catstodon/docs/Running-Mastodon/Heroku-guide.md

Heroku guide

Mastodon can theoretically run indefinitely on a free Heroku app. It should be noted this has limited testing and could have unpredictable results.

1. Click the above button.
2. Fill in the options requested.

• You can use a .herokuapp.com domain, which will be simple to set up, or you can use a custom domain. If you want a custom domain and HTTPS, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan (to use Heroku's SSL features), or set up CloudFlare who offer free "Flexible SSL" (note: CloudFlare have some undefined limits on WebSockets. So far, no one has reported hitting concurrent connection limits).
• You will want Amazon S3 for file storage. The only exception is for development purposes, where you may not care if files are not saved. Follow a guide online for creating a free Amazon S3 bucket and Access Key, then enter the details.
• If you want your Mastodon to be able to send emails, configure SMTP settings here (or later). Consider using Mailgun or similar, who offer free plans that should suit your interests.

3. Deploy! The app should be set up, with a working web interface and database. You can change settings and manage versions from the Heroku dashboard.