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Software · head to head

Heroku vs npm

Heroku logo

Heroku

Software

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
npm logo

npm

Software

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only npm 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; npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only
  • They diverge on capability: Heroku covers Git-based deployment, npm covers Package installation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroku and npm actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroku and npm differ
AttributeHerokunpm
Starting price$7/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, WorkersWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20072014

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 Heroku

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

Only in npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

Both cover

  • GitHub

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 npm
  • Running managed Postgres, Redis and Kafka as attached data servicesnot npm
  • Isolated production environments in a Private Space for regulated workloadsnot npm

npm

  • Package managementnot Heroku
  • Dependency installationnot Heroku
  • Project scaffoldingnot Heroku
  • Build automationnot Heroku
  • Package publishingnot Heroku
  • Version controlnot 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

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

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

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

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 npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Questions people ask

Is Heroku or npm better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroku starts at $7/month and npm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroku or npm?
npm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7/month for Heroku and Free for npm.
Does Heroku or npm run on more platforms?
Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers. npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use npm for free?
Yes. npm 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 npm is typically brought in for.
What can Heroku do that npm cannot?
Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running. Both handle GitHub.
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