![Flare network scalability Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/dojdzamvk/image/upload/Screenshot_2025-10-24_at_2.32.46_AM_cnxlj3 "Self Hosting Flare on Railway)

Deploy and Host Managed Flare Service with one click on Railway

Flare is an open-source feature flag and configuration management tool that helps developers control how and when new features are rolled out to users. It enables teams to deploy code safely, test features gradually, and manage configurations dynamically - all without redeploying the application. Available on GitHub, Flare empowers developers with full control, flexibility, and speed in modern software delivery.

About Hosting Flare on Railway (Self Hosting Flare on Railway)

You can self-host Flare on Railway to take full ownership of your feature flagging infrastructure. This means all configurations, rollouts, and user data remain private and under your control, with no third-party interference.

Self-hosting Flare on Railway ensures you have a secure, scalable, and privacy-friendly environment to manage your feature toggles. When you deploy Flare on Railway, you gain:

• Seamless setup within minutes
• Automatic scaling with growing app traffic
• Secure data handling
• Easy environment variable configuration

Why Deploy Managed Flare Service on Railway

Deploying a managed Flare service on Railway combines the power of Railway’s cloud automation with Flare’s flexibility in managing real-time feature rollouts. You get all the advantages of Flare’s open-source technology while enjoying the comfort of a managed environment.

Railway simplifies everything-deployment, scaling, and maintenance-so your team can focus on delivering value instead of dealing with infrastructure headaches.

Railway vs DigitalOcean

While DigitalOcean requires manual setup and ongoing management for self-hosting Flare, Railway offers one-click deployment, built-in scaling, and zero manual server configuration. Railway’s managed containers handle updates automatically, reducing downtime and operational overhead.

Railway vs Linode

Linode provides reliable VPS hosting, but it demands hands-on patching, monitoring, and setup for Flare. Railway automates all of that-your Flare instance is deployed in a secure, managed environment with simplified environment variable configuration.

Railway vs Vultr

Vultr requires you to configure the web server, handle network rules, and perform continuous tuning for optimal performance. With Railway, these tasks are automated, allowing you to focus entirely on feature management rather than DevOps work.

Railway vs AWS Lightsail

AWS Lightsail is powerful but complex for small teams. It involves configuring networking, scaling, and access permissions manually. Railway makes Flare deployment as simple as clicking a button-no complex CLI commands, no manual server management.

Railway vs Hetzner

Hetzner offers affordable VPS hosting, but users must manage updates, backups, and monitoring manually. Railway removes all that friction with automatic scaling, simple deployment, and integrated monitoring tools-ideal for a managed Flare service.

Common Use Cases for Flare

Here are 5 practical use cases for deploying Flare:

1. Feature Flag Management: Instantly enable or disable new features in production without redeploying the code.

2. A/B Testing: Experiment with different versions of a feature to see what performs best before rolling out globally.

3. Progressive Rollouts: Gradually release new updates to a percentage of users to monitor performance and stability.

4. Configuration Management: Manage environment-based configurations dynamically for staging, production, or test environments.

5. Emergency Kill Switches: Instantly disable problematic features during outages or performance degradation without needing a code rollback.

Dependencies for Flare Hosted on Railway

To host Flare on Railway, you need the following core dependencies:

• Database: PostgreSQL or Redis (to store feature flags and configurations)

• Runtime: Node.js (Flare’s backend is often built with Node or similar environments)

• Server: Express.js or any compatible web server

Deployment Dependencies for Managed Flare Service

Railway provisions these automatically for managed Flare instances. It handles environment setup, scaling, secure storage, and database connections for you.

Implementation Details for Flare

When deploying Flare, set the following environment variables:

• FLARE_DB_HOST

• FLARE_DB_USER

• FLARE_DB_PASSWORD

• FLARE_DB_NAME

These connect your app to a PostgreSQL or Redis instance. Once configured, your Flare dashboard is live, letting you manage all your feature flags in real time.

How Does Flare Compare with Other Feature Flagging Tools?

Flare vs LaunchDarkly

LaunchDarkly is a popular commercial tool with advanced integrations but comes with high subscription costs. Flare, on the other hand, is open-source and free to self-host, offering complete flexibility and control without ongoing fees.

