Quickstart

Get a running pod with a public URL in just a few steps.

Step 1: Create an Account

Go to app.instapods.com/register and sign up with your email address, or sign in with GitHub or Google.

Step 2: Create a Pod

Dashboard
CLI
API

Click Create Pod from the dashboard
Enter a name for your pod (e.g., my-first-app)
Select a preset:
- Static — HTML/CSS/JS served by nginx
- PHP — PHP 8.2 / 8.3 / 8.4 with nginx and Composer
- Node.js — Node.js 18 / 20 / 22 with npm
- Python — Python 3.11 / 3.12 with pip and venv
Choose a plan (Launch is fine to start)
Click Create

Your pod will be ready in 1-2 seconds.

# Install the CLI
curl -fsSL https://instapods.com/install.sh | sh

# Login
instapods login --email you@example.com

# Deploy in one command (creates pod + uploads code + installs deps)
instapods deploy my-first-app --local ./my-project

The deploy command auto-detects your stack, creates the pod, syncs files, and reloads — all in one step. See deploy docs for details.

curl -X POST https://app.instapods.com/api/pods \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "my-first-app",
    "preset": "nodejs",
    "plan": "launch"
  }'

Step 3: Access Your Pod

Once created, your pod is accessible at:

https://my-first-app.nbg1-1.instapods.app

Connect via SSH

ssh instapod@nbg1-1.instapods.app -p YOUR_PORT

Each pod gets a unique SSH port (in range 2200-3200). Find yours on the pod detail page or via the CLI:

instapods pods get my-first-app

Step 4: Deploy Your Code

Git (Recommended)
CLI Upload
SSH/SCP

# Connect a GitHub repo and deploy
instapods git connect my-first-app \
  --repo https://github.com/you/your-repo --deploy

From now on, every push to main auto-deploys. See the Git Deployment guide for details.

# Upload a single file
instapods files upload my-first-app ./index.html

# Sync an entire directory
instapods files sync my-first-app --local ./my-project

# Reload to install deps and restart the service
instapods pods reload my-first-app

For Node.js and Python presets, you must run pods reload after uploading code. This installs dependencies (npm install / pip install) and restarts the app service.

scp -P YOUR_PORT ./index.html instapod@nbg1-1.instapods.app:/home/instapod/app/

Replace YOUR_PORT with your pod’s SSH port (shown in instapods pods get my-first-app).

Step 5: Add a Database (Optional)

Need a database? Install one with a single command:

instapods services add my-first-app -s mysql -w
instapods services creds my-first-app -s mysql

Or use the dashboard — go to your pod’s Services tab and click Install.

Database services require the Build plan ($7/mo) or higher. If you’re on Launch, upgrade from the billing page first.

Next Steps

Learn Core Concepts

Understand pods, presets, plans, and regions

Explore Presets

See what each preset includes

Set Up Custom Domain

Point your own domain to your pod

Install the CLI

Automate your workflow

Getting Started

Dashboard

Presets

Services

SSH & Files

Guides

Partners

Support

Step 1: Create an Account

Step 2: Create a Pod

Step 3: Access Your Pod

Connect via SSH

Step 4: Deploy Your Code

Step 5: Add a Database (Optional)

Next Steps

Learn Core Concepts

Explore Presets

Set Up Custom Domain

Install the CLI

​Step 1: Create an Account

​Step 2: Create a Pod

​Step 3: Access Your Pod

​Connect via SSH

​Step 4: Deploy Your Code

​Step 5: Add a Database (Optional)

​Next Steps

Learn Core Concepts

Explore Presets

Set Up Custom Domain

Install the CLI

Step 1: Create an Account

Step 2: Create a Pod

Step 3: Access Your Pod

Connect via SSH

Step 4: Deploy Your Code

Step 5: Add a Database (Optional)

Next Steps