--- title: "Deploy Flipt (Open-Source Feature Flag & Experimentation Platform)" description: "Flipt [Sep’26] (Feature Flags, LaunchDarkly & Unleash alternative) Selfhost" category: "Other" url: https://railway.com/deploy/flipt --- # Deploy Flipt (Open-Source Feature Flag & Experimentation Platform) Flipt [Sep’26] (Feature Flags, LaunchDarkly & Unleash alternative) Selfhost **[Deploy Flipt (Open-Source Feature Flag & Experimentation Platform) on Railway](https://railway.com/template/flipt)** - **Creator:** shinyduo's Projects - **Category:** Other - **Total deploys:** 5 ## Template content ### Redis https://cdn.sanity.io/images/sy1jschh/production/0ce0bfdcfbdbf69662b1116671f97c2dd788b655-157x157.svg - **Image:** redis:8.2.1 - **Start command:** `/bin/sh -c "rm -rf $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH/lost+found/ && exec docker-entrypoint.sh redis-server --requirepass $REDIS_PASSWORD --save 60 1 --dir $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH"` ### flipt - **Image:** flipt/flipt:latest - **Health check:** /health - **Public domain:** Yes ### Postgres https://devicons.railway.app/i/postgresql.svg - **Image:** ghcr.io/railwayapp-templates/postgres-ssl:17 ## Documentation ![Flipt Banner Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/dh2nt6hgh/image/upload/v1758462040/flipt_4149a657e7_lqud2i.webp "Flipt Self Hosting on Railway") # 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](https://github.com/flipt-io/flipt). 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](https://github.com/flipt-io/flipt). --- **Deploy Now on Railway and start managing your features smarter with Flipt!** ## Similar templates - [Rocky Linux](https://railway.com/deploy/rocky-linux) — Hosted Rocky Linux 9 workspace with SSH and persistent storage. 🚀 - [Foundry Virtual Tabletop](https://railway.com/deploy/X5tR6G) — A Self-Hosted & Modern Roleplaying Platform - [Letta Code Remote](https://railway.com/deploy/letta-code-remote) — Run a Letta Code agent 24/7. No inbound ports, just deploy. Open this page in a browser: https://railway.com/deploy/flipt