# Node.js Hosting UK Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/nodejs-hosting/ Updated: 2026-10-08 > dijitul hosts Node.js apps in the UK. Small apps such as Express APIs, webhooks and server-rendered sites with modest traffic run on our Plesk plan through the Node.js extension, for £1 a day + VAT. Apps that need always-on background workers, PM2, many WebSocket connections or MongoDB on the same server get a quoted managed VPS. ## Key facts - Plesk's Node.js extension runs apps through Phusion Passenger - Node.js version chosen per app from the versions installed - npm or Yarn install from package.json in the Plesk panel - Environment variables and the application startup file set in Plesk - Idle apps may be stopped and restarted on the next request, so the first request can be slower - Always-on workers, PM2 and heavy real-time apps go on a quoted managed VPS - £1 a day + VAT for apps that fit the plan ## How Node.js runs on our Plesk hosting Plesk has a Node.js extension that runs your application through Phusion Passenger, sitting behind the web server. In practice: - You set the **application root**, the **document root** for static files and the **application startup file**, such as app.js or server.js. - You pick the **Node.js version** for the app from those installed on the server. - Dependencies install from **package.json** with npm or Yarn, straight from the panel. - **Environment variables**, such as NODE_ENV and API keys, are set in the panel rather than committed to Git. - Passenger starts the app when requests arrive and restarts it if it crashes. Your domain, SSL and Cloudflare DNS are handled exactly as for any other site on the plan. ## What fits the standard plan - Express, Fastify or Koa APIs with modest traffic - Webhook receivers for payment providers, forms or chat tools - Small server-rendered sites, for example a Nuxt or Astro site using its Node adapter - Internal tools and dashboards for a team - Static builds from Next.js, Vite, Gatsby or similar, which don't need Node running at all If your app answers web requests and doesn't need to keep doing work between them, it will usually fit. ## What needs a quoted VPS Passenger is designed for apps that respond to requests. Some Node.js workloads don't fit that model: - **Always-on background workers**, such as job processors, bots and scrapers, that must run even when nobody visits. - **Many long-lived WebSocket connections** for chat, live dashboards or multiplayer features. - **PM2 or custom process managers**, or apps that must listen on their own port. - **MongoDB, Redis or other services** on the same server. - **Larger Next.js apps** with heavy server rendering, image optimisation and middleware. These go on a [managed VPS](https://dijituldns.co.uk/managed-vps/), where we look after the server, firewall, updates and backups and you get the freedom to run long-lived processes. It's quoted to size. For APIs serving other products, see [API hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/api-hosting/). ## Deploying a Node.js app - Push your code to Git and connect the repository in Plesk, or upload by SFTP. - Set the Node.js version, startup file and environment variables. - Run npm install (or yarn) from the panel. - If your app has a build step, run it, for example npm run build. - Restart the app from the panel. Remember to read the port from process.env.PORT if your framework expects one, and serve static assets from the document root so the web server handles them directly. ## Not sure which you need? Send us your package.json and a sentence about what the app does, and we'll tell you honestly whether it fits the £1 a day + VAT plan or needs a VPS. If it's a mix, such as a website on the plan plus a small worker on a VPS, we'll say that too. If the app is a product you sell, see [SaaS hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/saas-hosting/). If it's mostly static, [static website hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/static-website-hosting/) may be all you need. ## FAQs ### Can I host a Node.js app in the UK for £1 a day? Yes, if it's a request-driven app such as an Express API, webhook receiver or small server-rendered site. dijitul runs these on Plesk with the Node.js extension for £1 a day + VAT. Apps needing always-on workers, PM2 or heavy WebSockets get a quoted managed VPS. ### Does Plesk support Node.js? Yes. Plesk's Node.js extension lets you set the application root, startup file, Node.js version and environment variables, install dependencies with npm or Yarn, and run the app through Phusion Passenger. dijitul uses it to host Node.js apps on our managed Plesk servers. ### Can I host a Next.js site on Plesk? A Next.js static export runs anywhere, including our standard plan. Server-rendered Next.js can run through Plesk's Node.js support for modest sites, but larger apps with heavy rendering and image optimisation are better on a VPS. dijitul will advise once we see the app. ### Why is the first request to my Node.js app slow? On Passenger-based hosting, apps that are idle for a while may be stopped to free memory and started again on the next request. That first request includes start-up time. For apps that must always respond instantly, a VPS with the process kept running is the better fit. ### Can I run a Discord bot or background worker on Node.js hosting? Not on standard request-driven hosting, because bots and workers must run all the time, even with no web traffic. They need a server where you can keep a process alive with PM2 or systemd. dijitul hosts these on a quoted managed VPS. ## Pricing and ordering dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). Order at https://clients.dijitul.uk/order?product=complete-hosting&ref=dijituldns&src=nodejs-hosting or call 01623 650333.