Understanding Preview v/s Deployed Links
Last updated July 1, 2025
What You'll Learn
By the end of this guide, you'll understand the difference between your Preview Link and Deployed Link, when to use each one, and how to move from testing to launching your app successfully.
Understanding Preview Link Sleep Mode
Your Preview Link is designed to save resources when not in use. After 30 minutes of no activity, it goes to sleep.
What this means:
- Your Preview Link will stop working after 30 minutes of inactivity
- All your work and code remain perfectly safe
- This is normal behavior for testing environments
Want your app to stay available 24/7? Deploy your application! Your Deployed Link never sleeps and stays accessible to users anytime.
The Two Types of Links in Emergent
🔧 Preview Link - Your Safe Testing Ground
Your Preview Link is like having a private workshop where you can build, break, and perfect your application without any consequences.
What is it?
- A temporary link to your app running in our secure sandbox
- Updates automatically as you make changes
- Only accessible to people you share the link with
- Perfect for testing and getting feedback
- Goes to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity (wakes up automatically when you visit it)
When to use it:
- Testing new features before launch
- Sharing with friends or teammates for feedback
- Making sure everything works as expected
- Experimenting with different ideas
🚀 Deployed Link - Your Live Application
Your Deployed Link is your app's permanent home on the internet where real users will interact with it.
What is it?
- A stable, public version of your application
- Doesn't change unless you deploy new updates
- Can handle real user traffic reliably
- Can be customized with your own domain
- Always stays awake - never goes to sleep like Preview Links
When to use it:
- When you're ready to launch to real users
- For sharing your finished product publicly
- When you need a stable, reliable version
- For connecting your custom domain
Your Development Workflow
Step 1: Build and Test with Preview Link
- Create your application using Emergent's agent
- Use your Preview Link to see how it looks and works
- Make changes and improvements as needed
- Test all features thoroughly
Step 2: Share for Feedback
- Copy your Preview Link
- Share with trusted friends, teammates, or beta users
- Collect feedback and make final adjustments
- Continue testing until you're satisfied
Step 3: Deploy Your Application
- When everything works perfectly, click Deploy
- Your app gets a stable Deployed Link
- This link won't change and can handle real users
- Share this link publicly or add to your marketing
Step 4: Add Custom Domain (Optional)
- Purchase your own domain (like myawesomeapp123.com)
- Connect it to your Deployed Link in settings
- Now users can visit your custom domain instead
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Preview Link | Deployed Link |
| Purpose | Testing & Development | Public Use |
| Stability | Changes with your code | Stable until you redeploy |
| Performance | Basic sandbox performance | Optimized for real users |
| Sharing | Private testing only | Public sharing ready |
| Availability | Sleeps after 30 min (auto-wakes) | Always available |
| Custom Domain | Not available | Available |
| User Traffic | Light testing only | Can handle real traffic |
Best Practices
✅ Do This
- Always test thoroughly with your Preview Link first
- Deploy only when you're confident everything works
- Keep your Deployed Link stable for users
❌ Avoid This
- Don't deploy untested changes
- Don't make frequent deploys that might confuse users
- Don't ignore testing just because you can "fix it later"
Common Questions
"Why does my Preview Link stop working after a while?"
Your Preview Link goes to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity to save resources. If you need your app to be always available, deploy it to get a Deployed Link that never sleeps!
"When should I deploy my app?"
Deploy when you've tested everything with your Preview Link and you're confident it works well for users. There's no rush - take time to perfect it first.
"Can I update my deployed app?"
Yes! You can make changes and deploy updates anytime. Your Deployed Link stays the same, but the app behind it gets updated.
"What if something breaks after I deploy?"
You can quickly fix the issue and redeploy. Meanwhile, you can share your Preview Link as a temporary solution if needed.
"How many people can use my Preview Link?"
Preview Links are designed for testing, not heavy traffic. For real users, always use your Deployed Link.
Quick Reference
Preview Link Checklist:
- [ ] All features work as expected
- [ ] Design looks good on different screen sizes
- [ ] No obvious bugs or errors
- [ ] Feedback from testers addressed
- [ ] Ready for public use
Ready to Deploy:
- [ ] Preview Link thoroughly tested
- [ ] All issues fixed
- [ ] Confident in app stability
- [ ] Ready for real users
Remember: Your Preview Link is for perfecting, your Deployed Link is for sharing. Take your time in the preview stage - your users will thank you for launching a polished product!
For any questions or assistance, feel free to email us at support@emergent.sh