Render →
EU Hosting With a Real Free Tier
Runsite is a European PaaS built for indie developers and startups. EU data centers, transparent pricing, and a permanent free tier.
// comparison
Runsite vs Render
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Render |
|---|---|---|
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | ✓ Frankfurt only |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ Full compliance, EU entity | ✗ US company, data transfers |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent, no expiry | ✗ Removed free tier |
| Web Starter (0.5 vCPU, 512MB) | €5/mo | $7.00/mo |
| Managed PostgreSQL | €5/mo | $10.00/mo |
| Object Storage | ✓ €0.025/GB | ✗ Not available |
| Deploy from Git | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLI Tool | ✓ Rust-based | ✗ |
// in-depth comparison
Render vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Render built its reputation as a modern Heroku replacement with clean UI and git-push deploys. It was one of the first platforms to make container hosting feel approachable for solo developers. The dashboard is well-designed, the build system handles most stacks automatically, and the documentation is solid.
That said, Render removed its free tier in 2023, offers only a single EU region (Frankfurt), and remains a US-incorporated company subject to the CLOUD Act. For developers serving European users or handling personal data under GDPR, these are meaningful limitations. Runsite runs in Frankfurt (eu-central) only, is registered as an EU entity, and maintains a permanent free tier with no credit card required.
Developers who relied on Render's free tier for prototyping, or who need a fully EU-jurisdictional alternative (no US parent company, no CLOUD Act exposure), will find Runsite a practical alternative with predictable EUR pricing on equivalent compute.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
GDPR by Default
EU-registered entity. All data stays in European data centers. No US data transfers, no compliance headaches. Your DPO will thank you.
Predictable EUR Pricing
Fixed monthly plans in euros. No surprise bills. Hard spending caps with Telegram alerts when you hit 80% of your limit.
Permanent Free Tier
Unlike Render, we believe in a real free tier. Prototype, learn, build side projects — without a credit card and without an expiry date.
// render problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Render frustration, solved.
Render problem
"Render removed their free tier"
Render eliminated free web services. Hobby projects and prototypes now require a paid plan.
Runsite solution
Permanent free tier, no credit card
Run side projects and prototypes forever. Free means free — not a trial with an expiry date.
Render problem
"Only one EU region — Frankfurt"
Render offers a single EU data center. Limited redundancy and no choice for GDPR-sensitive workloads.
Runsite solution
EU-only Frankfurt region
Deploy to Frankfurt (eu-central) with EU data residency. Full EU coverage, lower latency for European users.
Render problem
"Render is a US company"
Your data is subject to US jurisdiction. CLOUD Act means US authorities can request access to EU user data.
Runsite solution
EU entity, full GDPR compliance
Runsite is registered in the EU. Your data stays in Europe, governed by European law. No transatlantic data transfers.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live — in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central Ready to Deploy in Europe?
Join developers who chose sovereignty, speed, and savings.
Start Free on Runsite →