- Create the app
- Push it to GitHub
- Launch a Node.js app
- Choose the Next.js preset
- Environment variables before the build
- Connect GitHub and deploy
- Go live on your domain
- Images, API routes and middleware
1. Create the app
Accept the suggested answers if you are unsure. Then open http://localhost:3000.
npx create-next-app@latest my-site
cd my-site
npm run dev2. Push it to GitHub
create-next-app has already run git init and made a .gitignore. Create an empty private repository on GitHub and push:
git add .
git commit -m "First version"
git branch -M main
git remote add origin https://github.com/you/my-site.git
git push -u origin main3. Launch a Node.js app
Launch an app → Node.js → a current version (20 or newer) → plan → domain → pay. Next.js builds use a fair amount of memory: if a build stops with an out-of-memory error, move to a larger plan from the dashboard (you pay only the difference).
4. Choose the Next.js preset
App settings → Framework Next.js. It fills in install npm ci || npm install, build npm run build and start npx next start -p $PORT -H 127.0.0.1. Save.
5. Environment variables before the build
Add your variables with + Add variable → Save all. Variables starting with NEXT_PUBLIC_ are baked in at build time, so add them before deploying, and deploy again after changing them.
6. Connect GitHub and deploy
Git deployments → GitHub → repository address → branch main → Test connection → Connect repository → Deploy now. Add the webhook in GitHub so pushes deploy by themselves. The log shows the install, next build and the switch to the new release.
Go live on your domain
Point the domain's @ and www A records to the IP shown in Domains, wait for Points here, then Issue free SSL → Always use HTTPS → Save changes.
Images, API routes and middleware
next start runs the full Next.js server, so API routes, server components, middleware and next/image optimisation all work. Files users upload should go to object storage or a database, not into the project folder — each deploy is a fresh release.
Stuck? Our engineers answer support tickets around the clock. Contact us, or create an account and open a ticket from the dashboard — the same guides are there too.
