Deploy Node.js to OneBit — Nigeria's Naira-Native Cloud (Free Tier)

If you've tried hosting a Node.js app on Railway, Render, or Heroku, you've paid in dollars — and every naira devaluation has quietly raised your bill. OneBit Deploy is built differently: all pricing is in naira (₦), no FX markup, and the free tier costs exactly ₦0/mo. No foreign card required.

This guide walks you from a local Node.js app to a live URL in under 10 minutes, using OneBit's push-to-deploy platform.

Prerequisites

• A Node.js app (Express, Fastify, Hapi — any framework works)
• Your code on GitHub (public or private repo)
• A free OneBit account → Register at deploy.onebit.ng/register (takes 2 minutes, no card needed for the Free tier)

That's it. No CLI to install, no Docker knowledge required.

Step 1 — Push your app to GitHub

OneBit deploys straight from your GitHub repository. Make sure your app:

1. Has a package.json with a start script:

   {
     "scripts": {
       "start": "node index.js"
     }
   }

2. Reads its port from the environment — OneBit injects PORT at runtime:

   const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
   app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Listening on port ${PORT}`));

3. Does not commit .env files — environment variables are set in the console (Step 3).

Push your code:

git add .
git commit -m "ready for OneBit deploy"
git push origin main

Step 2 — Connect your GitHub repo to OneBit Deploy

1. Log in at deploy.onebit.ng.
2. On Apps, press Add app and open the GitHub account tab.
3. Press Connect GitHub to authorise the OneBit GitHub integration, select your repository and its Branch, then press Import.
4. OneBit detects your Node.js runtime automatically ("A Node.js app."). The build command (npm install) and start command (npm start) need no setting; Build settings is there if you need to change the build.
5. Press Deploy.

What happens next: OneBit queues a build. The app page shows each step (building it, switching it on, giving it an address) — this usually takes 60–120 seconds for a typical Node.js app. Wait for it to say Live before testing your URL.

Step 3 — Set environment variables

Never put secrets in your git history. OneBit injects environment variables at build and runtime from the console:

1. Open your app on Apps → Environment tab.
2. Under Add variable, add each variable (e.g. DATABASE_URL, JWT_SECRET, API_KEY) as a Name and Value, or use Bulk add (.env) for several.
3. Press Add.

Status note: Saving restarts the app so it picks the value up. Give it a moment before testing; your new env vars are live once the app is back Live.

Step 4 — Deploy: git push → live URL

From here, every push to your main branch triggers an automatic redeploy:

# Make a change
echo "// updated" >> index.js
git add . && git commit -m "fix: update handler"
git push origin main

Within ~90 seconds, OneBit builds and deploys the new version. Your live URL (e.g. https://yourapp.onebit.ng) updates automatically — no manual step required.

Step 5 — (Optional) Add a .ng domain

Want yourapp.com.ng or yourapp.ng instead of the default subdomain?

1. Head to domain.onebit.ng and search for your .ng domain.
2. Register it in naira via Paystack — no foreign card.
3. In the Deploy console, open Domains, open your new name and press Set target to pick your app.
4. A domain bought from OneBit needs no DNS records. For a domain bought elsewhere, add it on your app's Domains tab and update its DNS records as shown (OneBit provides the exact A/CNAME values).

DNS propagation typically takes 5–30 minutes. Once live, OneBit provisions an SSL certificate automatically.

Note: The register → deploy bundle (same naira login, same console) is unique to OneBit. No other Nigerian-focused platform lets you register a .ng domain and point it to a hosted app in one place.

OneBit Deploy pricing

All plans are billed in naira. No FX markup. No surprise dollar-rate charges.

Why Nigerian developers are switching

• No FX drag — Railway/Render bill in USD; every devaluation raises your costs. OneBit locks your pricing in naira.
• Free tier with no card — Get a live URL at ₦0/mo. Upgrade only when you need to.
• Naira checkout — Paystack integration means you pay the same way you pay for everything else in Nigeria.
• Real platform, running now — 13 live apps in production. Not a waitlist, not a beta shell.

Ready to deploy?

Register free at deploy.onebit.ng →

It takes 2 minutes. Your first app is live in under 10.

Last updated: August 2026. Managed Postgres connectivity is available on paid plans and is not yet covered by automated synthetic checks — treat Postgres-specific steps as in preview.