Looking at how Apache CouchDB works reminds me of myself at times. Unlike a relational database (like SQL, for example), CouchDB uses a schema-free data model, which involves storing data without a predefined data structure. Its icon and tagline, a red couch with the word “relax,” resonate with me. As a developer who appreciates solutions that require less effort and provide greater efficiency, I have to say I’m a big fan of CouchDB.
Interestingly, CouchDB’s schema-free data model, the same technology used by MongoDB Atlas, makes it a popular choice for fast and easy data access. That’s what we call an organized mess, just in case you’re looking for a good defense for your inner CouchDB. But before you can kick your feet back and relax, this so-called “mess” (NoSQL database) has to be hosted on a server. In this guide, I’ll help you choose the best CouchDB hosting services.
1. Kamatera
Kamatera is a cloud hosting provider, which makes it a great candidate for CouchDB hosting. One thing about this type of database is that it’s supremely scalable. In fact, that’s not just a side trait; it’s the main characteristic that makes it so popular. Kamatera’s cloud virtual private servers are also inherently scalable, making it the perfect choice for your CouchDB database.
Kamatera’s mix of scalability and affordability propels it to the very top of my list of CouchDB databases you should check out.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- Cloud VPS that’s more flexible and affordable
- Load balancer, firewall, and managed services
- Premium Intel CPUs with 300% more power
- Choose between monthly or hourly billing
- Sign up today for a 30-day FREE trial
- Get started on Kamatera now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $4.00 |
| Disk Space | 20 GB SSD – 4 TB SSD |
| CPU | 1 – 32 cores |
| RAM | 1 GB – 128 GB |
Backed by cutting-edge cloud computing technology, Kamatera adds instant and limitless scalability to the VPS hosting marketplace. Each cloud or virtual server is equipped with blazing-fast SSD storage and Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs.
Go to full review »One of Kamatera’s best features is its flexible pricing system, where you can choose between paying hourly or monthly, depending on your preference. I recommend the Virtual Private Cloud package to get the most out of its CouchDB hosting services. It’s scalable, secure, isolated, and highly customizable — the perfect environment for your database to thrive.
2. IONOS
IONOS is a budget-friendly and scalable cloud CouchDB hosting provider. Affordability aside, this host also offers top-notch security solutions, including but not limited to an external firewall, 24/7 cloud server monitoring, a wildcard SSL certificate, DDoS protection, and ISO-certified data centers located in the United States, United Kingdom, and throughout Europe.
IONOS also has a strong dedication to SMBs and continuously improves its services with new features and tools that make running a business easier.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- Affordable VPS hosting with no hidden fees
- Try it FREE via 30-day money-back guarantee
- Full root access and API
- 10GB to 240GB SSD, Linux or Windows
- No throttling or traffic restrictions, ever
- Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $2.00 |
| Disk Space | 10 GB NVMe – 640 GB NVMe |
| CPU | 1 – 12 cores |
| RAM | 1 GB – 24 GB |
For an all-star player in the game of web hosting flexibility, look no further than the low-cost options from 1&1 IONOS. The company’s vServers are a powerful VPS option that includes dedicated resources and unlimited traffic.
Go to full review »Additionally, CouchDB is a popular database for online marketplaces with an extensive catalog of products. Adding IONOS, a PCI-compliant host, into the mix creates an extra layer of security to your eCommerce store’s backend infrastructure.
3. A2 Hosting
As I mentioned earlier, having a database that stores data in an “organized mess” makes file access easier and faster. In fact, some developers use CouchDB specifically to sacrifice data organization in favor of faster data processing speeds.
You’ll have a lightning-fast application when you combine CouchDB’s default speed and A2 Hosting’s speed-optimized servers.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- Turbo server & cache options for faster page loads
- Well-built plans starting with 4GB RAM
- FREE CDN plus auto-installs with Softaculous
- Multilingual support and up to unlimited CouchDB databases
- Developer-friendly tools
- Get started now »
| Starting Price/Mo. | $2.99 |
A2 Hosting is one of the fastest web hosting providers on the market, thanks to its Turbo-charged servers and powerful hardware. This trait makes it the perfect choice for hosting CouchDB projects that require rapid development and deployment. It also makes handling lots of data and user requests much more manageable.
