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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Heroku vs IBM Cloud

Heroku logo

Heroku

Cloud & Infrastructure

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Cloud & Infrastructure

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IBM Cloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month; IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • They diverge on capability: Heroku covers Git-based deployment, IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroku and IBM Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroku and IBM Cloud differ
AttributeHerokuIBM Cloud
Starting price$7/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, WorkersLinux, Windows, Api, Cli
Founded20072013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cloud & Infrastructure).

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 Heroku

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

Only in IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Bare Metal
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Kubernetes
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • API Gateway

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Heroku

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

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot Heroku
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot Heroku

Where each one falls short

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

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

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

Pricing, plan by plan

Heroku

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

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

Which should you pick?

Choose Heroku if

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

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.
IBM Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Heroku or IBM Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroku starts at $7/month and IBM Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroku or IBM Cloud?
IBM Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7/month for Heroku and Free for IBM Cloud.
Does Heroku or IBM Cloud run on more platforms?
Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers. IBM Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
Can I use IBM Cloud for free?
Yes. IBM Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $7/month.
What is Heroku best used for?
Heroku is most often used for deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administration, running managed postgres, redis and kafka as attached data services, isolated production environments in a private space for regulated workloads. Of those, deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administration and running managed postgres, redis and kafka as attached data services are not what IBM Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Heroku do that IBM Cloud cannot?
Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Bare Metal, Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes. Both handle Cloud deployment.
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Related pages

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