Render and Blossom both simplify app deployment—but they differ significantly in pricing, control, and infrastructure.
Here’s a breakdown to help you choose the right fit.
Render
- Fully managed platform with a Heroku-style developer experience
- UI and git-based deployment workflows
- Limited free tier: 750 hours per month, with key restrictions
- Services shut down after 15 minutes of inactivity
- Free databases are deleted after 90 days
- No custom domains on the free plan
- Cold starts may cause a few seconds of delay
- Supports many languages and frameworks
Blossom
- Simple deployment platform via UI or git
- Seamless integration with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
- 5-day free trial. Predictable per-server pricing
- Bring your own infrastructure — much more affordable as you scale
- Flexible: Run any service using Docker
- Full server control, including SSH access
- Supports all major cloud providers: AWS, Azure, GCP, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Linode, Vultr, OVHCloud — even on-prem
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Render | Blossom |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | UI and git-based | UI and git-based |
| Pricing | Usage-based | Per server |
| Free Tier | Limited (with restrictions) | 5-day free trial, full access |
| Documentation | Good | Growing |
| Infrastructure | Managed | Managed |
| Server Access | No | Full SSH access |
| Cost Predictability | Medium | High |
Conclusion
Render is a polished, low-ops platform that’s great for smaller workloads—but its usage-based pricing and limitations on the free tier can become costly as you grow.
Blossom gives you Heroku-style simplicity with production-grade control and cost savings. If you want to avoid surprise bills and have more control over your stack, Blossom is a powerful alternative—especially for scaling teams.
See How Blossom Compares on Cost
Use the calculator to compare Blossom's predictable pricing against other platforms.
Want a deeper dive? Read our comprehensive comparison of popular deployment platforms.