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Render services and API key

Create a Render account and workspace, deploy a web service, static site or database, and create an API key for the Render CLI and REST API.

Researched · not yet run liveLast researched 25 October 2026 · Render · provider site

Researched, not yet run live. Built from the provider’s official pages (linked below). A person hasn’t walked this flow end to end yet, so check each step against the source.
Do this with verapliJSON for agents

Who owns what

A Render user works in one or more workspaces; services and free-hour allowances belong to the workspace.

  • Render user personal owned by the person
  • Workspace organisation · under Render user

Steps

Steps marked “human step” are ones only you can do: verapli never signs in, submits, pays or accepts terms for you.

  1. Create or sign in to a Render account

    The person signs up or signs in on the Render dashboard. verapli never creates the account.

    • Guided by hand
    • Human step: You press submit

    Where: https://dashboard.render.com/register

  2. Create the service

    In the dashboard create a web service, static site, Postgres or Key Value instance from a repo and pick the instance type (Free for testing only).

    • Guided by hand
    • Human step: You press submit
    • After: Create or sign in to a Render account

  3. Create an API key

    In Account Settings, add an API key. It is shown in full only once; verapli captures it into RENDER_API_KEY for the CLI and REST API.

    • verapli co-pilot
    • Human step: You press submit
    • After: Create or sign in to a Render account

    verapli captures RENDER_API_KEY here by plain code: encrypted in your browser, never shown to AI.

    Where: https://dashboard.render.com/u/settings?add-api-key

Terms and gotchas

Plain-English summary, not legal advice. Each card links its source.

Can get you bannedThe rules say

Free Postgres is deleted

Free Render Postgres databases expire 30 days after creation, then are deleted after a 14-day grace period unless upgraded. [3]

Can cost moneyThe rules say

Render says not to use Free instances for production. Free web services spin down after 15 minutes idle (about a minute to wake), and free Key Value data is lost on restart. [3]

Worth knowingThe rules say

API keys do not expire on a schedule, so rotate them yourself; Render recommends them only for automation. [2]

What you end up with

Env varSecretFormatWhat it is
RENDER_API_KEYsecretRender API key; the Render CLI reads it in automated environments and it overrides render login tokens.

Pricing

  • Free tier: 750 Free instance hours per workspace per month; Free Postgres for 30 days; one Free Key Value per workspace.

Source [3]

For agents

The same entry as JSON: /api/v1/entries/render/hosting · requirements /api/v1/requirements/render/hosting · terms /api/v1/terms/render/hosting.

Remote MCP (read-only, no auth)
claude mcp add --transport http verapli https://verapli.com/mcp

> "What do I need for Render services and API key, and how long will it take?"
  → tools/call requirements { "provider_id": "render/hosting" }

Sources

  1. Render API API keys are created and managed from Account Settings in the dashboard (dashboard.render.com/u/settings?add-api-key); all API requests need an API key; the key is displayed in full only when created. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
  2. Render CLI render login opens a browser and saves a CLI token; RENDER_API_KEY env var for automation takes precedence over CLI tokens; API keys do not expire on a schedule. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
  3. Deploy for free Free web services spin down after 15 minutes without traffic; 750 free instance hours per workspace per month; free Postgres expires 30 days after creation with a 14-day grace period; one free Key Value per workspace, not persisted; do not use free instances for production; no payment method means free services suspend when bandwidth runs out. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
  4. Stripe Projects provider catalogue Render is listed in the Stripe Projects catalogue as render/static-site (Hosting, Database). · accessed 25 October 2026 · official

Provider rules change. This page is generated from verapli registry version 2026.1025.387; spotted something out of date? Tell us. Render is not affiliated with verapli.