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Django vs Heroku

Django logo

Django

Software

The web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Heroku logo

Heroku

Software

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Django has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Django does not fully support asynchronous database access; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Django covers Model-View-Template (MVT), Heroku covers Git-based deployment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Django and Heroku actually diverge.

Attributes where Django and Heroku differ
AttributeDjangoHeroku
Starting priceFree$7/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWeb, Api, Workers
Founded20052007

Identical on both: 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 Django

  • Model-View-Template (MVT)
  • Object-relational mapping
  • Automatic admin interface
  • URL routing
  • Template engine
  • Form handling
  • Authentication system
  • Internationalization

Only in Heroku

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

What people use each for

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

Django

  • Web application developmentnot Heroku
  • Content management systemsnot Heroku
  • E-commerce platformsnot Heroku
  • API developmentnot Heroku
  • News websitesnot Heroku
  • Social networksnot Heroku

Heroku

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

Where each one falls short

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

Django

  • Does not fully support asynchronous database access
  • Monolithic design can feel restrictive for small-scale or lightweight applications
  • Batteries-included approach adds overhead if features are not needed
  • Slower framework evolution due to backward compatibility requirements

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

Django

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full web framework
    • Admin interface
    • ORM system

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 Django if

  • You need model-view-template (mvt).
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want object-relational mapping.
Django 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 Django or Heroku better?
Neither clearly leads. Django starts at Free and Heroku at $7/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Django or Heroku?
Django has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Django and $7/month for Heroku.
Does Django or Heroku run on more platforms?
Django runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
Can I use Django for free?
Yes. Django has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $7/month.
What is Django best used for?
Django is most often used for web application development, content management systems, e-commerce platforms, api development. Of those, web application development and content management systems are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
What can Django do that Heroku cannot?
Django covers Model-View-Template (MVT), Object-relational mapping, Automatic admin interface, URL routing. Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Django: What databases does Django support?

Django natively supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite3, and Oracle databases through its ORM, allowing developers to switch databases without rewriting code.

Source
Django: How does Django handle database schema changes?

Django includes a built-in migration system. Developers use makemigrations to create migration files and migrate to apply changes to the database schema.

Source
Django: Does Django support asynchronous programming?

Django added basic async/await support, but full asynchronous database access remains limited. The framework does not fully support asynchronous programming, which can be a limitation for real-time applications.

Source
Django: Is Django free and open source?

Yes, Django is free and open-source software maintained by the Django Software Foundation, founded in June 2008.

Source
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