Overview
Fly.io is a performance-first cloud platform that converts Docker containers into Firecracker microVMs, running them on physical hardware in 30+ regions globally. Unlike traditional PaaS providers that rely on centralized data centers, Fly.io utilizes an Anycast network to route traffic to the nearest available instance, significantly reducing latency. In 2026, Fly.io has solidified its position as the premier infrastructure for 'Serverless GPU' workloads and real-time distributed applications. Its architecture abstracts away the complexities of global orchestration while providing low-level primitives through the Fly Machines API. This allows developers to build custom platforms on top of Fly.io, leveraging sub-second boot times and high-performance NVMe storage. The platform's commitment to 'hardware as a service' allows for specialized workloads, including Elixir clustering via private WireGuard networking (6PN) and edge-replicated SQLite databases using LiteFS. As the market shifts toward localized AI inference, Fly.io's integration of NVIDIA L40S and A100 GPUs at the edge provides a competitive advantage for low-latency LLM deployments and real-time media processing.