V8 Engine

• Google Chrome's V8 engine enables the use of async and multithreading logic resulting in better scaling and performance
• It utilizes Javascript - a simple programming language that allows building complex backend applications thanks to V8
• NPM packages is a huge library of ready to use modules, libraries and complete applications built for backend node.js use

Single-Threaded Architecture

• Although V8 is multithreaded, Node.js supports single-threaded architecture to make use of event loops
• Supports concurrent requests while minimizing delays

High Performance

• Performance enhanced code execution enables faster and scalable applications on low-end hardware.
• Preferred choice for real-time applications requiring concurrent requests with minimized delays

Caching

• Reduces redundant code execution by supporting module caching
• Enables faster user accessibility

Adaptability

• Enables quick adaptability and learning for the developer community already adept with Javascript

JSON Support

• Seamless support of JSON format without requiring binary model conversions

Scalable and customizable

• Easily scalable by utilizing local clustering. Well fitted for microservices architecture and facilitates child process creation.
• Enables simple load balancing and scaling to multiple threads
• Great for quickly building custom REST APIs

With Node.js’ growing adoption by the developer community, there is an increasing pattern of Node.js based application development. While using a Traditional Hosting for Node.js hosting is possible, it is usually not a recommended approach. As Node.js applications have specific environment requirements, it is always recommended to opt for a specialized Node.js hosting provider. Such hosting providers setup the right platform that lets you focus on developing your application rather than investing efforts in installing and administering the environment. With a dedicated Node.js hosting plan, you get the servers and resources that are leaner yet optimized to compile and scale Node.js applications seamlessly.

While Node.js itself is known for its several benefits to act as a great platform for end-to-end (backend, middleware, frontend) application development, it also remains equally important to identify the best hosting provider that meets your requirements to host a Node.js application stack efficiently.

Here are the factors to consider when choosing a Node.js hosting provider:

Shared Hosting

One of the most popular hosting types due to its low cost and ease of managing services (through the hosting provider). However, due to the lack of dedicated resources, bad performance, lack of automation and integration with developer tools, a shared hosting platform is usually not recommended to host a Node.js application.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

A VPS simulates a physical server with less resources and lower cost to the customer. Due to its benefits of offering unrestrictive usage with more resources, platform upgrades and root access, VPS hosting is usually preferred by those who have specific platform requirements that cannot be served through a Shared Hosting. Yet it still remains hard to manage and maintain with zero automation out of the box.

Dedicated Hosting

A Dedicated hosting plan allows a user exclusive use of the server with his own choice of hardware, platform, and resource allocation. As a result, a user has absolute control to optimize the server based on his requirements to make it highly-scalable and highly-available, on-demand. Due to the power it offers it's great for hosting CPU intensive services yet it remains the most expensive solutions and the hardest to maintain.

Developer Friendly

It is important to check if your hosting provider supports high-availability and zero-downtime deploymens, as well as environment upgrades to latest Node.js versions. Additionally, find out if they allow easy integration of 3rd party plugins, libraries, and APIs that are required to execute a Node.js application.

Ease of integration and deployment

If you plan to adopt or use a DevOps model, check out if the hosting provider allows integration with CI/CD tools such as CircleCI, Jenkins and code hosting services like Github.

Scalability

Prefer to go with a hosting provider who provide seamless auto-scaling options and load-balancing during times of high-resource utilization and consumption spike.

Advanced Platform Features

As added advantage, look for other key aspects which might be critical for your Node.js application. More importantly, ensure that you opt for the right platform configurations, including,

• Resources monitoring
• Logging and console access for easier debugging
• Other platform features (flexible CPU cores, SSD, DDoS, CDN, Automated Backups, etc.)

• Intuitive and simple to use web UI instead of config files and command line tools
• Unique Global Multi-Region deployments
• High-Availability, High-Performance, and Low Latency
• Logs and console for easier debugging in production
• Native Docker and Github support
• Choice of Single-Region or Multi-Region Hosting
• Integrated metrics and monitoring
• Affordable pay-as-you-go plans