Deploying AI apps: from Cursor/Replit to production
You built it with AI; now ship it. We outline deployment paths from Cursor and Replit to production.
From local/Replit to first deploy
If you built in Cursor or locally: push to GitHub/GitLab, then connect the repo to a host (Vercel, Railway, Render, etc.) for automatic deploys. If you built in Replit: use Replit's deploy or export the app and deploy to any Node/Python host. First deploy is usually "connect repo → add env vars → deploy." No need for complex orchestration at first.
Hosting and runtimes that fit
Match the stack: Next.js/React static → Vercel, Netlify. Node/Python API or full-stack → Railway, Render, Fly.io, or a VPS (e.g. Vultr or DigitalOcean for simple cloud VPS). Replit-style runtimes → Replit Deploy or export to a standard runtime elsewhere. Use managed DB (e.g. Supabase, PlanetScale, or provider DB) so you're not managing servers. For AI apps that call APIs, ensure env vars for keys are set in the host. Need a simple VPS? Try Vultr (referral link - new users get credits).
CI and repeatable deploys
Use the host's native CI (e.g. Vercel/Railway build on push) or add GitHub Actions/GitLab CI to run tests and then deploy. Keep a single source of truth (main or release branch) and deploy on merge. Add secret scanning and dependency checks to CI so production stays clean. Once that's in place, every merge is a repeatable, auditable deploy.
Fastest path from AI-built app to production: Railway connects your GitHub repo and deploys in minutes - databases, env vars, and auto-scaling included. Deploy on Railway →
Need a reliable cloud VPS or App Platform? DigitalOcean offers Droplets, managed databases, and a simple App Platform - predictable pricing and developer-friendly docs. Try DigitalOcean →
Compare more tools: See our full DevEx and AI coding tool comparisons.
Ship faster with your stack: We recommend BrainGrid for Cursor and Claude Code users. Try BrainGrid →