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Pond
How-To Guide

How to deploy a React app
in minutes.

Build your React app, upload the build folder, and go live. Works with Create React App, Vite, and any React setup. Free hosting with SSL. Upgrade for custom domains.

  • Any React app
  • Instant deploy
  • Global CDN
  • Free SSL

Step-by-step deployment guide

  1. 1

    Build your React app

    Run your build command to generate static files. For Create React App: npm run build. For Vite: npm run build.

    # Create React App
npm run build

# Vite
npm run build
  2. 2

    Create a Pond account

    Sign up for free with your email. No credit card required. Ready to deploy in seconds.

  3. 3

    Create a new pond

    Click "New Pond" and name your React project. This will be your deployment container.

  4. 4

    Upload your build folder

    Drag and drop your build folder (or dist for Vite). Pond will host all files and serve index.html as the entry point.

  5. 5

    Configure SPA routing (optional)

    For client-side routing (React Router), enable SPA mode in pond settings. This serves index.html for all routes.

  6. 6

    Your React app is live!

    Get your URL and share your app. Upgrade to connect a custom domain for a professional look.

Why deploy React on Pond?

Simple React hosting without the complexity

Works with any React setup

Create React App, Vite, Next.js (static export), or custom webpack configs. If it builds to static files, it works.

SPA routing support

Enable SPA mode for React Router. All routes serve index.html, letting your app handle routing.

Global CDN

Your React app loads fast from edge servers worldwide. Great performance for users everywhere.

Free SSL certificates

HTTPS enabled automatically. Your app is secure and trusted by browsers.

Custom domains (paid)

Upgrade to connect your own domain for a professional URL. SSL certificate provisioned automatically.

Instant cache updates

Deploy updates and see changes immediately. CDN cache is cleared automatically.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about static website hosting and deployment

Static website hosting serves pre-built HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files without server-side processing. This makes websites faster, more secure, and cheaper to host than dynamic sites. Pond handles all the infrastructure so you just upload your files and go live.
Upload your HTML files and assets to Pond: drag and drop a folder or ZIP archive. Your website goes live instantly with a shareable link. Upgrade to connect a custom domain for a professional URL, and Pond handles SSL certificates automatically.
Pond works with any static site generator or JavaScript framework including React, Vue, Next.js (static export), Nuxt, Astro, Svelte, Angular, Gatsby, Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, and more. If it outputs HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, you can host it on Pond.
Build your React app (npm run build), then upload the build folder to Pond. Your React application goes live immediately. For SPAs, configure Pond to serve index.html for all routes to enable client-side routing.
Add your domain in the pond settings and update your DNS records to point to Pond (we provide the exact values). We automatically provision a free SSL certificate and your website goes live on your custom domain within minutes.
Yes, Pond provides free SSL certificates for all websites including custom domains. HTTPS is enabled automatically, with no configuration needed. Your visitors see the secure padlock icon and their data is encrypted in transit.
When you deploy an update, Pond automatically purges the CDN cache globally. Your visitors see the new version immediately without waiting for cache expiration. No manual cache clearing or TTL delays.
Yes, configure your pond to serve index.html for all routes, enabling client-side routing for React, Vue, Angular, and other SPA frameworks. This ensures deep links and browser refresh work correctly.
Static sites are faster (no server processing), more secure (no database or backend vulnerabilities), cheaper to host, and scale effortlessly to handle traffic spikes. Ideal for landing pages, marketing sites, documentation, blogs, and portfolios.
Yes, use our API to automate deployments from GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or any CI/CD pipeline. Deploy automatically on every push to your repository for seamless continuous deployment workflows.
Pond offers a free tier for static website hosting with 5MB total storage. Host your personal site, portfolio, or side project at no cost. Upgrade for additional storage, custom domains, and advanced features.
Your website stays online as long as your account is active. There are no automatic takedown periods; deploy once and your site remains live indefinitely. For free accounts, we ask that you log in occasionally to keep your account active.

Still have questions? Get in touch