Fly.io runs Docker containers on servers worldwide. Your app runs in 30+ regions, closest to your users. Built-in Postgres, Redis, and persistent volumes.
Quick Start
brew install flyctl
fly auth login
fly launch # detects Dockerfile, creates app
fly deploy # deploys to nearest region
Scale Globally
fly regions add ams lhr nrt syd # add regions
fly scale count 3 # 3 instances
fly scale vm shared-cpu-2x # bigger VMs
Fly Postgres
fly postgres create --name my-db
fly postgres attach my-db
# DATABASE_URL automatically set
Machines API (Microservices)
# Create a machine (lightweight VM)
fly machine run myimage:latest --region iad --size shared-cpu-1x
Free Tier
- 3 shared-cpu-1x VMs (256MB each)
- 3GB persistent volumes
- 160GB outbound transfer
Fly.io vs Railway vs Render
| Feature | Fly.io | Railway | Render |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global edge | 30+ regions | 1 region | 4 regions |
| Docker | Native | Yes | Yes |
| Databases | Managed Postgres | Built-in | Managed |
| Free tier | 3 VMs | 500 hours | 750 hours |
The Bottom Line
Fly.io is for apps that need to be fast everywhere. Global edge deployment, Docker-native, managed databases. Best choice for latency-sensitive applications.
Need to automate data collection or build custom scrapers? Check out my Apify actors for ready-made tools, or email spinov001@gmail.com for custom solutions.
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