' to begin the deployment process.

• Connect any one of your version control apps where your repository is stored to Render. After successfully connecting your project, give your web service a unique name. Using the bootstrapped technique, render will try to auto detect whether your application is bootstrapped or not.

• If your project repository is bootstrapped, it will begin loading your application onto a machine. It uses a smaller initial program to load in the required setup.

• Now, you just need to click on 'Create Web Service' referred as 'Create Static Site'. This will start deploying your site to the web.

• That's it! Your React app should now be deployed and accessible via the web.

How do you deploy React apps using GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages is a static website hosting service that allows you to host your React app directly from a GitHub repository. This service makes it easy to showcase your projects, portfolio, documentation, and more. It does this by turning a repository into a website accessible on the internet.

GitHub Pages also supports the use of GitHub Actions to automate deployments. You can establish continuous integration and delivery, and perform many other tasks. This enhances the deployment process significantly.

To deploy a React app to GitHub Pages, the first step is to register for a GitHub account. Once you have your account set up, you can create a new repository specifically for your application. Upon creation, GitHub will provide a repository URL and a Git URL. These are essential for managing your project's files and enabling deployment.

Here's how you can proceed to make your React app live using GitHub Pages:

• Use these commands in the project root to set up your local directory as a Git repository, commit all code changes, and push your project to a remote location:

git init
git add
git commit -m ""my first commit""
git remote add origin
git push -u origin master

• You need to add a homepage field to your project's package.json file by using the below code. Here 'your_username' mentions your GitHub username and zipy-app is the repository name:

""homepage"" : ""https://your_username.github.io/zipy-app""

• Now, you need to install 'gh-pages' in your application:

npm install --save gh-pages

• Just add the following scripts before deploying your application:

""scripts"": {
+  ""predeploy"": ""npm run build"",
+  ""deploy"": ""gh-pages -d build"",
   ""start"": ""react-scripts start"",
   ""build"": ""react-scripts build"",
   ""test"":  ""react-scripts test"",
   ""eject"": ""react-scripts eject""
}

‍• You can see the two terms pre-deploy and deploy added to the scripts. Pre-deploy automatically runs before deploy to make sure the latest build of application is deployed.

• Next, deploy your application using this command:

npm run deploy

What makes Vercel ideal for React deployment?

Vercel is a cloud-based platform designed to streamline the creation and delivery of web apps. It particularly excels with its focus on serverless architectures and modern web development. It supports a variety of web frameworks and programming languages, including React, Angular, Vue, and Next.js.

A standout feature of Vercel is its seamless integration with version control systems. These include GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. This makes it easier for developers to import projects directly from these platforms.

To begin using Vercel, simply create an account using OAuth to log in with your preferred version control tool. This integration facilitates a smooth setup and management process for your projects.

Vercel provides two methods for deploying React applications: using the Vercel dashboard or the Vercel Command Line Interface (CLI). Let's explore each method:

How do you use the Vercel dashboard?

After completing your account creation process, the next step is to integrate with GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. To deploy your React app to Vercel, click 'Create a New Project' on the dashboard.

Integrate with any of the given version control tools like GitHub, GitLab, or BitBucket. Importing your projects from GitHub, GitLab and BitBucket follows the same process. For now, let's go through the steps for importing your Git repository to Vercel.

Now that Vercel and GitHub are linked, choose Import Project from GitHub. Click Import after selecting the project you want to deploy and give it a name. Provide the root directory in a similar manner, then click 'Continue' to proceed.

Vercel will automatically identify your react app as bootstrapped if it has been initialized. It will load the appropriate settings automatically. If it is not initialized, you'll have to manually enter each field's configuration information. After that, click the 'Deploy' button to start the deployment process.

That's it. Your React app is now deployed and ready to use.

How do you use Vercel CLI?

The command-line interface tool for Vercel allows developers to deploy and manage their web projects in a fast and efficient manner. Let's look at the below steps to deploy our React app using Vercel CLI:

• Install Vercel globally by running either of the following commands, depending on your package manager:

npm i -g vercel
// or
yarn global add vercel

• Log in to your Vercel account using the following command

vercel login

• Enter the email address associated with your Vercel account when prompted. Then verify your login by following the instructions sent to your email.

