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Best Django Hosting: Where to Run Your Next Django Project?

What is Django?

Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It provides all the necessary tools needed for developers to build robust, scalable, and secure web applications. Django is a bit of an enigma because niche as it is, love for this framework seems to be torn between two interesting rivals – the United States and Russia.

Being operating system-independent, Django can run on almost any environment conceivable which is a huge plus. Despite that, not all web hosts are willing to support Django developers.

We’ll leave the ‘why’ out of the equation for now and focus on the best places you can find Django hosting services.

More Hosting Choices: Best Overall / VPS Hosting / Cheap Hosting / Website Builders

1. ScalaHosting

Django hosting - scalahosting

Website: https://www.scalahosting.com/

Quick Deployment on Cloud Server with SPanel

ScalaHosting may not offer specially designed DJango plans but their mark of excellence comes in the form of SPanel. With much of the hosting world held under the thrall of cPanel, pricing is sort of monopolized. Many who have rejected cPanel have found a happy home at ScalaHosting.

SPanel changes the game in a major way and offers users a highly usable option. It is also completely cPanel compatible so you can easily migrate to ScalaHosting from whatever host you’re on. They also offer free migration services, so that’s an issue you can conveniently wash off your hands.

SPanel is available on ScalaHosting’s Managed Cloud VPS plans. Despite that fully managed environment, it still manages to clock in at a relatively low cost of entry. You get access not only to SPanel but an entirely configurable environment. 

This means support for virtually everything from Python to specialized services like Live Malware scanning via SShield technology – and generous resources to run everything.

* Updates: ScalaHosting has now partnered up with Digital Ocean and Amazon AWS. You can launch and manage your Django project quickly with DO or AWS infrastructure on Scala's Managed VPS platform.

Read our in-depth Scala Hosting review.

ScalaHosting Overview

Monthly Cost: From $29.95/mo

Pros

  • Live malware scanning
  • Fast app deployment with SPanel
  • Good in-house technical support
  • Wide choices in server location
  • Can be powered by Amazon AWS and Digital Ocean infrastructure

Cons of ScalaHosting

  • Non-dedicated Django environment
  • Hosting price increase during renewal

2. Cloudways

Website: https://www.cloudways.com/

Powerful Managed Cloud Hosting & Great Live Chat Support

Cloudways is widely recognized for its managed cloud hosting services that cater to a variety of applications, including Django.

The company offers a platform where you can choose from three top cloud providers – AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. This flexibility allows you to select the provider that best suits your project's needs and budget.

One of the key features of Cloudways is its user-friendly platform, which simplifies the process of deploying and managing applications. It provides a range of features such as automated backups, 24/7 support, team collaboration, Cloudflare-powered CDN, and an intuitive control panel that makes it easy to manage your applications and servers.

In terms of Django hosting, Cloudways allows you to deploy Django applications on any of the provided cloud infrastructures. You can leverage the power of cloud servers while also benefiting from the convenience of a managed hosting solution. While Cloudways does not support a pre-configured environment for Django application, you can always get help from their live chat support to get things done.

Learn more about Cloudways Hosting in Jerry's review.

Quick Cloudways Overview

Monthly Cost: From $11/mo

Pros

  • Fast and reliable server
  • Choice of three different cloud providers
  • No credit card is needed for a free trial
  • Easy scalability
  • Helpful customer support

Cons

  • Limited server control by default
  • Price increased recently

3. PythonAnywhere

Django hosting - PythonAnywhere

Website: https://www.pythonanywhere.com/

Dedicated Python Environment & Good Support

Although this isn’t a host that crops up in normal searches, if you’re looking for Django hosting it’s likely the first name you’ll come across. This host is entirely geared towards Python and runs off Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Plans cater to all levels of Python users from the absolute beginners to app gurus. At the lowest end of the scale, there is even a free account you can sign up for just to check out the environment.

Using PythonAnywhere to launch your project is simple and those familiar with local environments will be happy to hear it isn’t much different. There are a massive number of pre-built modules ready for import and use.

If you’re looking towards Django, there is also a one-click installer. All you have to do is let it know what you want your app named and where the files are to go. The rest is automated, so there’s no fiddling about with configurations for Apache or anything else.

