Introduction

You might have built a Flask application. It runs smoothly on your local machine, like powering a portfolio, processing an API, or serving a dynamic website.
Now comes the big question:

How do you put it online?
For many developers, especially beginners, deploying a web app can feel overwhelming. You start hearing terms like web servers, load balancers, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines—and suddenly, it feels more complex than coding the app itself.

That’s where Render comes in.

Render is a modern cloud platform that allows you to deploy web apps with zero infrastructure setup—and the best part? It offers a free tier, perfect for small projects and experiments.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Connect your Flask app to Render

• Set up build and start commands

• Deploy and access your app via a live URL

Getting your Flask app online shouldn’t require a DevOps degree. With Render, you can deploy full-featured web apps in minutes—no server setup, no hidden fees. This guide walks you through the entire process of hosting your Flask application for free, making it perfect for personal projects, portfolios, or lightweight APIs.

Overview of the Deployment Process

Let’s quickly look at what we will be doing:

Step-by-Step Deployment Process

Develop simple flask application using Python.

main.py:

from flask import Flask
import os
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def home():
    return "Your 'First Deployment'"
if __name__ == "__main__":
    port = int(os.environ.get("PORT", 5000))  
    app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=port, debug=True)

1. Access Render and Log In

Start by heading to render.com. You can log in using one of the following:

• GitHub
• GitLab
• Bitbucket
• Google

You’ll need to authorize Render to access your repositories. This allows it to pull your code for deployment.

2. Select Your Repository

Once logged in:

• Go to your dashboard
• Click “Web Services” → “New Web Service”
• Select the Flask app repository (e.g., test_render)
• Confirm access permissions

3. Configure Your Deployment

Now, let’s set up the service:

• Service Name: Something unique (e.g., test_render)
• Language: Auto-detected as Python 3
• Branch: Choose main or your development branch

4. Set Build and Start Commands

Render needs to know how to install dependencies and run your app:

• Build Command:pip install -r requirements.txt

• Start Command: python main.py


5. Add Environment Variables (Optional)

If your app requires API keys, secrets, or config values:

• Go to Advanced Settings
• Add each key-value pair

If not needed, you can skip this step.

6. Deploy Your Application

Click the Deploy button and wait a few minutes. Render will:

• Clone your repo
• Install dependencies
• Launch your app

Check the logs for progress updates or any errors.

What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?

Access Your Live Flask App

Once deployment is complete:

• Render will provide a URL.
• Visit the URL and you should see your app live!
• For example, you might see a homepage that says:
  “Your ‘First Deployment’.”

Conclusion

Deploying a Flask app has never been this easy. Thanks to Render, your Python project can be live on the internet in just a few steps—no credit card, no complicated server setups.

Neha Vittal Annam