Guides · Sep 27, 2026

How to Deploy a Node.js App with PM2, Nginx and Free SSL

Deploy an Express or Next.js app to a Linux VPS: install Node.js, keep it running with PM2, put Nginx in front and add a free Let's Encrypt certificate.

This is the classic production setup for Node.js: PM2 keeps the app alive, Nginx handles HTTPS and forwards traffic to it. Point your domain's A record at your server first.

1. Install Node.js and PM2

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs nginx
sudo npm install -g pm2

2. Start your app

git clone https://github.com/you/your-app.git && cd your-app
npm ci
npm run build            # if your app has a build step (Next.js, TypeScript)
PORT=3000 pm2 start npm --name web -- start
pm2 save && pm2 startup  # run the printed command so it survives reboots

Check it with curl localhost:3000.

3. Put Nginx in front

Create /etc/nginx/sites-available/web:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/web /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx
sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

4. Free HTTPS

sudo apt install -y certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.com

5. Deploying updates

git pull && npm ci && npm run build && pm2 reload web

pm2 reload restarts without dropping connections.