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Akamai vs Heroku

Akamai logo

Akamai

Software

Leading content delivery and security platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Heroku logo

Heroku

Software

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Akamai only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Akamai covers CDN, Heroku covers Git-based deployment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Akamai and Heroku actually diverge.

Attributes where Akamai and Heroku differ
AttributeAkamaiHeroku
Starting price$1000/month$7/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Api, Workers
Founded19982007

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Akamai

  • CDN
  • DDoS Protection
  • Web Application Firewall
  • Bot Management
  • Image Optimization
  • Video Platform
  • API Gateway
  • Analytics

Only in Heroku

  • Git-based deployment
  • Buildpacks
  • Dynos (containers)
  • Add-ons marketplace
  • Postgres database
  • Environment variables
  • Logging
  • API

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Akamai

  • Content delivery and web performance through Ion and adaptive media deliverynot Heroku
  • DDoS protection, bot management and API securitynot Heroku
  • Running compute, Kubernetes and managed databases on Akamai's cloudnot Heroku
  • Edge compute with EdgeWorkersnot Heroku
  • Zero trust access for enterprise applicationsnot Heroku

Heroku

  • Deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administrationnot Akamai
  • Running managed Postgres, Redis and Kafka as attached data servicesnot Akamai
  • Isolated production environments in a Private Space for regulated workloadsnot Akamai

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Akamai

  • Only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
  • Cloud pricing varies by region across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific rather than being a single rate

Heroku

  • There is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • Eco dynos sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity, are restricted to personal accounts and allow only 2 process types
  • Free SSL and 10 process types start at the Basic dyno at $7 per month
  • Private and Shield dyno types require a Private Space, which is billed on top of the dynos
  • Private Space dynos start at $250 per month for Private-M and $500 per month for Private-L
  • Dyno prices are per dyno per month, so an app with several process types multiplies the bill

Pricing, plan by plan

Akamai

$1000/month
  • CDN$1000/month
    • Content delivery
    • Global edge network
    • Real-time analytics
  • Security Suite$2000/month
    • DDoS protection
    • WAF
    • Bot management

Heroku

$7/month
  • Hobby$7/month
    • 512MB RAM
    • Shared CPU
    • 1 web dyno
  • Standard$50/month
    • 512MB RAM
    • Dedicated CPU
    • Automatic scaling

Which should you pick?

Choose Akamai if

  • You need cdn.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want ddos protection.
Akamai review

Choose Heroku if

  • You need git-based deployment.
  • You work on Web, Api, Workers.
  • You also want buildpacks.
Heroku review

Questions people ask

Is Akamai or Heroku better?
Neither clearly leads. Akamai starts at $1000/month and Heroku at $7/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Akamai or Heroku?
Akamai starts at $1000/month and Heroku at $7/month.
Does Akamai or Heroku run on more platforms?
Akamai runs on Web, Api. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
What is Akamai best used for?
Akamai is most often used for content delivery and web performance through ion and adaptive media delivery, ddos protection, bot management and api security, running compute, kubernetes and managed databases on akamai's cloud, edge compute with edgeworkers. Of those, content delivery and web performance through ion and adaptive media delivery and ddos protection, bot management and api security are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
What can Akamai do that Heroku cannot?
Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Api support.
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