4. InterServer
CouchDB is not an OS-specific database, meaning it doesn’t need a specific operating system to run. That makes it a great choice for a cross-platform application. Think of a to-do list application for Windows and Linux as an example.
Since CouchDB supports both operating systems, hosting the application on a cross-platform server like InterServer makes perfect sense.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- $0.01 for the first month using code HOSTINGADV
- Then $6 monthly with no contracts, no changes
- Latest of PHP, MySQL, Perl, Python, and Ruby
- 7 operating system options for Linux or Windows
- Full root access and choice of datacenter
- Get started on InterServer now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $6.00 |
| Disk Space | 30 GB SSD – 480 GB SSD |
| CPU | 1 – 16 CPUs |
| RAM | 2 – 32 GB |
InterServer’s on-site datacenter and hands-on involvement with configuring and provisioning virtual private servers give customers a level of flexibility not seen with many other hosting providers. InterServer rations VPS and cloud resources through slices.
Go to full review »InterServer is a developer’s haven. It supports Windows and Linux and works with many scripts, including JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, and Java. You can also choose between seven different operating systems.
5. Bluehost
Bluehost doesn’t offer traditional cloud hosting services anymore, but with its VPS hosting services, your websites and web apps will be in safe hands. This legendary host uses server replication technology to create multiple instances of your server.
As a result, if something, say a technical hitch, happens to one server, the backup server takes charge instantly.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- Seamless migration from any Bluehost shared hosting plan
- Root access and easy multi-server management
- Ample RAID-1 storage and tons of bandwidth
- Each plan gets at least 3 dedicated IP addresses
- cPanel and WHM with root access
- Get started on Bluehost now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $31.99 |
| Disk Space | 120 GB SSD – 240 GB SSD |
| CPU | 2 – 4 cores |
| RAM | 2 GB – 8 GB |
We love recommending Bluehost for its lifetime customer growth potential, meaning you can start with shared hosting and seamlessly scale to VPS hosting plans and beyond. The price versus performance is pretty unbeatable in the virtual hosting space, and Bluehost’s engineering team will kick off the customer relationship by instantly provisioning your server.
Go to full review »With Bluehost, you don’t have to worry about losing critical data due to a single server failure. Add that to CouchDB’s built-in Couch replication protocol, and you have a fully redundant database system all under one roof. If you’re planning on building something that requires high availability, this host provides the perfect home.
6. Hostinger
Hostinger is an incredibly generous host, regardless of the hosting package you choose. Here, you’ll get free email accounts, routine backups (daily or weekly, depending on the selected plan), multi-website support, unlimited free SSL certificates, and unlimited bandwidth.
The availability of unlimited databases makes this host the ideal candidate if you’re looking for a CouchDB server to host a multi-tenant Software as a Service platform.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- Cloud-based SSD storage for speed and reliability
- Double your RAM with burst periods
- FREE dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
- Custom control panel for reboots and OS installs
- HostingAdvice readers enjoy more than 50% off
- Get started on Hostinger now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $5.99 |
| Disk Space | 50 GB NVMe – 400 GB NVMe |
| CPU | 1 – 8 cores |
| RAM | 4 GB – 32 GB |
Hostinger’s laser focus on providing affordable hosting solutions shines brightest with the company’s VPS packages. The company provides six different virtual server plans, including one that costs less than $5.
Go to full review »Hostinger is an ideal hosting environment for SaaS projects using CouchDB. For example, think of an online project management tool that serves multiple companies. Each company has its own projects, tasks, team members, and data. The SaaS platform can provide a customized and secure environment by using a separate CouchDB database for each company. Companies can then manage their projects without the risk of their data falling into the laps of other companies on the same platform.
7. InMotion Hosting
Let’s face it — CouchDB isn’t the most popular type of database out there. In fact, according to Statista, it isn’t even among the top ten. But like having a spare tire in your trunk, this database comes through when you need it the most. Working with CouchDB can be quite challenging despite being a product of the Apache Software Foundation and boasting a large community of users.
