Deploy Flask in 60 Seconds
Flask is Python's micro web framework. Deploy your Flask app to a real server with one command - no Gunicorn setup, no WSGI plumbing, no manual virtualenv.
The usual way to deploy Flask
- Flask's dev server cannot handle production traffic - you must configure Gunicorn or uWSGI as a WSGI server
- Setting up Gunicorn with the right number of workers, timeouts, and bind address for your VPS size
- Creating and managing a Python virtualenv on the server, activating it in systemd, and keeping pip dependencies in sync
- Configuring nginx to proxy_pass to Gunicorn's Unix socket or TCP port and handle static files separately
- Setting up a systemd unit file to start Gunicorn on boot with the correct working directory and environment
Flask is simple to write but its production deployment stack (Gunicorn + nginx + systemd + virtualenv) is not.
Or just run one command
What you get
Recommended plan for Flask
- 1 vCPU
- 512 MB RAM
- 10 GB storage
- HTTPS included
- Custom domain support
- SSH & web terminal access
Flask deployment notes
Entry Point Detection
InstaPods looks for app.py or wsgi.py as the entry point. Name your Flask app object "app" (e.g., app = Flask(__name__)) for automatic detection.
Requirements File
Include a requirements.txt with Flask and all dependencies. InstaPods runs pip install automatically in an isolated environment.
Static Files
Flask static files in the /static directory are served directly. For production, InstaPods configures Gunicorn behind a reverse proxy to handle both.
Flask hosting FAQ
How much does Flask hosting cost?
Flask hosting on InstaPods starts at $3/mo on the Launch plan (1 vCPU, 512MB RAM, 10GB disk), which handles most production Flask apps with light to moderate traffic. The Build plan at $7/mo (2 vCPU, 1GB RAM) is the realistic minimum if you run a database in the same pod or need more concurrent workers.
Is Flask hosting free?
No persistent Flask hosting is truly free. Render and Fly.io have free tiers that sleep after inactivity, which breaks Flask apps that need a stable WSGI worker. PythonAnywhere has a free tier limited to a single web app on their subdomain. InstaPods starts at $3/mo on a real always-on server, with a $10 credit when you add a card.
How do I deploy a Flask app to production?
On InstaPods, run `instapods deploy my-app --preset python` from inside your Flask project. The CLI detects app.py or wsgi.py as the entry point, runs `pip install -r requirements.txt`, starts Gunicorn behind a reverse proxy, and returns a live URL with HTTPS. Total time: about 60 seconds.
Do I need Gunicorn to run Flask in production?
Yes. Flask's built-in dev server (flask run or app.run()) is not production-ready: single-threaded, no graceful restarts, no SSL termination. Production deployments use Gunicorn (sync workers) or uWSGI behind nginx. On InstaPods, Gunicorn is set up automatically; you don't configure it by hand.
What about Flask with SQLite, PostgreSQL, or Redis?
SQLite works out of the box on InstaPods because pods have a persistent disk. For PostgreSQL or Redis, add them as managed services on the same pod (`instapods services add my-app postgres`) and they expose connection details via env vars. No external database hosting fees.
How does Flask hosting on InstaPods compare to Heroku or Render?
InstaPods is flat $3-49/mo with databases included and SSH access on every plan. Heroku starts at $7/mo for the dyno plus separate database fees (Postgres add-on is $9+/mo). Render starts at $7/mo plus separate database fees and has cold-start latency on cheaper tiers. For most Flask apps, InstaPods is meaningfully cheaper at the same performance level.
Can I use a custom domain with my Flask app?
Yes, included on every plan. Add the domain in the InstaPods dashboard, set a CNAME at your registrar, and SSL auto-issues via Let's Encrypt. No certbot, no DNS challenges.
Deploy Flask in 60 seconds
One command. Real server. HTTPS included. No DevOps degree required.
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