Software · head to head
Hetzner Cloud vs Heroku
The short version
- Only Hetzner Cloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Hetzner Cloud cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
- They diverge on capability: Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Heroku covers Git-based deployment.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hetzner Cloud and Heroku actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hetzner Cloud | Heroku |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $7/month |
| Pricing model | usage-based | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Cli | Web, Api, Workers |
| Founded | 1997 | 2007 |
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 Hetzner Cloud
- Cloud servers
- Block storage
- Object storage
- Load balancers
- Networks
- Firewalls
- Floating IPs
- Backups
Only in Heroku
- Git-based deployment
- Buildpacks
- Dynos (containers)
- Add-ons marketplace
- Postgres database
- Environment variables
- Logging
- GitHub
Both cover
- API
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hetzner Cloud
- Low-cost virtual servers for development and testingnot Heroku
- European hosting with data held in Germany or Finlandnot Heroku
- Workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic mattersnot Heroku
- Self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalersnot Heroku
Heroku
- Deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administrationnot Hetzner Cloud
- Running managed Postgres, Redis and Kafka as attached data servicesnot Hetzner Cloud
- Isolated production environments in a Private Space for regulated workloadsnot Hetzner Cloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hetzner Cloud
- Cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable
- The shared-resource tiers are positioned for variable usage and development rather than sustained production workloads
- Regions are limited to Germany, Finland, the United States and Singapore, so latency to other markets is a real constraint
- The uptime guarantee is 99.9 percent, below what the large hyperscalers offer on comparable services
- Support is 24/7 by email, without a phone channel
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Hetzner Cloud
Free- CX11$3.29/month
- 1 vCPU
- 1GB RAM
- 25GB SSD
- CX21$6.59/month
- 2 vCPU
- 4GB RAM
- 40GB SSD
Heroku
$7/month- Hobby$7/month
- 512MB RAM
- Shared CPU
- 1 web dyno
- Standard$50/month
- 512MB RAM
- Dedicated CPU
- Automatic scaling
Which should you pick?
Choose Hetzner Cloud if
- You need cloud servers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Cli.
- You also want block storage.
Choose Heroku if
- You need git-based deployment.
- You work on Web, Api, Workers.
- You also want buildpacks.
Questions people ask
- Is Hetzner Cloud or Heroku better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and Heroku at $7/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hetzner Cloud or Heroku?
- Hetzner Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hetzner Cloud and $7/month for Heroku.
- Does Hetzner Cloud or Heroku run on more platforms?
- Hetzner Cloud runs on Web, Api, Cli. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
- Can I use Hetzner Cloud for free?
- Yes. Hetzner Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $7/month.
- What is Hetzner Cloud best used for?
- Hetzner Cloud is most often used for low-cost virtual servers for development and testing, european hosting with data held in germany or finland, workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic matters, self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalers. Of those, low-cost virtual servers for development and testing and european hosting with data held in germany or finland are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
- What can Hetzner Cloud do that Heroku cannot?
- Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Block storage, Object storage, Load balancers. Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. Both handle API, Cloud deployment, Web support, Api support.