Render (backend)

Render hosts backends like Express APIs, plus databases and background workers. Connect your repo, set the build and start commands, and it redeploys on every push. On the free tier the server sleeps after inactivity, so the first request can be slow.

1. render.com -> New -> Web Service
2. Connect your GitHub repo
3. Build command:  npm install
4. Start command:  node server.js
5. Add environment variables (DATABASE_URL, JWT_SECRET...)
6. Create Web Service

// Use the port Render gives you
const port = process.env.PORT || 3000
app.listen(port)