Experiences on free and low-cost hosting for play framework applications? [closed]

I'd like to know your experience finding a host for play applications on free or low-cost servers

So far now I found the following options:

  • Playapps (discontinued)

    A cloud hosting solution by zenexity, the company behind play framework
    module: http://www.playframework.org/modules/playapps-1.4/home
    princing: http://www.playapps.net/pricing

  • Google Application Engine

    module: http://www.playframework.org/modules/gae-1.4/home
    cons: can't use mysql, should not use JPA
    Instead of JPA it is advised to use siena
    http://www.playframework.org/modules/siena-2.0.0/home

    nice example: http://viralpatel.net/blogs/2011/01/first-play-framework-gae-siena-application-tutorial-example.html

  • Cloudbees

    module: http://www.playframework.org/modules/cloudbees
    floss: http://www.cloudbees.com/foss/
    tutorial: http://wiki.cloudbees.com/bin/view/RUN/Playframework

  • dotCloud

    module: http://www.playframework.org/modules/cloudbees
    princing: https://www.dotcloud.com/pricing/
    (there's a free plan with 10MB db)

  • AWS - Amazon Web Services

    pricing: http://aws.amazon.com/en/ec2/#pricing
    pricing: http://aws.amazon.com/en/elasticbeanstalk/#pricing
    samples:
    http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-javadev2-19/index.html
    http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-javadev2-16/index.html

  • Heroku for play!

    princing: http://blog.heroku.com/archives/2011/8/29/play/
    (seems like you get 1 web dyno + 5mb postresql dabate for free)
    sample: http://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/play

Do you have any experience with one of these?

Any other option you know?


Solution 1:

I had a bad experience with GAE, as you are forced to work with their API for many things, some components don't work as GAE blacklists some package they require, etc. Also, moving from GAE to another platform can be painful.

Amazon can get expensive depending on the resources you use. I don't know about the others.

The standard option would be Playapps.net, the basic plan is cheap and it provides everything you might need.

Another alternative is to pick a cheap Linode and set it up yourself. It's a bit more expensive and more work, but better value for the bucks.

Solution 2:

I am big fan of Cloudbees. I have hosted a few apps there and the load time is fast. Also, they have good support and a great team.

Solution 3:

I've just found a new free option

http://community.jboss.org/blogs/thomas.heute/2011/08/12/lets-play-on-the-red-hat-cloud-using-the-play-framework-on-openshift-express-and-jbossas7

Red hat cloud, Openshift express... I'll update the question...