Features
- Instant deployment from Git or Dockerfile
- Built-in PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB
- Automatic HTTPS and custom domains
- Usage-based pricing with no cold starts
Pros
- Fastest path from code to running server
- Managed databases included at no extra cost to start
- Excellent UI for monitoring and logs
Cons
- Less control than traditional cloud providers
- Limited regions compared to major clouds
- Can get expensive at scale
Overview
Railway is a modern cloud platform designed for developers who want to deploy applications and infrastructure with minimal configuration. It automatically detects your project’s language and framework, provisions the right environment, and deploys with a single command or Git push.
Railway stands out for its built-in database provisioning. You can spin up PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, or MongoDB instances alongside your application with a single click, with automatic connection string injection into your app’s environment variables.
The platform provides a clean dashboard for monitoring deployments, viewing logs, managing environment variables, and scaling resources. Its usage-based pricing means you only pay for what you use, with no minimum commitments.
When to Use
Choose Railway for backend services, APIs, and full-stack applications that need databases. It is the fastest way to get a backend running with a database without dealing with infrastructure configuration.
Getting Started
npm install -g @railway/cli
railway login
railway init
railway up