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Developer Tools · head to head

Git vs Heroku

Git logo

Git

Developer Tools

A free and open source distributed version control system

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Heroku logo

Heroku

Cloud

Cloud Application Platform

From
$5/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Git has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Git licensed under GNU GPL version 2.0 as stated on git-scm.com/about; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Git and Heroku actually diverge.

Attributes where Git and Heroku differ
AttributeGitHeroku
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Api, Workers
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCloud
FoundedUnknown2007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Git

Nothing recorded that Heroku does not also cover.

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.

Git

  • Maintaining complete code history for large projectsnot Heroku
  • Coordinating open source development globallynot Heroku
  • Enabling offline work with full repository historynot Heroku
  • Integrating with CI/CD and hosting servicesnot Heroku

Heroku

  • Application hostingnot Git
  • Database as a servicenot Git
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Git
  • API deploymentnot Git

Where each one falls short

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

Git

  • Licensed under GNU GPL version 2.0 as stated on git-scm.com/about; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Git is a command line tool by design; graphical workflows and hosted collaboration depend entirely on third party GUIs and hosting services layered on top, per git-scm.com/about

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

Git

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Git review.

Heroku

$5/month
  • Eco Dyno$5/month
    • 0.5 GB RAM
    • Git/Docker deploy
    • Custom domains
  • Basic Dyno$7/month
    • 0.5 GB RAM
    • Always-on
    • Free SSL
  • Standard-1X Dyno$25/month
    • 0.5 GB RAM
    • Horizontal scaling
    • App metrics
  • Standard-2X Dyno$50/month
    • 1 GB RAM
    • Horizontal scaling
    • App metrics

Which should you pick?

Choose Git if

  • You want to start without paying.
Git 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 Git or Heroku better?
Neither clearly leads. Git starts at Free and Heroku at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Git or Heroku?
Git has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Git and $5/month for Heroku.
Does Git or Heroku run on more platforms?
Git runs on Web. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
Can I use Git for free?
Yes. Git has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $5/month.
What is Git best used for?
Git is most often used for maintaining complete code history for large projects, coordinating open source development globally, enabling offline work with full repository history, integrating with ci/cd and hosting services. Of those, maintaining complete code history for large projects and coordinating open source development globally are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
What can Git do that Heroku cannot?
Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Git: How much does Git cost?

Git is completely free and open-source software released under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2). There are no licensing costs for the core Git project.

Source
Heroku: How much does Heroku cost?

Heroku dyno pricing starts at $5 per month USD for the Eco tier (with 30-minute inactivity sleep), $7 per month for Basic (always-on), and scales up to $1,500 per month for Performance-2XL with 126 GB RAM.

Source
Git: Can Git be used for commercial purposes?

Yes, Git can be freely used for commercial and non-commercial projects. The GPLv2 license guarantees freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software.

Source
Heroku: What is the cheapest always-on Heroku plan?

The Basic Dyno at $7 per month USD is Heroku's cheapest always-on container option. It provides 0.5 GB RAM, free SSL, and support for 10 process types.

Source
Heroku: How is Heroku Postgres priced?

Heroku Postgres Essential tier (shared resources) starts at $5-$20 per month for 1-32 GB disk. Standard tier (dedicated) ranges $50-$12,000 per month. Premium, Private, Shield, and Advanced tiers offer higher performance at corresponding prices.

Source
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