Nightscout Complete Setup Guide: Railway, Fly.io, and Free Hosting

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Nightscout is a free, open-source CGM remote monitoring system. It lets caregivers, parents, and partners watch glucose levels in real time from any device. This guide covers setup on free hosting platforms in 2026.

What Nightscout Does

Nightscout displays your CGM data on a web dashboard accessible from any browser. It stores your glucose history, sends alerts, integrates with smartwatches, and connects with AndroidAPS, Loop, and other closed-loop systems. It was built by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes and is entirely free.

What You Need

  • A CGM sending data to xDrip+ or a Nightscout-compatible uploader
  • A free hosting account (Railway, Fly.io, or Render)
  • A free MongoDB Atlas database (for glucose storage)
  • About 45 minutes for first-time setup

Step 1: Create MongoDB Atlas Database

Go to cloud.mongodb.com → Create a free cluster (M0, 512MB, always free). Create a database user with a strong password. Under Network Access, add IP 0.0.0.0/0 to allow connections from your hosting provider. Copy your connection string.

Step 2: Deploy on Railway

Railway offers a free tier sufficient for personal Nightscout use:

  1. Go to railway.app → New Project → Deploy from GitHub
  2. Fork the Nightscout repository (github.com/nightscout/cgm-remote-monitor) to your GitHub account
  3. Select your fork in Railway
  4. Add environment variables: MONGODB_URI, API_SECRET (at least 12 characters), DISPLAY_UNITS (mg/dl or mmol), ENABLE (careportal iob cob)
  5. Railway assigns a URL — your Nightscout is live

Step 3: Connect xDrip+

In xDrip+ → Settings → Cloud Upload → Nightscout Sync. Enter your Railway URL and API Secret. Data will begin flowing within minutes.

Step 4: Share Access

Share your Nightscout URL with caregivers. They can view your glucose data in any browser — no app needed. For iOS, the Nightguard or Nightscout app provides a cleaner mobile view.

Alternative: Fly.io

Fly.io offers more stable free hosting than Railway for Nightscout. Setup requires the Fly CLI tool and is slightly more technical, but the result is more reliable. Documentation available at nightscout.github.io/nightscout/new_user/.

Troubleshooting

  • No data showing: Check API_SECRET matches in xDrip+ and Nightscout config
  • MongoDB connection failed: Verify the IP whitelist includes 0.0.0.0/0
  • App sleeping (Railway free tier): Upgrade to $5/month paid plan or switch to Fly.io