Heroku
6/10Salesforce-owned platform as a service where developers deploy apps from Git onto managed dyno containers, with Postgres and Key-Value Store add-ons.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Heroku is a platform as a service owned by Salesforce. Developers push code with Git or the CLI, and Heroku builds and runs it on containers it calls dynos, so there are no servers to manage. Its own data services, Heroku Postgres and Key-Value Store, run next to the apps, and the Elements Marketplace adds third-party add-ons. Billing is per resource and prorated by month. Cedar dynos start at $5 for Eco, which sleeps after 30 minutes of inactivity, and $7 for Basic. Standard dynos cost $25 to $50 and Performance dynos $250 to $1,500. Private Space and Shield dynos run in isolated networks, and Shield plans support HIPAA and PCI workloads. Postgres starts at $5 a month and goes up to tens of thousands of dollars for large Premium, Private, and Shield plans. There is no free tier. Common Runtime apps can only run in the US or Europe, and Private Spaces add ten more regions. It suits small teams and startups that want simple Git-based deploys. Its biggest risk is direction. In February 2026 Salesforce put Heroku into a sustaining engineering model, which focuses on stability and security instead of new features, and it stopped signing new Enterprise contracts. Reviewers also often say the cost climbs quickly as apps scale.
Our Rating
Who Heroku is best for
Good fit
Deploying with Git and the CLI and adding services as add-ons is designed for application developers.
Low-cost Eco and Basic dynos and Essential Postgres let a team launch quickly, but costs rise as the app scales.
Less suited
It works well for web SaaS backends, but the sustaining engineering model makes long-term planning harder.
Shield and Private Spaces exist, but new Enterprise contracts stopped in 2026 and no new features are planned.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deploying with a Git push or the CLI takes almost no setup for common web stacks.
- Postgres and Key-Value Store are integrated with the apps and offered at many plan sizes.
- Shield plans support HIPAA and PCI compliant workloads.
- Pricing is public and itemized for every dyno and database size.
Cons
- Since February 2026, Salesforce is only maintaining the platform with stability and security work and no new features.
- New customers can no longer sign Enterprise contracts.
- Reviewers often say costs climb steeply as apps scale.
- Common Runtime apps can only run in the US or Europe, and other regions need costly Private Spaces.
- There is no free tier, and Eco dynos sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity.
Key Features
Heroku Pricing
Eco dynos
- 0.5 GB RAM
- 2 process types
- Personal accounts only
- Sleeps after 30 minutes of inactivity
Private and Shield dynos
- Requires a Private Space
- Fir-generation dynos from $25 to $2,400
- Shield-S at $150 up to Shield-2XL at $1,800
- Private-S at $125 up to Private-2XL at $1,500
Performance dynos
- Performance-L and L-RAM at $500
- Performance-M with 2.5 GB RAM at $250
- Performance-XL with 62 GB RAM at $750
- Performance-2XL with 126 GB RAM at $1,500
Enterprise
- Contact sales
- Enterprise Success Plans
- Add-ons paid with credits
- New contracts not offered to new customers since 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The cheapest options are Eco dynos at $5 a month, which sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity, Essential-0 Postgres at $5, and Mini Key-Value Store at $3.
No shutdown date has been announced. In February 2026 Salesforce moved Heroku to a sustaining engineering model focused on stability, security, and support, and it stopped selling Enterprise contracts to new customers.
Common Runtime apps can run in the US or Europe. Private Spaces add Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Montreal, Mumbai, Oregon, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Virginia.
Yes. Shield dynos and Shield Postgres run in Private Spaces and are marketed as HIPAA and PCI compliant.
Basic Support is free for all customers. Enterprise customers can get higher-level Success Plans.
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