Quick answer
Nhost - Nhost wins for most builders because its free tier is easier to start with, does not require a credit card, and covers a more complete backend stack, while Koyeb is better only if you specifically need more general-purpose compute and deployment flexibility.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve different problems. Koyeb is the better fit when your main need is hosting compute: serverless containers, multiple regions, deployment tooling, and a broad set of platform quotas like services, users, bandwidth, and custom domains. Its free tier is more about infrastructure capacity than app backend features. Nhost is narrower in surface area but more complete for typical app backends: one project, PostgreSQL, file storage, auth, functions, GraphQL, egress, and automated deployments. That makes it easier to ship a small product without stitching together as many pieces. Pricing also diverges quickly after free. Koyeb starts with a $29/month Pro plan plus compute, while Nhost starts at $25/month for Pro and includes more backend features before you move up to much more expensive team pricing. For most solo builders, Nhost is the simpler starting point. For builders centering on deployment and runtime control, Koyeb is the stronger pick.
Koyeb vs Nhost free tier, side by side
| KoyebFTV 40 | NhostFTV 55 | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card required on free tierKoyeb's field says a card is required; Nhost explicitly says no card is required. | Yes | No |
| Projects / servicesDifferent units, but this shows Koyeb is much more service-centric while Nhost limits project count. | Up to 100 services | 1 project per organization |
| Database / PostgresKoyeb's free database is time-capped; Nhost's is a small always-available allocation. | Serverless Postgres included; 1 GB storage; 0.25 vCPU and 1 GB RAM; 5 hours/month | 1 GB database storage |
| Storage / bandwidthKoyeb is much more generous on bandwidth, while Nhost is more modest but backend-focused. | 1 TB bandwidth included | 1 GB file storage and 5 GB egress |
| Functions / computeKoyeb exposes compute as credit; Nhost exposes it as backend function capacity. | Serverless compute credit: $10 included compute | Up to 10 functions and 1 GB-hours of execution |
| UsersNhost removes an early collaboration limit on the free tier. | Up to 10 users | Unlimited users |
After you outgrow the free tier
Koyeb uses a flat plan fee plus additional compute charges, so the cost can rise with runtime usage even after you move off free. Its first paid tier is Pro at $29/mo plus compute. Nhost is flatter at the low end: Pro starts at $25/mo, with a bigger jump to Team at $599/mo. For small-team builders, Nhost is usually cheaper to get into production features, while Koyeb can get costlier as compute grows. Exact usage-based scenarios for Koyeb cannot be worked out from the provided data because no per-unit compute rates are included.
When to pick each one
Pick Koyeb when…
- You need to deploy APIs, web services, or inference workloads and care more about compute/runtime than backend opinionation.
- You want broader platform quotas like up to 100 services, 10 users, 1 TB bandwidth, and 7 regions on the free tier.
- You expect to use custom domains, global load balancing, or private networking early.
- You are comfortable bringing your own database or using Koyeb's included serverless Postgres only for light use.
Pick Nhost when…
- You want a small app backend with PostgreSQL, auth, storage, functions, and GraphQL in one place.
- You want to start without a credit card.
- You only need one project and can live within the free-tier limits of 1 GB database, 1 GB file storage, and 5 GB egress.
- You want automated deployments and infrastructure as code without assembling extra services.
- You are building a conventional product backend rather than infrastructure-heavy workloads.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Nhost is the better free-tier pick because it is easier to start, does not require a credit card, and bundles the pieces many app backends need right away. Koyeb is the stronger choice if your free-tier priority is runtime and deployment flexibility, especially for APIs, containers, and compute-heavy workloads. Once you outgrow free, Nhost's $25 Pro tier is the gentler step up, while Koyeb adds a $29 base fee plus compute usage.
Read the full listings: Koyeb and Nhost. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.