Node.js on Netlify
Netlify documents a generic path that covers Node.js, rather than a dedicated guide.
JavaScript runtime used to run servers and build tooling outside the browser.
What Node.js needs.
Every host claims to run Node.js, so the claim on its own decides nothing. These are the things Node.js actually requires from the platform underneath it, and what Netlify publishes about each. Netlify documents 2 of the 4.
Persistent processes
Not supported
A long-running process is the point: WebSocket connections, in-memory caches and job queues all die with it. A host that only runs functions cannot keep one alive.
Sources (1) →Sources ↓
- Functions overview — Netlify Docs ↗
“When the event happens, Netlify hands your code the event payload, runs it in an ephemeral runtime environment, and acts on whatever it returns. The infrastructure automatically scales according to the volume of traffic to your site, so that the performance stays consistent no matter the load.”
Read 2026-09-05 · official docs
Max request duration
60 seconds (synchronous); 30 seconds (scheduled); 15 minutes (background)
Anything the process does inside a request — a large upload, a slow query, a streamed response — is bounded by this ceiling.
Sources (1) →Sources ↓
- Configuration for functions | Netlify Docs ↗
“Synchronous execution limit | 60 seconds | No — Scheduled execution limit | 30 seconds | No — Background execution limit | 15 minutes | No”
Read 2026-09-05 · official docs
Docker deployment
Not documented
Node apps routinely need a system binary the platform's buildpack does not ship. A Dockerfile is the escape hatch when they do.
Scales to zero
Not documented
An always-on process bills while idle. Scaling to zero removes that cost and adds a cold start to the next request instead.
What Netlify documents.
Netlify documents a generic path that covers Node.js, rather than a dedicated guide.
Express is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications. Limited: Node.js is documented only through this Express framework guide — there is no general Node.js server deployment guide in the framework setup guides index.
Sources (1) →Sources ↓
- Express on Netlify | Netlify Docs ↗
“Express is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications. Limited: Node.js is documented only through this Express framework guide — there is no general Node.js server deployment guide in the framework setup guides index.”
Read 2026-09-05 · official docs
What it costs to run there.
- Entry paid plan
- $9/month for 1,000 credits/month
- Pricing model
- Monthly plan credits are included with your plan each billing cycle and reset at the start of each cycle.
- When you exceed a cap
- Suspended: when credits run out every project is paused and visitors see a Site not available page, unless auto recharge is enabled to buy more credits automatically
Sources (2) →Sources ↓
- Credit-based pricing plans | Netlify Docs ↗
“$9/month for 1,000 credits/month, with an auto recharge option (500 credits for $5) if you go over your monthly credits.”
Read 2026-09-05 · official docs
- How credits work ↗
“Once your credit balance is completely used up, all of your web projects (sites/apps) are paused and visitors to your web projects will find a `Site not available` page at each of your web project's URLs.”
Read 2026-09-05 · official docs
Whether it suits you.
Teams that want Git-driven deploys onto a global CDN with a managed Postgres database built into the same platform. The free tier is 300 credits a month with a hard limit, so spend cannot surprise you.
Consider something else if…
You need to run containers or long-lived processes — Netlify does not document either.
Visit Netlify documentation