What Does InstaPods Cost and What Is Included in Each Plan?

Updated

InstaPods starts at $3/mo, and adding a card gets you $10 in credit — roughly three months on the Launch plan, cancellable anytime. Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis) are included from the Build plan at $7/mo and above, with no separate database bill. Every plan, including the $3 tier, runs your app always on with no sleeping or cold starts.

Pricing at a glance

Plan Price What stands out
Launch From $3/mo Always-on pod, no cold starts, domains + auto SSL, SSH access
Build and above From $7/mo Everything in Launch, plus MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis included

The $10 credit for adding a card is described as covering about three months on Launch. Cancellation is available anytime.

What every plan includes

  • One pod, not five services. You don't stitch together separate hosts, databases, DNS, and env var tooling — it's a single pod.
  • Always On. No sleeping and no cold starts; the app runs 24/7 even on the $3 plan.
  • Domains + Auto SSL. Point your domain and HTTPS is automatic for every pod and every domain.
  • SSH Access. Full shell access is part of the offering.

What the Build plan adds

Databases are the main step up. On Build ($7/mo) and above, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis are included, added with one command, and there's no separate database bill. On Launch, you get the always-on pod and hosting basics without the bundled databases.

The credit and card question

The $10 credit is tied to adding a card. The source describes it as about three months on Launch, with cancel anytime. It does not state that InstaPods is free without a card, so treat the credit as a promotion attached to card entry rather than a free tier.

How deployment works, since it affects what you're paying for

InstaPods is built around getting an app off localhost in seconds. The install path is a single command:

curl -fsSL https://instapods.com/install.sh | sh

It works with Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable, Bolt, or any tool. There's also a published Claude connector: connect InstaPods once, then say "deploy this," and the assistant creates the pod, uploads the code, adds a database, and returns a live URL. A ChatGPT app is listed as coming soon, but you can point ChatGPT, Cursor, Windsurf, or any MCP client at https://app.instapods.com/api/mcp today.

Choosing between Launch and Build

  • Pick Launch ($3/mo) if you need an always-on host with a domain, SSL, and SSH, and you're handling data storage elsewhere or don't need a bundled database.
  • Pick Build ($7/mo) or above if you want MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Redis included in the same bill and added with one command — the $4/mo difference replaces a separate database service.

If you're unsure, the $10 card credit gives you room to start on Launch and move up when you actually need a database.