Heroku
heroku.comBuild Difficulty: 4/5
A few focused days to build a solid replacement
Cloud platform for building, running, and scaling web applications
How to Replace HerokuOverview
Features
43 features across 13 categories
Compute(2)
Lightweight containers that execute your application code with automatic process management.
Configure and manage the number and size of dynos running your application.
Configuration(3)
Configure custom domains and manage DNS settings for applications.
Manage configuration and secrets securely through environment variable management.
Define process types and run commands declaratively in a Procfile.
Database(6)
Automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery for PostgreSQL databases.
Read-only replicas of PostgreSQL databases for load distribution and disaster recovery.
Share SQL query results as live web pages without exposing database credentials.
Fully managed PostgreSQL database with automated backups and high availability options.
Managed Redis service for caching and session management with automatic failover.
Database instances in private networks with encryption at rest and in transit.
Deployment(7)
Deploy applications directly from Git repositories with automatic builds and releases.
Display a maintenance page while performing updates or migrations.
Manage multiple applications across development, staging, and production environments.
Start new dynos before terminating old ones for zero-downtime deployments.
Version control for application releases with rollback capabilities.
Run migration and initialization tasks before new releases are deployed.
Automatic compilation of code into deployable slugs using buildpacks.
Development(2)
Open SSH sessions to dynos for debugging and troubleshooting applications.
Automatically create disposable staging environments for every pull request.
Integration(4)
Integrate third-party services including monitoring, logging, and data tools.
Connect GitHub repositories for automatic deployments and pull request preview environments.
RESTful API for programmatic control of Heroku applications and resources.
Send HTTP notifications for deployment and application events to external systems.
Monitoring(2)
Real-time application logs with filtering and search capabilities.
Monitor application performance including response time, throughput, and errors.
Runtime(3)
Support for multiple programming languages and frameworks with automatic detection.
Access runtime information about dynos through environment variables.
Temporary writable filesystem on dynos that resets on restarts.
Scaling(1)
Automatically scale dynos based on load metrics to maintain performance.
Security(9)
Automatic SSL certificate provisioning and renewal via Let's Encrypt.
Built-in rate limiting to prevent abuse and ensure fair resource allocation.
Track all API calls and platform actions for compliance and security auditing.
Advanced security features including Shield Private Databases and Private Spaces.
Restrict access to applications based on IP address ranges.
Enforce MFA for account security with TOTP and SMS options.
Implement OAuth 2.0 authentication for third-party application integrations.
Isolated network environments with VPN connectivity and advanced security controls.
Automatic and custom SSL certificate management for secure HTTPS connections.
Task Automation(1)
Schedule one-off jobs and recurring tasks without managing cron infrastructure.
Team Management(2)
Transfer application ownership between accounts and organizations.
Team collaboration features with role-based access control and permissions.
Tools(1)
Command-line interface for managing applications, deployments, and configuration.
Pricing
Free
- ✓Basic deployment and 5 dynos
Hobby
- ✓Single dyno with 512 MB RAM
Standard 1X
- ✓1 GB RAM dyno with autoscaling
Standard 2X
Popular- ✓2 GB RAM dyno with autoscaling
Private Space
- ✓Isolated network environment
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying Heroku
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 43 features at easy complexity.
Build vs Buy
Should you build a Heroku alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 43 features.
Buy Heroku
Better ValueBuild Your Own
Buying Heroku saves ~$52,920 over 3 years vs building.
Estimates based on 43 features and a BuildScore of 4/5. Actual costs vary.
Integrations
30 known integrations