Quick PythonAnywhere Overview

Monthly Cost: From $5/mo (free plan available)

Pros

  • Fast deployment for Django
  • Free beginner plan available
  • Runs on powerful Amazon web servers
  • Active forum

Cons

  • Free subdomains use shared SSL
  • Complex custom SSL handling

4. A2 Hosting

Generic and cheap Django hosting - A2Hosting

Website: https://www.a2hosting.com/

Cheap Django Hosting Plans

For those unfamiliar, A2 Hosting is a brand that’s long been famed for its developer-friendly hosting plans. Their shared hosting plans come with many features you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

For Django however, it’s better to look towards their VPS plans. It is handy that all you’ll need here for Django is unmanaged VPS. Those plans are very competitively priced at A2 Hosting and start from as little as $5/mo.

Despite it being a generic host like ScalaHosting, A2 Hosting plans still make it easy for those who want a Django environment. All you have to do is set up the virtual environment and run the pip installer. After that it’s simply a matter of configuring Django the way you like it. You can even configure the Django admin interface if you like.

Pip also lets you install any other Python packages that you may need, so it’s sort of an all-in-one deal. For devs, the command line installation using these tools shouldn’t be a problem.

Learn more about A2 Hosting in Jerry's review.

A2Hosting Overview

Price: from $4.99/mo

Pros

  • Budget-friendly solution
  • Excellent server performance
  • Very dev-friendly
  • Turbo servers available

Cons

  • Unimpressive 99.9% Uptime guarantee

5. Digital Ocean

Django hosting on cloud server - Digital Ocean

Website: https://www.digitalocean.com/

Best for Advanced Django Developers

Digital Ocean's tagline that reads “The Developer Cloud” should tell you all you need to know about the possibilities of Django hosting here. What you might not realize is that prices at Digital Ocean are highly competitive.

Aside from the relatively low cost of entry, Cloud technology means that your billing will be highly precise and you only pay for what you need to use – nothing else. The biggest obstacle to Django hosting on Digital Ocean is that it might not be suitable for everyone.

Unlike a host such as PythonAnywhere, Digital Ocean needs you to set up the environment that you need to use. Further, since it’s so highly configurable, you need to not only know what you need but also how to fit all the moving pieces together.

This means that some time and effort will be spent on managing your environment instead of purely building your apps here. On one hand that makes it much more cost effective for deployment. On the other, it can be a challenge for beginners.

Seriously, if you don’t know what you’re doing, Digital Ocean can be a major challenge. If you do, the sky’s the limit – and I mean that quite literally.

Quick Digital Ocean Overview

Monthly Cost: From $6/mo

Pros

  • Highly configurable plans
  • Decent cost of entry for Cloud computing
  • Virtually limitless options

Cons

  • Some technical skills needed
  • Can be time-consuming to manage

6. DjangoEurope

Django hosting - djangoeurope

Website: https://djangoeurope.com/

Dedicated Django Hosting Environment

This Swiss-based host is another that is obviously Django-centric, with servers in Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and the US. Giving them even more credibility is the fact that both founders have technical backgrounds, one of whom is himself a Django dev.

Djangoeurope offers the best of both worlds in Django hosting – a custom environment where you don’t have to worry about most configuration yet is extremely developer friendly. They offer one-click Django deployment without any fuss.

Your account will run on Debian 9 and comes with NGINX and Lighttpd web server pre-installed. Anything else can either be installed on your own, or you can get them to do it for you if you prefer. This service is openly offered on their site and not a ‘hidden secret’ subject to the whims of support staff.

Aside from Django, you can also use your account much like any other hosting solution. If for some reason you decide to simply run a static site – that option is available to you as well. Plans are priced in euros so you might lose a little on conversion if you’re elsewhere.

Personally, I think that the biggest advantage PythonAnywhere has is that it is offered by those who actually know what Django and Python users need. This results in a very streamlined offering that isn’t likely to go wrong.

Quick DjangoEurope Overview

Monthly Cost: From €5/mo

Pros

  • Highly specialized hosting environment
  • Quick Django deployment
  • Lightweight web interface
  • Host unlimited sites and domains

Cons

  • Very limited bandwidth
  • Limited option in the operating system

What to Look for in a Django Host?