The community aside, choosing InMotion Hosting makes a huge difference in your success with CouchDB. This company has one of the best customer support teams in web hosting, always ready to pull you out of the mud if you get stuck.
 | ★★★★★ /5.0 |
- HostingAdvice readers get 67% off the first term
- FREE site migrations and 2 hours of Launch Assist
- 2 – 3 dedicated IP address options
- FREE cPanel/WHM licenses included
- Highly available servers with real-time redundancy
- Get started on InMotion now.
| Starting Price/Mo. | $14.99 |
| Disk Space | 90 GB SSD – 360 GB SSD |
| CPU | 4 – 16 cores |
| RAM | 4 GB – 16 GB |
Boasting market-leading VPS hardware, slick management software, and free SSD drives and backups, InMotion Hosting competes to win when it comes to managed VPS hosting packages. The host initiates its VPS customer relationship with free website migrations and up to two hours of launch assistance from an experienced sysadmin.
Go to full review »Whether you’re a student trying to learn a thing or two about CouchDB or an established developer, having a knowledgeable team of customer support experts on standby gives you peace of mind. Once you sign up for a hosting plan at InMotion Hosting, the company will help you set up your server for free. If you need a website transfer, that, too, is part of the free package.
What Is CouchDB Hosting?
The concept of CouchDB hosting is similar to renting an apartment. You pay a monthly fee in exchange for space and amenities. It puts your database somewhere secure yet accessible so you can retrieve, update, and manage the database when you need to.
A web hosting company rents this space to you, so you don’t have to purchase and maintain expensive hardware yourself. This lets you focus on more important things, like building your web application or managing your database.
CouchDB hosting is also pretty affordable. We recommend choosing a cloud server or a virtual private server, which typically costs a minimum of $5 per month. With a cloud server or a VPS, you’ll get more control and customization over your server compared to shared hosting, which lacks those features.
How Much Does CouchDB Cost?
CouchDB is open-source and free to use, but you’ll have to pay for a web hosting plan to get your application online. The cost of CouchDB can vary depending on how big your application is and how you plan to use it.
Here’s a breakdown of the average starting price for each server type:
- Shared hosting: $1 to $10/month
- VPS hosting: $2 to $40/month
- Cloud hosting: $4 to $30/month
- Dedicated hosting: $30 to $120/month
Installing and running CouchDB on a shared server is very cost-effective, but shared hosting lacks the control and customization you get with cloud and virtual private servers. Shared hosting is also less secure because you share server space with other users. You can use a shared server for learning to code or for test projects, but it might not have the resources you need to power real-world applications.
When you upgrade to a VPS or cloud server, you only pay a little more per month, but you get much more bang for your buck. We recommend VPS hosting at a minimum for professional web applications.
And for the heaviest workloads, dedicated servers offer the most power and security. These hosting plans come at a premium and are usually best for larger organizations that can foot a hefty monthly bill.
Is CouchDB in the Cloud?
CouchDB is wherever you host it, which can be on a cloud server or on-premise. But we recommend setting it up on a cloud platform like those discussed earlier in this article. I’m talking about the likes of Kamatera, IONOS, and InterServer.
This way, you get all the benefits of cloud computing, like scalability and reliability, all under one roof. Also, many cloud providers offer specific services for hosting CouchDB, making it even easier to manage.
What Is the Latest Version of CouchDB?
At the time of writing, the latest version of CouchDB is 3.3.3, which was released on December 4, 2023. Keep in mind that CouchDB is open-source, meaning it changes constantly with new updates and improvements from developers.
To keep up with the latest version of this database, check the official CouchDB website. You can also follow the latest updates on its GitHub repository.
Sit Back and Relax With CouchDB
The best CouchDB host offers scalability, flexibility, speed, security, and the ability to handle big data. That’s what you get from any of the CouchDB hosts I’ve covered above.
They’ll work best for small to medium-sized projects. If you want more powerful hardware and infrastructure, consider opting for industry giants like Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Amazon Web Services.
And you shouldn’t have to worry about compatibility issues. For instance, if you opt for IBM Cloud, its JSON document database, IBM Cloudant, uses CouchDB’s technology and the same replication protocol.
With that in mind, choosing the right host for your project should be much easier now.
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