5 Awesome Ways to Deploy Flowise

Flowise is a powerful open-source platform for building AI agents visually. Choosing the right deployment method depends on your needs for complexity, cost, and control. Here are five ways to deploy Flowise, from one-click solutions to enterprise setups.

Quick Comparison

1. Sliplane: The Easy Production Way

Sliplane is a Container-as-a-Service platform that makes deploying Flowise simple. One-click deployment, automatic SSL, and zero server management.

Complexity: ⭐ Very Easy - Deploy in seconds via container.new/flowise. No Docker Compose or server config needed. For detailed instructions, see our guide to deploying Flowise with Sliplane.

Base price: €9/month - Pay per server, deploy unlimited containers. Run Flowise with databases, APIs, and workers on the same server.

Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐ Good - Full control over environment variables, container config, resource limits, custom domains, and volume mounts.

Best for: Production-ready deployment without DevOps overhead, running multiple services cost-effectively.

2. Hetzner VPS: The DIY Approach

Deploying Flowise on a Hetzner VPS gives you complete control at a low cost. You manage everything yourself, from server setup to security updates.

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate - Requires provisioning a server, installing Docker, setting up reverse proxy for SSL, and configuring backups. See our detailed guide for step-by-step instructions.

Base price: Hetzner offers excellent VPS prices in Europe, starting from €3.49/month for 2 vCPU.

Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full - Complete control over OS, software, networking, firewall, and monitoring. Run multiple services on one server.

Best for: Cost-conscious developers who want full control and enjoy managing infrastructure.

3. Local Docker: Development & Testing

Running Flowise locally with Docker is perfect for development, testing, and learning. It's free and requires minimal setup.

Complexity: ⭐⭐ Easy - Install Docker Desktop, create a Docker Compose file, and run the container. See our guide for detailed instructions.

Base price: Free - Uses your own hardware, no hosting fees.

Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High - Modify Docker Compose, mount volumes, set environment variables, test different versions. Limited by local machine resources.

Best for: Development, testing, learning, and experimentation without public access.

4. Kubernetes: Enterprise Scale

Deploying Flowise on Kubernetes offers unmatched scalability for large-scale deployments, but it's the most complex option. As we've written before, Kubernetes isn't for everyone.

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Complex - Requires cluster setup, Pod/Service/Ingress configuration, persistent volumes, monitoring, and security policies. You'll also need Ingress controllers, SSL certificates, and more. See Docker vs Kubernetes for when it makes sense.

Base price: Variable - Depends on cloud provider (AWS EKS, Google GKE, Azure AKS), cluster size, load balancers, and storage.

Customizability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full - Auto-scaling, multi-region deployments, advanced networking, fine-grained resource management.

Best for: Enterprise deployments with dedicated DevOps teams, running hundreds of services, or specific scaling requirements.

Reality check: Most teams don't need Kubernetes. It was built for Google-scale problems. If you're running a few services, simpler options like Sliplane or a VPS are usually better choices.

5. Flowise Cloud: Zero Maintenance

Flowise Cloud is the official managed service where everything is handled for you. It's the easiest option but comes with higher costs and less customization.

Complexity: ⭐ Very Easy - Sign up and start building. No setup, configuration, or maintenance required.

Base price: Free tier includes 2 flows. Paid plans start from $35/month. Check Flowise pricing for current rates.

Customizability: ⭐⭐ Limited - Standard configurations only, no server-level access, limited environment variable control. Can't modify infrastructure or install custom software.

Best for: Zero maintenance, official support, guaranteed uptime and SLAs, managed service preference.

Detailed Comparison

Which Option Should You Choose?

Sliplane - Best balance of simplicity, cost, and production-readiness. Perfect for startups and small teams.

Hetzner VPS - Lowest cost with full control. Great for cost-conscious developers who enjoy managing infrastructure.

Local Docker - Free option for development, testing, and learning. No public access needed.

Kubernetes - Enterprise-scale infrastructure. Only consider if you have a DevOps team and simpler options can't meet your needs.

Flowise Cloud - Zero maintenance with official support. Premium pricing for managed service.

For most users, Sliplane offers the sweet spot: production-ready deployment in minutes with predictable pricing and enough flexibility.

FAQ

Q: Can I migrate between deployment methods? A: Yes! Flowise data is stored in a database, so you can export and import workflows between different methods.

Q: Which option is most cost-effective for multiple services? A: Sliplane's server-based pricing (€9/month for unlimited containers) is usually the most cost-effective managed option. A Hetzner VPS (starting from €3.49/month) can be cheaper if you manage it yourself.

Q: Do I need Kubernetes for production? A: No. Most production deployments work fine with Sliplane or a VPS. Kubernetes is only necessary for auto-scaling across multiple regions or running hundreds of services.

Q: Can I start locally and deploy to production later? A: Absolutely! Start with local Docker for development, then deploy to Sliplane or a VPS when ready. If you hit real scale, you can use Kubernetes. Docker Compose configuration is similar across environments.

Q: What about security and backups? A: Sliplane handles SSL, security updates, and backups automatically. With a VPS, you set these up yourself. Flowise Cloud includes managed backups and security.