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Heroku vs React

Heroku logo

Heroku

Software

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
React logo

React

Software

A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only React 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; React jSX requires a build step using Webpack, Babel, or other transpilers to convert to browser-executable JavaScript
  • They diverge on capability: Heroku covers Git-based deployment, React covers Component-based architecture.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroku and React actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroku and React differ
AttributeHerokuReact
Starting price$7/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, WorkersWeb, Mobile
Founded20072013

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 React

  • Component-based architecture
  • Virtual DOM
  • JSX syntax
  • Unidirectional data flow
  • React Hooks
  • Server-side rendering
  • Hot reloading
  • Developer tools

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

React

  • Web application developmentnot Heroku
  • Single-page applicationsnot Heroku
  • Interactive user interfacesnot Heroku
  • Mobile app developmentnot Heroku
  • Component librariesnot 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

React

  • JSX requires a build step using Webpack, Babel, or other transpilers to convert to browser-executable JavaScript
  • Routing and state management are separate dependencies, not included in core library
  • Configuration complexity for advanced features like server-side rendering without a meta-framework
  • Requires choosing and configuring build tools and development environment setup

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

React

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Component-based architecture
    • Virtual DOM
    • JSX syntax

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 React if

  • You need component-based architecture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want virtual dom.
React review

Questions people ask

Is Heroku or React better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroku starts at $7/month and React at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroku or React?
React has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7/month for Heroku and Free for React.
Does Heroku or React run on more platforms?
Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers. React runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use React for free?
Yes. React 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 React is typically brought in for.
What can Heroku do that React cannot?
Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. React covers Component-based architecture, Virtual DOM, JSX syntax, Unidirectional data flow.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

React: Is React free to use commercially?

Yes. React is distributed under the MIT open-source license, which permits free usage for both personal and commercial projects without licensing fees or restrictions.

Source
React: Does React support TypeScript?

Yes. React works seamlessly with TypeScript for type-safe component development. TypeScript provides static type checking for React components, props, and state, improving code reliability and developer experience.

Source
React: Do I need a build step to use React?

If you use JSX, yes. JSX requires transpilation by a build tool like Webpack and Babel before browsers can execute it. However, React can be used without JSX by calling React.createElement directly, which does not require a build step.

Source
React: Can I build offline-capable applications with React?

Yes. React supports building Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) with service workers and IndexedDB for offline functionality. Create React App includes service worker setup, though it must be manually enabled for production use.

Source
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