Software · head to head
Vercel vs Heroku
The short version
- Only Vercel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Vercel usage-based pricing can spike unexpectedly during traffic surges or DDoS attacks; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
- They diverge on capability: Vercel covers Instant deployments, Heroku covers Git-based deployment.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Vercel and Heroku actually diverge.
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 Vercel
- Instant deployments
- Preview deployments
- Serverless functions
- Edge network
- Automatic HTTPS
- Custom domains
- Git integration
- Real-time collaboration
Only in Heroku
- Git-based deployment
- Buildpacks
- Dynos (containers)
- Add-ons marketplace
- Postgres database
- Environment variables
- Logging
- API
Both cover
- GitHub
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Vercel
- Static sitesnot Heroku
- JAMstack applicationsnot Heroku
- Serverless APIsnot Heroku
- E-commerce sitesnot Heroku
- Documentation sitesnot Heroku
Heroku
- Deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administrationnot Vercel
- Running managed Postgres, Redis and Kafka as attached data servicesnot Vercel
- Isolated production environments in a Private Space for regulated workloadsnot Vercel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Vercel
- Usage-based pricing can spike unexpectedly during traffic surges or DDoS attacks
- No spending limit controls or automatic shutoff mechanisms
- Bandwidth costs ($0.15/GB) quickly accumulate for high-traffic applications
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
Vercel
Free- HobbyFree
- Non-commercial use only
- 100GB bandwidth
- Community support
- Pro$20/user/month
- Commercial use
- 1TB bandwidth
- $20 usage credit
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Custom infrastructure
- Premium support
- Compliance add-ons
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 Vercel if
- You need instant deployments.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, CLI.
- You also want preview deployments.
Choose Heroku if
- You need git-based deployment.
- You work on Web, Api, Workers.
- You also want buildpacks.
Questions people ask
- Is Vercel or Heroku better?
- Neither clearly leads. Vercel 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, Vercel or Heroku?
- Vercel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Vercel and $7/month for Heroku.
- Does Vercel or Heroku run on more platforms?
- Vercel runs on Web, CLI. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
- Can I use Vercel for free?
- Yes. Vercel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $7/month.
- What is Vercel best used for?
- Vercel is most often used for static sites, jamstack applications, serverless apis, e-commerce sites. Of those, static sites and jamstack applications are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
- What can Vercel do that Heroku cannot?
- Vercel covers Instant deployments, Preview deployments, Serverless functions, Edge network. Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. Both handle GitHub.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Vercel: What are Vercel's main pricing tiers?
Vercel offers a free Hobby plan (non-commercial), Pro at $20/user/month with $20 usage credit, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Additional compliance add-ons cost $150-$350/month.
SourceVercel: How much do bandwidth overages cost on Vercel?
Bandwidth overages cost $0.15/GB after plan limits are exceeded. Hobby plan includes 100GB free bandwidth; Pro includes 1TB. Usage-based billing can cause unexpected bills.
SourceVercel: Is Vercel free for Next.js projects?
Yes, Vercel offers a free Hobby plan for non-commercial Next.js projects with automatic deployments from git. Commercial projects require Pro plan or higher.
SourceVercel: Can I set spending limits on Vercel?
No, Vercel does not offer hard spending caps or automatic shutoff. High traffic, DDoS attacks, or misconfigured functions can result in unexpectedly large bills.
SourceVercel: What is included in the Pro plan?
Pro ($20/user/month) includes $20 usage credit, 1TB bandwidth, support for commercial projects, git integration, and preview deployments.
Source