Deploy and Host Managed Flipt Service with one click on Railway

Flipt is a free, open-source feature flag management tool available on Flipt GitHub. It helps developers control the rollout of new features, test functionality with a subset of users, and enable or disable code paths dynamically without redeploying applications. With Flipt, you gain full control over your application’s feature management setup, supported by an active open-source community.

About Hosting Flipt on Railway (Self Hosting Flipt on Railway)

You can self host Flipt to manage all your feature flags and configurations without relying on third-party SaaS vendors. This ensures complete privacy and customization for your product experiments and rollouts. With Flipt, you can launch features gradually, perform A/B tests, or turn off features instantly if issues arise. The Flipt deploy process is seamless on Railway, making it easy to set up, scale, and manage your feature flag system with minimal effort.

Why Deploy Managed Flipt Service on Railway

Deploying Flipt on Railway gives you the flexibility of a fully managed platform while keeping your feature management under control. Railway takes care of provisioning, scaling, and maintenance, so you can focus on building features and running experiments.

Railway vs DigitalOcean

On DigitalOcean, you’d need to set up Docker, configure PostgreSQL manually, and manage scaling. With Railway, you get a one-click deployment for Flipt with built-in scaling and database support.

Railway vs Linode

Linode requires ongoing patch management and manual setup for Flipt. Railway automates updates, provides secure managed containers, and lets you self host Flipt in minutes.

Railway vs Vultr

Vultr involves hands-on configuration of storage, networking, and scaling for Flipt. Railway simplifies this by automating deployments, making Flipt deploy effortless.

Railway vs AWS Lightsail

While AWS Lightsail offers flexibility, it introduces complexity with networking, scaling, and server management. Railway removes these hurdles, making Flipt self hosting smooth and fast.

Railway vs Hetzner

Hetzner is cost-effective but expects you to manage servers end-to-end. Railway handles infrastructure management, letting you focus on managing your Flipt app without sysadmin overhead.

Common Use Cases

Here are 5 common use cases for Flipt:

1. Progressive Rollouts: Deploy new features to a small percentage of users first, monitor performance, and then roll out to more users.
2. A/B Testing: Compare two versions of a feature to analyze performance and user engagement.
3. Kill Switch for Features: Instantly disable problematic features in production without redeploying.
4. Environment-Specific Flags: Enable or disable features based on environment (staging, production, QA).
5. Custom User Segmentation: Target specific user groups with feature variations for personalized experiences.

Dependencies for Flipt hosted on Railway

To run Flipt, you’ll need:

• A PostgreSQL database (to store feature flag configurations).
• Docker (to containerize and run Flipt easily).
• Optionally, a Helm Chart if you deploy on Kubernetes.

Deployment Dependencies

A managed Flipt service on Railway requires setting environment variables like:

• DATABASE_URL (PostgreSQL connection string)
• FLIPT_SERVER_PORT
• FLIPT_LOG_LEVEL

Implementation Details for Flipt App

When deploying, Railway automatically provisions your app, database, and environment. Once deployed, you can access the Flipt dashboard to create, update, and manage feature flags.

Alternatives to Flipt (Comparison)

Flipt vs LaunchDarkly

LaunchDarkly is a commercial SaaS feature flag platform with enterprise-grade features, but it comes at a high cost. Flipt offers a self-hosted, open-source alternative at zero cost.

Flipt vs Flagsmith

Flagsmith provides both hosted and open-source solutions. While feature-rich, its hosted plans add costs. Flipt focuses on being lightweight, self-hosted, and simple.

Flipt vs Unleash

Unleash is another open-source feature flag platform with Kubernetes-native deployments. Flipt is more lightweight and easier to deploy with Flipt Docker or Railway.

Flipt vs OpenFlag

OpenFlag is also open-source but less active compared to Flipt. Flipt has a stronger community, better documentation, and modern integrations.

Flipt vs ConfigCat

ConfigCat is cloud-based and easy to use but has subscription pricing. Flipt offers free and private self-hosting.

How to Use Flipt

To use Flipt:

1. Deploy Flipt on Railway or Docker.
2. Connect a database (PostgreSQL recommended).
3. Access the dashboard via browser.
4. Create feature flags for your applications.
5. Integrate Flipt SDK into your app to dynamically enable or disable features.

How to Self Host Flipt on other VPS

Clone the Repository

Download Flipt from GitHub using:

git clone https://github.com/flipt-io/flipt.git

Run with Docker

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 \
  -e DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/flipt \
  flipt/flipt:latest

Use Helm Chart (Kubernetes)

If running Kubernetes:

helm repo add flipt https://flipt-io.github.io/helm
helm install flipt flipt/flipt

Access Flipt Dashboard

Once deployed, visit http://localhost:8080 or Railway-provided domain to manage feature flags.

Features of Flipt

• Feature Flags: Enable, disable, or gradually roll out features.
• Targeting Rules: Define user segments for experiments.
• SDK Integrations: Available for multiple programming languages.
• REST and gRPC APIs: For flexible programmatic control.
• Self Host Ready: Run on Docker, Helm, or Railway.
• Lightweight and Fast: Minimal infrastructure footprint.

Official Pricing of Flipt

Flipt is open-source and free to self host. This makes it an affordable alternative to commercial solutions like LaunchDarkly. For managed hosting, you can look at platforms like Railway that provide low-cost deployments starting at $5–$10 per month, depending on scaling needs.

Self Hosting Flipt vs Paid Hosted Solutions

• Self Hosting Flipt: Free, private, customizable. Costs only include server or Railway hosting.
• Hosted Flipt Solutions: Easier setup but may come with a subscription cost for convenience.

Monthly Cost of Self Hosting Flipt on Railway

Self hosting Flipt on Railway usually costs $5–$15 per month, covering the base app instance and database. Actual costs vary depending on traffic and storage needs.

FAQs

What is Flipt?

Flipt is an open-source feature flag management platform available on GitHub.

How do I deploy Flipt on Railway?

You can deploy Flipt on Railway with one click, set your database URL, and start managing feature flags instantly.

What are the dependencies for hosting Flipt?

Flipt requires PostgreSQL, Docker (or Helm if using Kubernetes), and a few environment variables.

Can I use Flipt for A/B testing?

Yes, Flipt supports A/B testing by targeting specific user groups with different feature variations.

What are the advantages of Flipt self hosting?

Self hosting Flipt ensures privacy, cost savings, and full customization.

How does Flipt compare to LaunchDarkly?

Flipt is free and open-source, while LaunchDarkly is a commercial SaaS product with enterprise features but higher pricing.

Does Flipt support Kubernetes?

Yes, Flipt provides a Helm chart for easy deployment on Kubernetes clusters.

What is Flipt Docker image?

The official Flipt Docker image lets you quickly run Flipt in a containerized environment with minimal setup.

How much does it cost to self host Flipt on Railway?

Generally $5–$15/month depending on scaling requirements and database size.

Where can I find the Flipt GitHub repository?

The official repository is available here: https://github.com/flipt-io/flipt.

Deploy Now on Railway and start managing your features smarter with Flipt!