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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Heroku vs Tailscale

Heroku logo

Heroku

Cloud & Infrastructure

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tailscale logo

Tailscale

Network & Connectivity

Zero-trust mesh VPN built on WireGuard with identity-based access

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tailscale 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; Tailscale requires active configuration and management; cannot be deployed passively like consumer VPNs

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroku and Tailscale actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroku and Tailscale differ
AttributeHerokuTailscale
Starting price$7/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, WorkersLinux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, API, Web
CategoryCloud & InfrastructureNetwork & Connectivity
Founded2007Unknown

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 Heroku

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

Only in Tailscale

Nothing recorded that Heroku does not also cover.

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

Tailscale

  • Remote team access to internal services without VPN concentratorsnot Heroku
  • Hybrid cloud connectivity across AWS, Azure, GCP, and on-premises networksnot Heroku
  • CI/CD pipeline access to internal infrastructure (databases, Kubernetes clusters)not Heroku
  • Zero-trust access to SSH, Kubernetes, and databases without bastion hostsnot Heroku
  • Mobile and IoT device management in enterprise environmentsnot Heroku
  • Temporary contractor and third-party access 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

Tailscale

  • Requires active configuration and management; cannot be deployed passively like consumer VPNs
  • Device posture policies and JIT access tiers are locked behind Premium subscription (£18/month), raising per-user costs for enterprises
  • Limited support for legacy protocols and non-modern operating systems (Windows 7, older Android versions)
  • Centralised control plane operated by Tailscale (hosted in US); no self-hosted control plane option for air-gapped or sovereign deployments
  • Cannot replace full VPN functionality for accessing legacy IP-based services; only applicable to modern infrastructure

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

Tailscale

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Up to 6 users
    • Unlimited devices per user
    • 1,000 ephemeral resource minutes per month
  • Standard$8/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited devices
    • 1,000 ephemeral resource minutes per month
  • Premium$18/month
    • Unlimited users and devices
    • 10,000 ephemeral resource minutes per month
    • 300 ACL groups
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited resources
    • Advanced security features

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 Tailscale if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, API, Web.
Tailscale review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tailscale: Is Tailscale free?

Tailscale Personal tier is free forever for up to 6 users. Standard (£8/month per user) adds team features, Premium (£18/month per user) adds security controls, and Enterprise tiers are custom priced.

Source
Tailscale: Does Tailscale route all traffic through a central gateway?

No. Tailscale creates direct encrypted connections between devices using WireGuard. It only proxies traffic when direct peer connections are not possible (some restrictive NAT scenarios). This reduces latency and eliminates VPN gateway bottlenecks.

Source
Tailscale: Can I host Tailscale on-premises?

No. Tailscale provides a hosted control plane only. For fully self-hosted mesh networking, consider WireGuard with manual key management or Netmaker. Tailscale Enterprise can provide custom deployments for specific requirements.

Source
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