Flare vs Flagsmith

Flagsmith is another open-source alternative. While Flagsmith provides API-based flag management, Flare offers simpler deployment and lighter architecture-making it better suited for smaller teams or rapid deployment scenarios.

Flare vs ConfigCat

ConfigCat focuses on simplicity and SaaS-based flag hosting. Flare provides similar ease-of-use but allows you to self-host-keeping data private and reducing dependency on third-party services.

Flare vs Unleash

Unleash offers enterprise-grade rollout control and complex segmentation. Flare focuses on being developer-friendly and easy to set up, making it ideal for teams looking for a simpler and faster feature management workflow.

How to Use Flare

Using Flare is simple and intuitive:

1. Deploy Flare on Railway – Click the deploy button, set environment variables, and Railway handles the rest.

2. Access the Dashboard – After deployment, open your Flare dashboard from the Railway console.

3. Add Feature Flags – Create new feature toggles, define rollout conditions, and save configurations.

4. Integrate SDK – Add the Flare SDK to your app or website to read and apply flag states in real time.

5. Manage Flags Dynamically – Enable, disable, or modify features anytime directly from the Flare dashboard.

How to Self Host Flare on Other VPS

1. Clone the Repository

Clone Flare from GitHub using:
git clone https://github.com/flare-org/flare.git

2. Install Dependencies

Make sure your VPS has Node.js, PostgreSQL (or Redis), and npm installed.

3. Configure Environment Variables

Set up your .env file with:

FLARE_DB_HOST=
FLARE_DB_USER=
FLARE_DB_PASSWORD=
FLARE_DB_NAME=

4. Start the Flare Application

Run the app using npm start or through a process manager like PM2.

5. Access the Dashboard

Visit your server’s public URL to access the Flare dashboard and begin managing features.

Features of Flare

• Real-time feature flag toggling

• Easy integration with Node.js, Python, or frontend SDKs

• Role-based access control for team management

• REST API support for automation

• Lightweight and scalable backend

Official Pricing of Flare Cloud Service

Flare offers both free self-hosted and managed cloud versions:

• Free (Self-Hosted): 100% open-source with full data control.

• Managed Cloud Plan: Starts around $9/month for up to 10,000 requests, scaling with usage. Enterprise plans are available with custom SLAs, support, and monitoring.

All plans support real-time flag updates, REST API access, and multi-environment management.

Self Hosting Flare vs Flare Paid Plans

• Self-Hosting Flare: Free and private. You control your infrastructure, updates, and security.

• Flare Paid Plans: Managed hosting, automatic updates, backups, and customer support included.

Monthly Cost of Self Hosting Flare on Railway

Self-hosting Flare on Railway typically costs $5–$10/month, covering the base container and database. Depending on storage and traffic, you can scale up affordably.

System Requirements for Hosting Flare

• CPU: 1 vCPU minimum

• RAM: 512MB or higher

• Storage: 1GB (scales with data size)

• Database: PostgreSQL or Redis

• Runtime: Node.js 18+

FAQs

What is Flare?

Flare is an open-source feature flag and configuration management platform that helps developers control feature rollouts safely.

How do I self-host Flare?

You can deploy Flare on Railway with one click or host it manually on any VPS using Node.js and PostgreSQL.

What are the main benefits of Flare?

It offers real-time toggling, A/B testing, privacy, and full control through a simple dashboard.

How do I deploy Flare on Railway?

Click the deploy button, connect your database, and Railway automatically handles the setup and scaling.

What dependencies are required for Flare?

You’ll need Node.js runtime and a supported database like PostgreSQL or Redis.

Is Flare free to use?

Yes. Flare is open-source and free to self-host. Paid managed plans are optional.

How does Flare compare with LaunchDarkly?

LaunchDarkly is commercial and costly, while Flare provides open-source flexibility and affordability.

How much does hosting on Railway cost?

Usually between $5–$10/month, depending on your usage and storage requirements.

Can I integrate Flare with my existing CI/CD pipeline?

Yes. Flare supports REST APIs and SDKs to integrate seamlessly into your DevOps workflow.