How it works
Heroku popularised the model other app platforms follow: push code, and buildpacks detect the language, build it and run it on dynos (containers) behind a router. Add-ons attach Postgres, key-value stores, logging and email in a few clicks, and the twelve-factor app guidelines written at Heroku still shape how cloud apps are built.
Free dynos ended in November 2022, so the cheapest options are now paid. In 2026 Heroku moved to what it calls a sustaining engineering model: the platform stays supported, with the focus on stability and security rather than new features, and enterprise contracts are no longer offered to new customers.
Heroku pros and cons
Pros
- Very simple deploys, with a mature add-on marketplace
- Stable and well documented after many years in production
- Good fit for Ruby, Node.js, Python and Java apps
- Salesforce data sync through Heroku Connect
Cons
- No free tier, and larger dynos cost more than similar sizes elsewhere
- Little new feature work after the 2026 change of direction
- Eco dynos sleep after 30 minutes without traffic
When to use Heroku
Pick it when
- Existing Heroku apps that run well and need nothing new
- Salesforce-connected apps that use Heroku Connect
Skip it when
- Starting a new project, where newer platforms cost less and keep adding features
Heroku pricing
Paid
No free tier since 2022. Eco dynos are $5 a month for 1,000 shared hours (they sleep when idle); Basic dynos are $7 a month each; Postgres and other add-ons cost extra.
Heroku pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Heroku vs the alternatives
Related terms
More in Hosting and cloud
App platforms