A live API with a public link is one of the strongest things you can show an employer. It proves you can take code all the way from your laptop to the internet, which is what adverts mean when they list deployment, cloud platforms and CI/CD. You can do it without paying, using free hosting tiers.
What deploying means
Deploying is copying your code to a computer that is always on and connected, installing its dependencies, setting its configuration and starting it so anyone can reach it by URL. Modern hosting platforms do most of this for you: you connect your GitHub repository, and every time you push to the main branch, they build and restart your app automatically. That automatic build and release is a simple form of continuous deployment.
Free tiers: what to expect
Several platforms offer free plans for web services and databases. They are great for learning and portfolios, but read the limits before you choose. Common ones include:
- the app sleeps after a period with no visitors, so the first request afterwards is slow while it wakes up
- a monthly cap on hours, requests or bandwidth
- small databases that may pause when idle or be removed after a period on the free plan
- some platforms ask for a card to verify your identity even on free plans, and others do not
Choose based on what your project needs and what you can access. None is the "right" one. Mention in your README that the first request may be slow if the app has been asleep, so a reviewer is not surprised.