Why migrate
Why teams are leaving Render
Costs Spike at Scale
Render's free tier is limited and production plans get expensive fast. A dedicated instance with 4GB RAM costs $85/mo. Add-on databases are billed separately.
No Managed Software Catalog
Render supports custom Docker deploys but has no catalog of pre-configured tools. You set up, maintain, and update everything yourself.
Limited Infrastructure Control
No SSH root access on managed services. No choice of cloud provider. Limited regions compared to multi-cloud alternatives.
Render vs Elestio: Before & After Migration
A side-by-side look at what changes when you move your infrastructure to Elestio.
| Criteria | Render (Before) | Elestio (After) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-service ($7+/mo each) | Per-VM from $11/mo (1 app + 1 DB); larger VMs host multi-service |
| Cold starts | 25+ seconds on free tier | None -- always-on dedicated VMs |
| Infrastructure | Shared containers | Dedicated VMs with root access |
| Managed databases | PostgreSQL + Redis only | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse & 50+ more |
| Service catalog | ~10 supported runtimes | 400+ managed services |
| Automated backups | Database only (paid plans) | Full system + database backups included |
| Cloud providers | 1 provider, limited regions | 9 providers, 100+ regions |
| OS & security updates | Not managed | Automated with zero-downtime |
| Support | Email + community | 24/7 expert support (email + dashboard) |
| High availability | Manual multi-region setup | Built-in cluster support |
Migrate from Render to Elestio in 5 Steps
A straightforward migration path -- no Docker expertise required.
Audit Your Render Services
List all your Render web services, databases, background workers, and cron jobs. Note environment variables, database sizes, and any Render-specific configurations. Export env vars from each service's dashboard.
Deploy Services from Elestio's Catalog
Find your equivalent services in Elestio's catalog. For databases, deploy managed PostgreSQL, Redis, or any of 50+ database options. For applications, choose from 400+ preconfigured services. Select your preferred cloud provider and region.
Migrate Databases via Dump & Restore
Elestio provides built-in migration tools in the dashboard for most databases. Follow our step-by-step migration guides to transfer your data. Our support team can assist you directly if needed.
Configure Domains, SSL & CI/CD
Set environment variables in Elestio's dashboard. Add custom domains with automatic SSL. If you used Render's Git-based deployment, configure Elestio's CI/CD to deploy from your repository. Test thoroughly while Render is still live.
Switch DNS & Cancel Render
Update DNS records to point to your Elestio services. Monitor for 24-48 hours. Once confirmed stable, delete your Render services and cancel the subscription. Enjoy predictable billing and zero cold starts.
What You Get After Migration
Every Elestio deployment includes these features at no extra cost.
Zero Cold Starts
Your services run on always-on dedicated VMs. No spin-downs, no cold starts, no 25-second wait times. Your users get instant responses, every time.
Consolidated Billing
Stop paying per-service. Bundle an app and database on a single $11/mo VM, or use larger VMs (~$28+/mo) to host multiple services. No $7/mo per-service multiplier.
400+ Managed Services
Go beyond PostgreSQL and Redis. Deploy MongoDB, MySQL, ClickHouse, Kafka, n8n, Supabase, Keycloak, and hundreds more -- all fully managed with backups and updates.
24/7 Expert Support
Real engineers available via email and dashboard around the clock. Get help with migration, configuration, scaling, and troubleshooting from people who know the stack.
Cost Savings: Render vs Elestio
Real-world pricing scenarios. Render charges per service; Elestio charges per VM with everything included.
| Scenario | Render Cost | Elestio Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small 1 web service + 1 PostgreSQL |
~$50/mo $7 service + $7 DB + resource usage |
$11/mo 1 managed VM, backups included |
72% |
| Medium 3 services + 2 databases + Redis |
~$120/mo 6 services at $7+ each + resources |
$28/mo 2 managed VMs |
77% |
| Production 5+ services + databases + workers |
~$200/mo 10+ billable services |
$56/mo 4 managed VMs, full stack |
72% |
Reviews
Trusted by 10,000+ Developers Worldwide
Real reviews from real users on Trustpilot.
"I'm in the IT industry for over 25 years and Elestio stands out in many ways. The managed services are top-notch, support is incredibly fast, and the platform just works. Couldn't be better!"
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does it take to migrate from Render to Elestio?
Most migrations complete in under 30 minutes. Deploy services from Elestio's catalog, migrate your data using our built-in migration tools and guides at docs.elest.io, update DNS, and you're live.
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Will my services have cold starts on Elestio?
No. Unlike Render's free tier which spins down after 15 minutes of inactivity (causing 25+ second cold starts), Elestio runs your services on dedicated VMs that are always on. Zero cold starts, ever.
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Can I migrate my Render PostgreSQL database to Elestio?
Yes. Elestio provides built-in migration tools in the dashboard for PostgreSQL and other databases. Follow our migration guides at docs.elest.io. Our support team can assist you directly if needed.
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Does Elestio charge per service like Render?
No. Elestio charges per VM, not per service. The $11/mo entry plan (1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM) suits 1 app + 1 small database. Larger VMs (~$28+/mo) can host multiple services on one VM, unlike Render where each service is $7+/mo separately.
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Can I deploy in multiple regions on Elestio?
Yes. Elestio supports 9 cloud providers across 100+ regions worldwide. You can deploy services in the regions closest to your users for optimal performance, unlike Render's limited region options.
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Is there downtime during migration from Render?
No. Run both platforms in parallel during migration. Set up everything on Elestio, migrate data, verify, then switch DNS. Your users won't notice any interruption.