Pricing overview

Heroku API's pricing structure is primarily usage-based, focusing on the consumption of its core components: Dynos, data services (such as Heroku Postgres and Heroku Redis), and a marketplace of add-ons. The platform, owned by Salesforce, offers various tiers designed to accommodate applications ranging from hobby projects to enterprise-grade deployments. Users pay for the resources consumed by their applications, with costs scaling based on Dyno type, database plan, and chosen add-ons. This model allows for flexibility, enabling developers and organizations to scale resources up or down according to demand and application requirements. A detailed breakdown of current pricing is available on the official Heroku pricing page.

The fundamental unit of execution on Heroku is the Dyno. Dynos are Linux containers that run application code based on a specified command. Heroku offers different Dyno types, each with varying resource allocations (CPU, RAM) and features, influencing their respective costs. Beyond Dynos, data services are critical components for most applications. Heroku provides managed database services, including Heroku Postgres and Heroku Redis, which are priced based on factors like storage capacity, RAM, and advanced features. Lastly, the Heroku Elements Marketplace offers a wide array of third-party add-ons for services like logging, monitoring, and email, each with its own pricing structure, often including free tiers or usage-based billing.

Plans and tiers

Heroku's pricing is organized into several plans and tiers across its core services. The primary components are Dynos, Heroku Postgres, Heroku Redis, and Heroku Data for Redis. Each component has distinct tiers designed for different use cases and performance requirements.

Dyno plans

Dynos are the compute units for running applications. Heroku offers several Dyno types, each with different resource allocations and capabilities. As of the current pricing model, there is no free tier for Dynos.

  • Eco Dynos: Starting at $5 per month, these are suitable for personal projects, MVPs, and low-traffic applications. Eco Dynos share resources across a pool of Eco applications and are designed for applications that do not require continuous uptime, as they will sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity.
  • Basic Dynos: Priced higher than Eco Dynos, Basic Dynos offer dedicated resources and do not sleep. They are intended for small, continuous applications that require more consistent availability than Eco Dynos provide.
  • Standard Dynos: Available in various sizes (e.g., Standard-1X, Standard-2X), these Dynos provide increased memory and CPU resources, along with features like preboot and autoscaling. They are designed for applications with moderate traffic and performance requirements.
  • Performance Dynos: Offering the highest resource allocations (e.g., Performance-M, Performance-L), these Dynos are suited for high-traffic, mission-critical applications that demand maximum performance, dedicated resources, and advanced features like guaranteed CPU and memory.

Heroku Postgres plans

Heroku Postgres is a managed PostgreSQL database service. Its pricing tiers are based on factors such as storage, RAM, connection limits, and available features like continuous protection and dataclips.

Plan Name Price (per month) Key Limits / Features Best For
Mini $50 1GB storage, 64MB RAM, 20 connections Small projects, development, low-traffic sites
Basic $9 / month 1GB storage, 512MB RAM, 10,000 rows Testing, small prototypes. Note: Row limits apply to older tiers; newer tiers focus on storage/RAM.
Standard Starts at $50 Varies by size (e.g., Standard-0: 64GB storage, 4GB RAM), continuous protection, forking Production applications with moderate data needs and traffic
Premium Starts at $200 Varies by size (e.g., Premium-0: 256GB storage, 8GB RAM), advanced features, higher performance High-traffic applications, larger datasets, demanding workloads
Private / Shield Custom pricing Dedicated network, enhanced security, compliance features Enterprise applications, strict security and compliance requirements

Heroku Redis plans

Heroku Redis provides managed Redis instances, priced based on RAM, connection limits, and features.

  • Mini: $15 per month, 25MB RAM, 20 connections. Suitable for development and very small caches.
  • Basic: $50 per month, 256MB RAM, 256 connections. For small production caches and session stores.
  • Standard: Starts at $100 per month, 1GB RAM, 500 connections. Offers higher memory and connection limits for production use.
  • Premium: Higher tiers with increased memory and connections for demanding applications.

Add-ons and other services

The Heroku Elements Marketplace features hundreds of add-ons for various functionalities such as logging, monitoring, email, and search. Each add-on has its own pricing, often including free tiers for basic usage or transitioning to usage-based billing as consumption increases. Examples include Papertrail for logging, SendGrid for email, and New Relic for application performance monitoring.

Free tier and limits

As of November 28, 2022, Heroku discontinued its free product plans, including free Dynos, Heroku Postgres, and Heroku Data for Redis. This means there is no longer a free tier for running applications or using basic database services on Heroku. Users are required to transition to a paid plan, starting with the Eco Dyno at $5 per month, for any application deployment. This change impacts developers who previously relied on the free tier for hobby projects, proofs-of-concept, or learning purposes.

