How to Deploy a React App on a Linux VPS

If you’ve built a website using React, the next step is putting it online. That means “deploying” your app so people can visit it. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to deploy a React app on a Linux VPS (Virtual Private Server). It’s a cheap and flexible way to host your site.

I’ve done this a few times myself. The first time felt tricky, but it got easier once I understood what was going on. I’ll try to keep things simple so you don’t get stuck.

What Is a React App?

React is a JavaScript library for building websites. It’s made by Facebook and used by lots of developers to create fast and modern apps. When you build something in React, you’re usually writing small “components” that work together to make the whole site.

You don’t need to know everything about React to deploy it, though. As long as your app runs fine on your computer, we can move it to a server.

What Is a VPS?

A VPS is short for Virtual Private Server. It’s like renting your own small computer on the internet. You can use it to host websites, run apps, or store files.

I use VPS hosting for most of my projects because:

It’s affordable
You get full control
It runs 24/7

If you’re using a Linux VPS with Ubuntu or CentOS, this guide will work for you. I’ll use Ubuntu as an example.

Before You Start

Here’s what you’ll need:

A working React app (you can build one using npm run build)
A Linux VPS (Ubuntu 20.04 or similar)
A domain name (optional but nice)
A little patience

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Build Your React App

Your React app needs to be turned into static files. These are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that browsers can understand.

On your local computer, open a terminal in your React project folder and run:

npm run build

This creates a new folder called build. It contains everything needed to run your app in a browser.

Step 2: Connect to Your VPS

Next, we connect to the Linux VPS. You’ll use SSH, which is a way to securely log in.

On your computer, run:

ssh username@your-server-ip

Replace username with your VPS user (often root) and your-server-ip with the IP address of your server.

Now you’re in.

Step 3: Install a Web Server (Nginx)

We need something to serve your React files. I use Nginx. It’s lightweight and fast.

First, update your server’s package list:

sudo apt update

Then install Nginx:

sudo apt install nginx -y

After it’s installed, check if it’s running:

sudo systemctl status nginx

If you see “active (running),” you’re good.

Step 4: Copy Your Files to the Server

Now we need to move the build folder from your computer to the server.

One easy way is using scp, a secure copy tool.

From your local machine, run:

scp -r build/ username@your-server-ip:/home/username/react-app

This puts the files in /home/username/react-app on your VPS. You can choose a different folder if you want.

Step 5: Configure Nginx to Serve Your App

Let’s tell Nginx where to find your React files.

Open the Nginx config file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/react

Paste this:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    root /home/username/react-app;
    index index.html;

    location / {
        try_files $uri /index.html;
    }
}

Replace yourdomain.com with your real domain name or your server’s IP address.

Then, link this file to the sites-enabled folder:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/react /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test the config:

sudo nginx -t

If you see no errors, reload Nginx:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

Now open a browser and visit your server IP or domain. You should see your React app.

Step 6: Secure Your App (Optional but Recommended)

If you have a domain name, you can add HTTPS using Let’s Encrypt. That gives your site a green lock and better security.

First, install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Then run:

sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

It will ask a few questions. After that, you’ll have HTTPS set up.

Bonus: What Happens Behind the Scenes?

When someone visits your site, here’s what happens:

Their browser sends a request to your server
Nginx gets the request
Nginx finds your static React files
It sends them back to the browser
The browser runs the React app

It’s pretty fast because everything is static. No database or backend is needed for basic React apps.

What If You Update the App?

When you make changes and want to redeploy:

Run npm run build again on your computer
Use scp to copy the new build folder to the server
Replace the old files with the new ones
Reload the browser

That’s it.

Three Quick Lists for You

Tools Used in This Guide

React (for building your app)
Nginx (web server)
SSH and SCP (for connecting and copying files)

Common Problems I’ve Seen

Port 80 is blocked (open it in your firewall)
Nginx not pointing to the right folder
You forgot to run npm run build

Benefits of This Setup

Fast and low cost
Works well for static apps
Full control over your server

My Opinion

I like hosting my React apps this way because I learn more about servers and Linux. It gives me flexibility. I’ve also used platforms like Netlify or Vercel, which are easier, but sometimes I want full control, like setting custom headers or using my own domain without limits.

Also, this setup works for Vue, Svelte, or any other static app—not just React.

Final Thoughts

Deploying a React app on a Linux VPS isn’t too hard once you break it down. You build the app, upload it, point Nginx to it, and you’re done.

If this is your first time, don’t worry if something doesn’t work right away. Try checking the logs or going step by step again.

Got stuck somewhere? Want help making your setup more advanced, like adding a Node.js backend or CI/CD? Just let me know.