• Navigate to your project's root directory in your terminal and deploy your project by running the following command:

vercel

• Answer the prompts that appear in the terminal, starting with confirming that you want to set up and deploy the project:

? Set up and deploy ""path to your project""? [Y/N] Y

• When prompted for which account to deploy the app to, hit Enter to choose the default option. When asked whether to link to an existing project, enter 'N'.

• Next, enter your project's name and specify the directory in which your code is located:

? What's your project's name? zipy-vercel
? In which directory is your code located? ./

‍‍• If your project was initialized using Create React App, Vercel will auto-detect the project settings. It will configure them accordingly. Otherwise, it will ask you to set them manually. If asked to override the settings, enter 'N'.

• Your project will now be deployed to Vercel, and you'll receive a URL where you can view it.

How do you deploy React apps on GitLab Pages?

GitLab Pages represents an inclusive web hosting solution seamlessly integrated within GitLab's services. This platform empowers users to effortlessly host static websites, documentation, and various content. You can use either personalized domains or GitLab's default domain.

With GitLab Pages, users can swiftly develop and deploy websites directly from their GitLab repositories. This eliminates the necessity for supplementary web hosting services or infrastructure setup.

Follow these steps to deploy your React app:

• Create your GitLab account and choose the following options to add your react app to the platform.

• If you have an existing project present on GitHub, then select Import project or select Create blank project. Assign a name to your project and click 'Create project' button to proceed.

• After you create a project, there will be various commands which will allow you to add your react project. Start with initializing your local directory as a git repository. Follow the below commands to push it to remote:‍‍

git init
git remote add origin git@gitlab.com:<Anomwarbhuvan/zipy>.git
git add .
git commit -m ""zipy-gitlab-initial""
git push -u origin master

• You can edit the <username/project-name> according to your preference. Here, we have used '<Anomwarbhuvan/zipy-gitlab>' as an example in the above code.

• Add a homepage field to your project's package.json file. Create a '.gitlab-ci-yml' file and add the below code to it:‍

image: node:10 # changing to match your node version
pages:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - npm run build
    - rm -rf public
    - mv build public
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - public
  only:
    - master

‍• Commit this file to start a pipeline under the continuous integration and continuous deployment tab. It will help you to deploy React app to GitLab Pages. Once the status for your pipeline is updated to 'Passed', it may take about 30-40 minutes for your site to be available on Gitlab.

• Visit the URL which you mentioned in the homepage field in package.json to check your app.

What are the benefits of using Netlify for React deployment?

Netlify is a renowned web deployment service that excels in website management, automation, and building. It offers seamless integration with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket for project imports. Netlify is renowned for its rapid deployment capabilities, ensuring swift deployment of your React application.

However, prior to executing any deployment commands, ensure to run the build command. This generates production-ready files for deployment:

npm run build

There are two ways to deploy React app on Netlify. You can do it either through Netlify dashboard or Netlify CLI.

How do you use the Netlify dashboard?

You can deploy your React app to Netlify all at once using the drag and drop functionality:

• You can now establish a connection with any of the Git version control tools that are listed on the platform.

• Choose the repository you wish to attach to your react app on Netlify. Establish a connection with the project of your choice.

• Choose the project to set up for site builds and deployment. To launch your app, click 'Deploy site' button and wait for the process to complete.

How do you use Netlify CLI?

You can use Netlify CLI to run a local development server that you can share with others. You can also run a local build and plugins, and deploy your React app manually.

• Install the CLI using this command:

npm install netlify-cli -g

• Deploy your application by running this command:‍


netlify deploy

• You will get a request for authorization to use the Netlify CLI. After successful authorization, you'll see a successful login message in the terminal.

Below steps will guide you through the command line prompts needed while deploying your application:

• Install Netlify to begin the deployment process and follow the setup instructions.

• Follow prompts to link the directory to an existing site or create a new one.

• Choose 'Create & configure a new site' when prompted by the CLI.