The decision to remove the free tier was part of a broader strategy by Salesforce to refine Heroku's offerings and focus on paid services. This shift means that even minimal usage of Heroku's compute or data resources now incurs a cost. Developers must consider these costs when evaluating Heroku for new projects, particularly for those with limited budgets or those in early development stages. Alternatives with existing free tiers may be more suitable for certain use cases, as outlined by Google Cloud's free program or AWS Free Tier details.

Real-world cost examples

Understanding Heroku's pricing involves combining costs from Dynos, data services, and any chosen add-ons. Here are a few illustrative scenarios:

Scenario 1: Small personal project/MVP

  • Application Type: Simple web application, low traffic (e.g., personal blog, small portfolio site).
  • Dynos: 1 Eco Dyno ($5/month).
  • Database: Heroku Postgres Mini ($50/month).
  • Add-ons: Basic logging add-on (e.g., Papertrail free tier, then starts at ~$7/month for more logs).
  • Estimated Monthly Cost: Approximately $55 - $62 per month.
  • Notes: The database often becomes the most significant cost for small projects. The Eco Dyno will sleep after inactivity.

Scenario 2: Medium-sized web application

  • Application Type: E-commerce site, SaaS application with moderate user base.
  • Dynos: 2 Standard-1X Dynos ($25/month each = $50/month).
  • Database: Heroku Postgres Standard-0 ($50/month).
  • Cache: Heroku Redis Basic ($50/month).
  • Add-ons: New Relic APM (Standard tier, ~$50/month), SendGrid (Essentials tier, ~$15/month).
  • Estimated Monthly Cost: Approximately $215 per month.
  • Notes: This setup provides dedicated resources and basic autoscaling capabilities. Database and cache costs grow with data volume and performance needs.

Scenario 3: High-traffic, production-grade application

  • Application Type: Large-scale SaaS, streaming service backend.
  • Dynos: 4 Performance-M Dynos ($250/month each = $1000/month).
  • Database: Heroku Postgres Premium-0 ($200/month).
  • Cache: Heroku Redis Standard ($100/month).
  • Add-ons: Advanced monitoring, logging, and security add-ons (e.g., Datadog, Sumo Logic, Heroku Shield Connect), potentially totaling $300-$500+ per month.
  • Estimated Monthly Cost: Approximately $1600 - $1800+ per month.
  • Notes: Performance Dynos and Premium data services are designed for high availability and throughput. Add-on costs become significant for enterprise-level features and compliance.

These examples illustrate that Heroku's costs can scale significantly based on the chosen Dyno types, database tiers, and the necessity of various add-ons. Developers should use the official Heroku pricing calculator and consult the specific pricing pages for each service to get precise estimates for their unique application architecture.

How the pricing compares

Heroku's pricing model, particularly after the discontinuation of its free tier, positions it differently compared to other Platform as a Service (PaaS) providers and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) options. While Heroku is known for its developer experience and ease of deployment, this often comes with a premium compared to more granular, self-managed solutions.

Compared to AWS Elastic Beanstalk and Google App Engine

Alternatives like AWS Elastic Beanstalk and Google App Engine (PaaS offerings from major cloud providers) often present a more complex setup initially but can offer greater cost optimization for specific workloads. Both AWS and Google Cloud provide extensive free tiers that allow developers to run small applications or experiment without immediate cost. For instance, AWS Elastic Beanstalk pricing is based on the underlying EC2 instances, S3 storage, and other AWS services consumed, which can be cheaper than Heroku for comparable resources if managed efficiently. Similarly, Google App Engine pricing is usage-based for instance hours, memory, and other resources, often providing competitive rates, especially with its free tier allowances.

Heroku's strength lies in its opinionated, streamlined workflow, which reduces operational overhead. This can translate to lower developer time spent on infrastructure management, potentially offsetting higher direct infrastructure costs, especially for startups or teams prioritizing rapid iteration over fine-grained cost control. However, for organizations with strong DevOps capabilities or specific infrastructure requirements, the flexibility and potentially lower per-resource cost of AWS or Google Cloud might be more appealing.

Compared to DigitalOcean App Platform

DigitalOcean App Platform, another PaaS offering, often competes directly with Heroku on simplicity and developer experience. DigitalOcean provides a free tier for static sites and offers competitive pricing for its app components, often at a lower price point than Heroku for similar resource allocations. Its pricing for containers, databases, and other services can be more transparent and generally more budget-friendly for small to medium-sized applications. DigitalOcean aims to provide a balance between ease of use and cost-effectiveness, making it a strong contender for developers seeking an alternative to Heroku's current pricing structure, especially after the removal of Heroku's free tier.

In summary, Heroku's pricing reflects its focus on managed services and developer convenience. While it may appear more expensive on a per-resource basis compared to IaaS or other PaaS providers with more complex configuration options, the value proposition often includes reduced operational burden and faster development cycles. The best choice depends on an organization's specific priorities regarding cost, control, and developer productivity.