5 Awesome Ways to Deploy Flowise

Source: Dev.to

Quick‑Reference Table

1️⃣ Sliplane – Container‑as‑a‑Service

One‑click deployment, automatic SSL, zero server management.

• Complexity: ⭐ Very Easy – Deploy in seconds via container.new/flowise. No Docker Compose or server config needed.
• Base price: €9 / month per server – Pay per server, unlimited containers. Run Flowise with databases, APIs, and workers on the same host.
• Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐ Good – Full control over environment variables, container config, resource limits, custom domains, and volume mounts.
• Best for: Production‑ready deployment without DevOps overhead, running multiple services cost‑effectively.

See the detailed guide: “Deploying Flowise with Sliplane”.

2️⃣ Hetzner VPS – Low‑Cost Virtual Private Server

Complete control at a budget‑friendly price.

• Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate – Requires provisioning a server, installing Docker, setting up a reverse proxy for SSL, and configuring backups.
• Base price: €3.49 / month for 2 vCPU (European data centers).
• Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full – Control over OS, software stack, networking, firewall, and monitoring. Run multiple services on a single VPS.
• Best for: Cost‑conscious developers who enjoy managing their own infrastructure.

Step‑by‑step instructions are available in the “Hetzner VPS deployment guide”.

3️⃣ Local Docker – Development & Testing

Free, minimal setup, perfect for learning.

• Complexity: ⭐⭐ Easy – Install Docker Desktop, create a docker‑compose.yml, and run the container.
• Base price: Free – Uses your own hardware, no hosting fees.
• Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High – Modify the compose file, mount volumes, set environment variables, test different Flowise versions. Limited only by your machine’s resources.
• Best for: Development, testing, learning, and experimentation without public access.

Refer to the “Running Flowise locally with Docker” guide for details.

4️⃣ Kubernetes – Enterprise‑Scale Orchestration

Unmatched scalability, but the most complex option.

• Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Complex – Requires cluster provisioning, Pod/Service/Ingress configuration, persistent volumes, monitoring, security policies, and SSL management.
• Base price: Variable – Depends on cloud provider (EKS, GKE, AKS, etc.), cluster size, load balancers, and storage.
• Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full – Auto‑scaling, multi‑region deployments, advanced networking, fine‑grained resource management.
• Best for: Enterprises with dedicated DevOps teams, running hundreds of services, or needing specific scaling requirements.

Reality check: Most teams don’t need Kubernetes. Simpler options (Sliplane or a VPS) are usually sufficient for a few services.

5️⃣ Flowise Cloud – Official Managed Service

Zero‑maintenance, official support, higher cost.

• Complexity: ⭐ Very Easy – Sign up, start building. No setup, configuration, or maintenance required.
• Base price: Free tier includes 2 flows; paid plans start at $35 / month (see the Flowise pricing page for updates).
• Customizability: ⭐⭐ Limited – Standard configurations only, no server‑level access, limited environment‑variable control. Cannot modify infrastructure or install custom software.
• Best for: Teams that want a fully managed solution with guaranteed uptime, SLAs, and official support.

Feature Comparison Table

Quick Recommendations

• Sliplane – Best balance of simplicity, cost, and production‑readiness. Ideal for startups and small teams.
• Hetzner VPS – Lowest cost with full control. Great for developers who enjoy managing infrastructure.
• Local Docker – Free option for development, testing, and learning. No public access needed.
• Kubernetes – Enterprise‑scale infrastructure. Only consider if you have a dedicated DevOps team and simpler options can’t meet your needs.
• Flowise Cloud – Zero maintenance with official support. Premium pricing for a fully managed service.

For most users, Sliplane offers the sweet spot: production‑ready deployment in minutes, predictable pricing, and enough flexibility for growth.

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FAQ

Q: Can I migrate between deployment methods?
A: Yes. Flowise stores its configuration and data in external databases or volumes, making it straightforward to move from one environment to another. Follow the migration guide for each target platform.

Q: Which option is most cost‑effective for multiple services?
A: Hetzner VPS typically offers the lowest price per CPU/GB, especially when you consolidate several services on a single server. Sliplane adds a small premium for convenience and managed SSL.

Q: Do I need a credit card to use Flowise Cloud?
A: A credit card (or supported payment method) is required for paid plans. The free tier is fully accessible without a card.

Q: How are backups handled on each platform?

• Sliplane & Flowise Cloud: Automatic daily snapshots.
• Hetzner VPS: Manual setup (e.g., using rsync or backup scripts).
• Local Docker: Manual backups of volumes.
• Kubernetes: Depends on the cloud provider; most offer snapshot capabilities for persistent volumes.

Q: What technical skills are required for each method?
A: See the “Technical Skills” row in the feature comparison table.

Have more questions? Feel free to open an issue on the Flowise GitHub repo or contact support.

Kubernetes for production?

Q: Can I start locally and deploy to production later?
Q: What about security and backups?

A:

• Sliplane: Handles SSL, security updates, and backups automatically.
• VPS: You set these up yourself.
• Flowise Cloud: Includes managed backups and security.