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Cloud · head to head

Heroku vs Postman

Heroku logo

Heroku

Cloud

Cloud Application Platform

From
$5/month
Free plan
No
Visit HerokuFull review
Postman logo

Postman

Developer Tools

The API platform for building and using APIs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PostmanFull review

The short version

  • Heroku is a cloud platform as a service; Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs.
  • Postman has a free plan, then $14/mo; Heroku starts at $5/mo.
  • Only Heroku lists dynos (containers); only Postman lists API client.
  • Where Heroku falls short: there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month.
  • Where Postman falls short: free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroku and Postman actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroku and Postman differ
AttributeHerokuPostman
Starting price$5/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, API, WorkersWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryCloudDeveloper Tools
Founded20072014

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Postman.

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
  • Logging
  • API
  • New Relic

Only in Postman

  • API client
  • Automated testing
  • Mock servers
  • Documentation
  • Monitors
  • Workspaces
  • Version control
  • API design

Both cover

  • Environment variables
  • GitHub
  • Slack
  • Datadog
  • OAuth

What people use each for

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

Heroku

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

Postman

  • API testingnot Heroku
  • API documentationnot Heroku
  • API monitoringnot Heroku
  • Team collaborationnot Heroku
  • API developmentnot 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

Postman

  • Free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans
  • Only 25 collection runs per month and 1,000 API calls/month on free tier
  • Removed local-only Scratch Pad mode in 2023, forcing cloud account creation and sync
  • Requires Postman account and internet connection for most features
  • Cloud-first architecture with mandatory syncing to Postman's cloud servers
  • No CI/CD integration or advanced security features on free plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Heroku

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

Postman

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • 25 collection runs/month
    • 1,000 API calls/month
  • Team$14/mo
    • Team collaboration
    • Shared workspaces
    • API mocking
  • Professional$29/mo
    • Team features
    • Advanced security
    • SSO
  • Enterprise$49/mo
    • Professional features
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

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 Postman if

  • You need api client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want automated testing.
Postman review

Questions people ask

Is Heroku or Postman better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroku starts at $5/month and Postman at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroku or Postman?
Postman has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Heroku and Free for Postman.
Does Heroku or Postman run on more platforms?
Heroku runs on Web, API, Workers. Postman runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Postman for free?
Yes. Postman has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $5/month.
What is Heroku best used for?
Heroku is most often used for application hosting, database as a service, ci/cd pipelines, api deployment. Of those, application hosting and database as a service are not what Postman is typically brought in for.
What can Heroku do that Postman cannot?
Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. Postman covers API client, Automated testing, Mock servers, Documentation. Both handle Environment variables, GitHub, Slack, Datadog.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Postman: What is the cost of Postman?

Postman has a free plan limited to 1 user, 25 collection runs/month, 1,000 API calls/month. Team plans start at $14/user/month for Basic. Professional at $29/user/month, and Enterprise at $49/user/month.

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
Postman: Can I use Postman offline?

Postman requires an internet connection to sync collections to the cloud. Since 2023, the Scratch Pad local-only mode was removed. Users must sign in with a Postman account, and collections sync to cloud by default. Offline work is possible but limited without cloud sync features.

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
Postman: Does Postman have team collaboration?

Team collaboration is not available on the free plan (limited to 1 user). Team plans start at $14/user/month and include shared workspaces, real-time collaboration, and team management features.

Source
Postman: What are the free plan limits?

Free plan allows: 1 user only, 25 collection runs per month, 1,000 API calls/month, and 1,000 mock server calls/month. No CI/CD integration or advanced security features.

Source
Postman: Does Postman work with other development tools?

Postman integrates with Git repositories, offers a Node.js runner (Newman) for automation, and connects with popular CI/CD platforms. Teams using git-native workflows may prefer alternatives like Bruno.

Source
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