How to Deploy a Node.js App on AWS (Step-by-Step Guide)

Why Choose AWS for Node.js Deployment?

AWS offers a variety of services that make it a preferred choice for developers:

• 1. Global Infrastructure – Deploy apps closer to your users for faster performance.
  2. Scalability – Easily scale your Node.js app as traffic grows.
  3. Security – Enterprise-grade security to protect your app.
  4. Pay-As-You-Go Pricing – Only pay for the resources you use.
  5. Developer-Friendly Tools – Integration with CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and logging.

Having clarity about your website’s purpose will guide every step of the building process.

Step 1: Set Up Your AWS Account

• 1. 1. Go to the AWS website.
  2. 2. Create a free account or sign in.
  3. 3. Access the AWS Management Console where you can manage services.

Step 2: Install Required Tools

Before deployment, make sure you have:

• 1. Node.js & NPM installed on your machine.
  2. AWS CLI (Command Line Interface) for interacting with AWS services.
  3. Git (optional but recommended) for version control.

Step 3: Choose an AWS Service for Deployment

There are multiple ways to deploy a Node.js app on AWS:

• 1. Elastic Beanstalk (Beginner-Friendly) – Easiest way to deploy and manage Node.js apps.
  2. EC2 (Flexible) – Full control over your server environment.
  3. AWS Lambda (Serverless) – Best for lightweight, event-driven apps.

For beginners, we’ll use Elastic Beanstalk.

Step 4: Prepare Your Node.js Application

• 1. 1. Create a simple Node.js app (app.js or server.js).
  2. 2. Add a package.json file with all dependencies.
  3. 3. Test locally by running: node app.js
• Ensure it’s working before deployment.

Step 5: Deploy Using Elastic Beanstalk

• 1. 1. Install Elastic Beanstalk CLI: pip install awsebcli
  2. 2. Initialize Elastic Beanstalk in your project folder: eb init

     1. Select region

        Choose Node.js platform

  3. 3. Create an environment and deploy:

     1. eb create nodejs-env

     2. eb deploy

  4. 4. Once complete, AWS will give you a live URL for your app.

Step 6: Monitor and Scale

• 1. Use the AWS Management Console to monitor performance.
  2. Configure auto-scaling to handle high traffic.
  3. Set up CloudWatch for real-time monitoring and logs.

Best Practices for Deploying Node.js on AWS

• 1. Use environment variables for sensitive data.
  2. Enable HTTPS for security.
  3. Regularly update your dependencies.
  4. Optimize performance using caching and load balancing.