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
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 nginxPHP — PHP 8.2 / 8.3 / 8.4 with nginx and ComposerNode.js — Node.js 18 / 20 / 22 with npmPython — 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