• Optionally, modify the default team name if needed for your organization.

• Netlify generates unique site names randomly, with the option to change them later.

• Specify the project's build directory where production files and assets are located by typing 'build'.

• After specifying the deploy path, receive a draft URL for the React application.

• To make the app live, execute 'netlify deploy --prod' command.

• Confirm the deploy path for the build directory.

• Two URLs are generated: a Unique Deploy URL for individual deployment and a Live URL for the latest deployment.

• Every website update and deployment results in a unique URL for that specific deployment.

Note: Your site is automatically secured by Netlify over HTTPS for enhanced security.

How do you deploy React apps using Cloudflare Pages?

Cloudflare Pages is a web development architecture based on JavaScript, APIs, and Markup (JAM). It's a great platform for frontend developers to collaborate and deploy websites efficiently. This app comes with automatic SSL encryption for all sites and ensures the security of your applications.

Not just this, it acts as a visual editor for building static websites. It supports popular JavaScript frameworks like React and Vue.js for modern web development.

To deploy React app on Cloudflare Pages, you can follow these steps:

What's the first step to create a new project?

• Create a Cloudflare account and log into it. After logging, you will be directed to the Cloudflare Pages dashboard. Here you need to click on 'Connect to Git' button to connect where your repository is stored.

• Now, select a repository and set up builds and deployments by clicking on 'Begin Setup' to proceed.

Configuration options and values are given below:
Production branch - main
Build command - npm run build
Build directory - build

How do you configure project settings?

Configure the build directory for your react app and it should match the directory of your compiled react app location. Add necessary environment variables for your react app in the 'Environment Variables' tab if needed.

What's the deployment process?

• Click 'Deploy Site' to deploy your application to Cloudflare Pages and start the build process.

• After the deployment process gets complete, click on the 'Visit Site' button to check for working of your react app.

How do you deploy React apps using AWS Amplify?

AWS Amplify stands as a robust cloud-based platform tailored for developers. It offers an extensive array of tools and services to construct scalable and secure cloud-driven applications. Through Amplify, developers can swiftly craft mobile and web applications. They can harness the capabilities of AWS services like Lambda, API Gateway, S3, and numerous others.

You can deploy your React app using these steps:

• To get started with AWS Amplify, all you have to do is log into your AWS console.

• After logging in, you can now connect your source code from the given tools. For now, we will choose GitHub repository to host our React app in minutes.

• Once you have connected to any of the version control tools, you need to import a repository for deployment. Do this in the Add repository branch section.

• Ensure your build commands 'baseDirectory' is changed to 'dist' for proper deployment configuration.

• Next, do a final review and save the app settings. Click 'Save and deploy' button to start the deployment process.

• After your deployment process gets completed, visit the deployed URL and check your website hosted with AWS Amplify.

What are the steps to deploy on AWS S3?

AWS S3 (Simple Storage Service) stands as a remarkably scalable and secure cloud-based object storage service. It's provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Its purpose is to offer developers a straightforward and economical solution for storing and accessing data of any size. You can access it from any location on the internet.

S3 incorporates an array of security measures like encryption, access controls, and logging. These guarantee the secure storage and retrieval of your data. Note: It's essential to have an AWS account. If you don't have one, you can create it on the AWS homepage.

To deploy react app to AWS S3 you need to follow these 3 steps:

How do you set up AWS S3?

• Open Amazon console and click on 'Create Bucket' button to get started.

• Now, you will need to fill up the general configuration such as Bucket name (ex: zipy-react-app) and AWS region. Uncheck all the public access settings and acknowledge that you have read the policy. Finally click on 'Create Bucket'. Open the Bucket which you created in the above step and go to the permissions tab.

