Source deploys without handing over your infrastructure.
Render takes server operations off your plate: connect a repo for builds, SSL, and zero-downtime deploys. Budget for the workspace plan and compute. Free services spin down when idle, so the next visitor waits for a cold start.
Miren builds your code without a Dockerfile and autoscales app instances on your servers. You choose the capacity and where your data lives. There's no platform compute markup when you self-host, but you still pay for the hardware and keep it running.
Where Miren is today: Managed clusters are in early access. Distributed runners spread stateless workloads across nodes, but stateful workloads and the control plane still run on the coordinator; adding runners doesn't make the coordinator highly available. Miren Disks support local backup and restore, with remote cloud backup still on the roadmap.
| Feature | Render | Miren |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Render's managed cloud — you don't run the servers | Your own infrastructure — a VPS, a cloud box, or bare metal |
| Pricing | Two axes to estimate: a per-seat workspace plan plus pay-as-you-go compute | Free self-hosted runtime; you pay for servers, storage, and networking |
| Deploys | Connect a repo; native runtimes or Docker, automatic SSL | Push your code — no Dockerfile, automatic SSL and zero-downtime deploys |
| Autoscaling | Built in on paid plans | On by default, based on real traffic |
| Free tier | Free web services, but they spin down when idle — 30–60s cold starts | Free self-hosted runtime; you provide the infrastructure |
| Databases | Managed Postgres and key-value on Render's infrastructure | Run your own databases; Miren Disks provides local backup and restore |
| Compliance | SOC 2 and HIPAA-compliant workspaces available | Your infrastructure; you're responsible for meeting your compliance requirements |
| Team access | Billed per seat on paid workspace plans | Auth and access control included, through Miren Cloud |
Render handles builds, SSL, and zero-downtime deploys from a connected repo, without servers for you to maintain. It also runs PostgreSQL with point-in-time recovery and connects services through private networking. Blueprints keep your infrastructure setup in code. Teams with compliance requirements can choose SOC 2 and HIPAA-compliant workspaces.
Budget for both the workspace plan and pay-as-you-go compute. Render runs the infrastructure, so you trade server control for less operational work. Moving elsewhere means migrating your data and rebuilding your deployment pipeline.
Miren gives you source builds, automatic SSL, and zero-downtime deploys on your own hardware. Instead of buying Render compute, you pay for and maintain the servers. Miren Disks provide local database backup and restore, but remote cloud backup is still on the roadmap. Miren Cloud handles team authentication and access control.
Deploy to your servers and see how the workflow feels.