Deploy AI-Built Apps
Get your AI-built app live without the usual launch mistakes
Quick answer
AI-built apps created with tools like Bolt, Lovable, Cursor, or v0 are usually deployed to Vercel, Railway, or Cloudflare Workers. Vercel is the default for Next.js apps. Railway is the best option when the app needs a persistent backend, cron jobs, or worker processes. Cloudflare Workers is strongest for edge performance and global distribution with zero cold starts.
Q: How do I deploy an AI-built app?
A: Export the app to GitHub, then import the repo to the host that matches the stack. Vercel is the fastest default for Next.js, Railway is better for persistent backend workloads, and Cloudflare is strongest for edge-first apps.
Do this next
Most deploy problems are not really deploy problems
They are auth, payments, security, or compliance issues that show up the moment the app goes live. Fix those before you ship more pages or more features.
Secure your app first
Keys, RLS, admin routes, and Stripe mistakes that create instant trust problems.
Open →
Pass the Sweden/EU launch check
GDPR, cookies, accessibility, and e-commerce basics before real users arrive.
Open →
Choose the right deploy path
Use the hosting option that matches your stack before you lock yourself in.
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Run the launch checklist
Get a practical go-live checklist instead of trusting memory on launch day.
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Get the Weekend AI Builder Kit
Prompts, stack picks, and a 48-hour checklist for people landing here because they want to ship without the usual deploy mistakes.
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Relevant partner
Railway15% of every invoiceIf the app needs a real backend, long-running jobs, or heavier webhooks
Railway is the cleanest next move when Vercel-style deploys stop being enough and the product now needs a persistent service, background work, or a backend that behaves more like an actual server.
Choose it when
shipping full-stack apps without babysitting infra
Use it for
- app deploys
- databases
- background services
Skip it when
you only need a static marketing site
Deploy backend, databases, and services
Affiliate link. We place these only where the tool is already a credible next move for the page intent.
Relevant partner
UptimeRobot20% per sale for lifetimeIf the app is live, add uptime monitoring immediately
UptimeRobot is the cleanest next step when deploy is no longer theoretical and you need alerts, endpoint checks, and a simple status surface before real users find the outage first.
Choose it when
apps that are live enough for outages to cost trust
Use it for
- uptime checks
- incident alerts
- status pages
Skip it when
the project is still a private prototype
Uptime monitoring, alerts, and status pages for launch-ready apps
Affiliate link. We place these only where the tool is already a credible next move for the page intent.
Relevant partner
Compass20-35% per sale for 12 monthsIf deploy also means guiding real users through the product
Compass fits when the app is live but onboarding, in-app guidance, and user assistance still need to catch up before the first wave of users gets lost.
Choose it when
products that are shipping before onboarding and guidance are polished
Use it for
- product tours
- in-app help
- first-run guidance
Skip it when
users already have a simple self-explanatory flow
On-screen guidance and user assistance for product onboarding
Affiliate link. We place these only where the tool is already a credible next move for the page intent.
Deploy stack answer
Which deploy path actually fits the app?
Most launch pain comes from choosing a host that hides the real bottleneck. Use Vercel when the app is mostly Next.js and serverless. Use Railway when the product needs a real backend, long-running jobs, cron, or heavier webhooks. Use Cloudflare when the app is edge-first and latency-sensitive.
- Choose Vercel
- The app is mostly frontend plus lightweight serverless routes and you want the fastest default path.
- Choose Railway
- The product needs persistent services, background work, Stripe webhooks that should not feel fragile, or a backend that behaves like a real server.
- Choose Cloudflare
- The workflow is edge-first, globally distributed, or built around very fast request handling instead of a long-running backend.
| If the real question is... | Best move | Why | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The app is a standard Next.js product with a few API routes | Vercel | You get the cleanest deploy loop and the least setup overhead. | Do not keep pretending serverless is enough once timeouts, cron, or webhook retries become constant pain. |
| The app needs background jobs, cron, queues, or heavy Stripe / auth flows | Railway | A persistent backend usually matches the product reality better than stretching serverless too far. | You still need proper env vars, monitoring, and basic operator discipline once the app goes live. |
| The app mostly serves lightweight logic at the edge to global users | Cloudflare | Workers win when latency, distribution, and edge execution matter more than a traditional backend process. | Do not move edge-first if the product quietly wants a conventional server and background work anyway. |
The real decision is not provider preference. It is whether the hosting model matches what the app is about to do after launch.
What's in This Guide
Deploying to Vercel
One-click deployment for Next.js apps with automatic previews
Deploying to Railway
Full backend hosting with databases, cron jobs, and workers
Deploying to Cloudflare
Edge deployment with zero cold starts and global distribution
Custom Domains & SSL
Connect your domain with automatic HTTPS certificates
Environment Variables
Securely manage API keys and secrets in production
Deployment Checklist
Pre-launch verification for security, performance, and SEO
Common Issues & Fixes
Integration Guides
How-To Guides
Compare Before You Commit
Recommended Tools
Services we recommend for this stack
Some links are affiliate links. We only recommend tools we genuinely use and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vercel for Next.js apps, Railway for apps with backend workers, Cloudflare Workers for global edge performance. All three have generous free tiers for early-stage projects.
Almost always missing environment variables. Vercel builds in a clean environment with no access to your local .env file. Add all env vars in Vercel project settings before deploying.
Click Export to GitHub in Bolt, then import the repo to Vercel. The entire process takes under 5 minutes.
No. Vercel, Railway, and Cloudflare all have free tiers sufficient for MVPs and early-stage products.