This question is a little debatable since there are many levels of possibilities. On one hand, extremely specialized environments restrict your options somewhat. However, they are also usually pre-configured to your needs and ready to go.

One good example of that is PythonAnywhere which is very purpose-built. So much so that they even offer themselves as a viable solution for educators who need ready environments for teaching their students – with the capability of offering each student a red-to-use account.

Alternatively, there is also a choice in generic hosting like ScalaHosting and Cloudways which supports Django environments. These solutions are more complex to set up, but with the right host, it is possible as well. At the end of the day, choosing your Django host lies mostly in what you need it for.

The hosts I’ve listed here may differ in what they have to offer, but each makes a strong case for those interested in Django and Python. Personally, if you’re looking for a basic sandbox I think a more generic environment is the way to go.

Everything You Need to Know about Django

Making the decision to use Django goes back to its Python roots. Python (the programming language, not the snake) is extremely popular for building very fast, highly scalable websites.

These two characteristics are almost wet dreams for many companies.

Many developers today are familiar with Python and Django happens to be one of the most popular web frameworks for the language. Much like Python, the Django framework is fast, reliable, and extremely scalable. 

It’s a partnership made in heaven and an ideal reason for those seeking a powerful website to opt for Django.

Pros and Cons of Django

Pros and Cons of Django
“Django was invented to meet fast-moving newsroom deadlines, while satisfying the tough requirements of experienced Web developers” (source).

Like any other choice of framework, Django has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. While many are of the opinion it’s the greatest thing since slides bread, not everyone seems to think so.

Some pros of opting to use Django include the batteries included feature, flexibility in development, support for fast deployment, REST framework for APIs, and of course its capacity for machine learning.

While that may sound great, Django’s need for extensive coding also acts prohibitively when it comes to smaller projects. It can also be changing at times due to the lack of fixed convention as compared to some like Ruby on Rails.

When to Use Django for Your Development?

Knowing the pros and cons of Django, it should come as no surprise when saying it should be used in the best context. This context means you will need to assess each project for Django suitability and play its strengths to the max.

Look towards high-volume website projects that can make use of Django structured code, high security, and data management features. This can play well into building efficient sites that are capable of scaling well over long periods.

Consider developing using Django if:

  • You want to build a web app
  • Fast deployment is needed
  • You’re looking for top-notch security
  • Machine learning is desired
  • ORM support is needed

Frequently Asked Questions on Django

What is the best hosting for Django?

Because of its reasonable pricing and flexibility, we highly recommend ScalaHosting Managed VPS for hosting Django. However, as mentioned in this article, there are many other excellent options abound.

Can I host my Django website?

Yes, you can host your Django website. Technically, as long as you can handle the technical deployment of a home server and have stable Internet broadband, hosting your Django website is possible. However, it isn’t generally recommended as it won’t necessarily be cheaper and will often be less reliable.

Can I host Django for free?

Yes, you can host Django for free. Some web hosts offer free plans able to support Django. PythonAnywhere, for example, offers a free starter plan for Django websites. Alternatively, hosting your Django website at home on existing equipment is also a possibility.

How much does it cost to host a Django website?

The cost of hosting a Django website will depend on your requirements. For beginner websites, there are free options available. Django can run on most types of web hosting – all of which come at varying prices. Django itself is free to deploy and use.

Do I need Apache for Django?

No, you do not need Apache to run Django. However, you will need a web server application that supports a Python environment. Some options as Apache alternatives include Gunicorn, Nginx, or WSGI.

Final Thoughts: Less Search, More Code

Django has been increasing in popularity and it’s not hard to see why. Python is one of the few high-level languages around that works well on multiple platforms. The nature of Django and Python also promotes good coding habits given its ‘reuse of code’ propensity.

osting heavily affects the speed and uptime performance of websites – and in this case, even web applications. Going with any of these listed hosts should help you ease those concerns since at the very heart, they are solid performers. Why waste time looking for a good web host when you should be focused on your coding?

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Article by Timothy Shim

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