• There is Edit Bucket Policy under the permissions tab which provides access to the objects. Paste the following code in policy editor:‍

{
    ""Version"": ""<<latest_version>>"",
    ""Statement"": [
        {
            ""Sid"": ""Addfile"",
            ""Effect"": ""Allow"",
            ""Principal"": {
                ""AWS"": ""*""
            },
            ""Action"": ""s3:GetObject"",
            ""Resource"": ""arn:aws:s3:::<<Enter Your Bucket Name>>/*""
        }
    ]
}

‍‍• In the Properties tab enable static website hosting. Paste index.html in Index document and Error document fields. After you save the changes, you will find the website endpoint in the static website hosting tab. Copy the URL and save it for later. It will prepare a setup for AWS S3 in your browser.

How do you create a React App for S3 deployment?

• Now, initialize your react app using ""create-react-app"" and run the basic react app template by npm start. Generate your build folder using npm run build to create a production build for your react app.

How do you upload objects on AWS S3?

• In the objects tab start uploading all files and folders to the S3 console.

• After you have added all the files and folders in the Objects tab, click on the ""Upload"" button on the S3 console.

• Whenever the upload process finishes, open website endpoint in the browser. Now, you can see your website is deployed on S3 successfully.

How does Platform.sh work for React deployment?

Platform.sh is a cloud hosting platform which provides a container-based application hosting service. Developers can easily build, deploy and run their application in the cloud with it. It creates development environments that closely resemble the production environments. So you can easily test your application in a staging environment before pushing them to production.

Platform.sh offers a 30-day free trial, which you can use to test the platform. You can deploy your React app by following these steps:

• Click on the Free trial button and you'll be directed to the signup page. Set up your account and connect with GitHub where your repository is stored.

• After successfully connecting your GitHub account, click on ""Create Project"" button on the dashboard.

• Now, Click on 'Create from scratch' or 'Use a template' button depending on your project requirements.

• After you have completed the project setup, go to the top-right corner in your project dashboard. Just copy-paste the generated git repository URL to deploy your project.

Should you consider Heroku for React deployment?

Heroku is a popular platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that allows developers to easily deploy and manage their applications. You don't need to worry about server infrastructure management. Its popularity stems from its simplicity, scalability, and compatibility with multiple programming languages.

While it has become a paid service, the convenience and efficiency it provides makes it a worthwhile choice for developers to try. Let's look at two of the most common deployment processes for Heroku.

How do you use the Heroku Dashboard?

Deployment using Heroku dashboard is very easy. You just need to have your project stored in the GitHub repository. To deploy on Heroku follow these steps:

• Go to Heroku dashboard and click 'New' at the top right corner. As soon as the dropdown opens, click 'Create new app' to proceed.

• After creating the app, you will get a prompt to specify the project name. Type a name and click 'Create app' to continue.

• Now, you'll be able to sync your GitHub repository. Click on 'Connect to GitHub' option on Heroku and select the project from your list of repositories.

• You can either deploy your project manually or automatically whenever you push your changes to GitHub. Let's go through the steps for manual deployment. Click 'Deploy Branch' under Manual Deploy and your app will start deploying. Your app will be live once the build process is complete.

How do you use Heroku CLI?

Follow these steps to deploy React app to Heroku using CLI:

• Create a free account on Heroku and install 'heroku-cli' globally using this command:‍

npm install -g heroku

‍‍• Log into 'heroku-cli'

heroku login

‍‍• After you have logged into Heroku, start initializing your repository and use Heroku Buildpack to create a react app. Use these commands to deploy React app in the terminal:

git init
heroku create -b <https://github.com/Anomwarbhuvan/Buy-2-Wear-React-Website>
git add .
git commit -m ""deploy-react-app-for-free-using-heroku""
git push heroku master
heroku open

What's the conclusion about free React deployment options?

‍‍The options to deploy React apps for free are numerous and varied. From the tried-and-tested methods like deploying on Netlify and Render, to the newer players like Vercel and AWS Amplify, there's something for every developer.

Whether you're looking for ease of use, flexibility, or scalability, you can find the right solution for your project. So why not give it a try? With the above hosting platforms and deployment methods to choose from, you're sure to find a free deployment solution that works for you.

No need to make any financial commitment - you just need the right tools and best practices to deploy your React app for free. Each platform offers unique features like continuous deployment, custom domains, SSL certificates, and integration with popular version control systems.

Happy coding and successful deployment!"