Best Heroku Alternatives for Developers in 2026

We’ve deployed hundreds of client projects on Heroku over the years. It was the obvious choice for a long time — simple Git push deploys, managed infrastructure, zero ops.

But the landscape has shifted. Heroku’s free tier is gone. Eco dynos sleep. Pricing stacks up with add-ons. And newer platforms offer better developer experiences for less money.

If you’re evaluating where to deploy your next project — whether it’s a client app, a SaaS MVP, or an internal tool — here are the Heroku alternatives worth considering.

What Developers Actually Need

Before listing platforms, let’s define what matters for a Heroku replacement:

• Simple deploys — Git push or CLI command, not a 15-step DevOps pipeline
• Affordable for side projects — under $10/mo for a basic app + database
• Always-on — no cold starts or sleeping containers
• Database included — PostgreSQL or MySQL without a separate billing line
• SSH or shell access — for debugging production issues
• Git-based workflow — push to deploy from GitHub

Heroku used to check most of these boxes. Now it only checks some, at a higher price.

Railway — Closest to Modern Heroku

Railway rebuilt the Heroku experience from scratch. GitHub integration, instant deploys, built-in databases, and a clean dashboard.

Developer experience:

• Connect a GitHub repo, Railway auto-detects the stack
• Built-in PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis — one click to provision
• Environment variables managed through the UI or CLI
• Preview environments for pull requests

The catch: Usage-based pricing. The $5/mo hobby plan includes $5 of compute credits. A Node.js app with a PostgreSQL database running 24/7 costs roughly $7-12/mo depending on traffic. Costs can surprise you if traffic spikes.

Verdict: Best Heroku replacement if you want the same workflow with a modern UI. Just watch the usage-based billing.

Render — The “Official” Heroku Replacement

Render explicitly positions itself as the Heroku alternative. Similar model — Git push deploys, managed infrastructure, dashboard for everything.

Developer experience:

• Auto-deploy from GitHub/GitLab on every push
• Free tier for static sites and web services (with sleep)
• Managed PostgreSQL, Redis, cron jobs
• Docker support for custom runtimes
• Blueprint specs (infrastructure-as-code YAML)

The catch: Free tier instances spin down after 15 minutes of inactivity — the same problem that made people leave Heroku. Managed PostgreSQL starts at $7/mo extra.

Verdict: Solid choice if you’re OK with sleep on the free tier. Paid tier ($7/mo) is always-on and predictable.

Fly.io — Edge VMs for Performance-Sensitive Apps

Fly.io runs your app on Firecracker micro-VMs across global regions. Your app runs close to your users, not in a single US-East data center.

Developer experience:

• fly launch CLI detects your app and generates config
• Multi-region deployment by default
• Built-in PostgreSQL (LiteFS for SQLite replication)
• Real VMs with SSH access
• WebSocket and long-running connection support

The catch: Steeper learning curve. fly.toml config files, machine sizing, volume management. More powerful than Heroku but more to learn. Pricing can be hard to predict — pay per VM per region.

Verdict: Best for apps where latency matters (real-time, global users). Overkill for a simple CRUD app.

InstaPods — Real Servers with One-Command Deploy

InstaPods takes a different approach. Instead of abstracting the server away (like Heroku), it gives you a real Linux server and adds simple deployment on top.

Developer experience:

• instapods deploy my-app — detects stack, creates server, uploads code, gives you a URL
• Full SSH access — install anything, debug anything, run any process
• Git deploy from GitHub — push to auto-deploy
• MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis — install on the same server, no extra cost
• MCP server for AI agent deployment (Claude Code, Cursor integration)
• Flat $3/mo — no usage-based billing, no add-on stacking

The catch: Newer platform with a smaller community. Supports Node.js, PHP, Python, and static sites. Single-server architecture — no multi-region or auto-scaling.

Verdict: Best for developers who want Heroku simplicity but also want real server access. The flat pricing makes it ideal for side projects and client apps where predictability matters. The AI/MCP angle is unique — no other hosting platform has it.

Coolify — Self-Hosted Heroku

Coolify is open-source and self-hosted. Install it on a $5/mo VPS and you get a Heroku-like dashboard with zero ongoing platform fees.

Developer experience:

• Install script on any VPS — 5 minutes to set up
• Web dashboard for deploying apps, databases, services
• Docker and Nixpacks support (same buildpacks as Railway)
• One-click PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis
• Free forever — you pay only for the VPS

The catch: You manage the server. Updates, security, backups — that’s on you. Single-server by default. Less polished than commercial platforms.

Verdict: Best if you want full control and don’t mind occasional server maintenance. Great for developers who already manage VPS infrastructure.

DigitalOcean App Platform — Cloud-Backed Simplicity

App Platform sits on top of DigitalOcean’s infrastructure. Good if you’re already in the DO ecosystem or might need to graduate to Droplets later.

Developer experience:

• Auto-deploy from GitHub/GitLab
• Managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB)
• Buildpacks or Dockerfile support
• Static site hosting (free)
• Clear upgrade path to Droplets/Kubernetes

The catch: Basic tier ($5/mo) has sleep behavior. Managed PostgreSQL starts at $15/mo — expensive for side projects. The UI can feel like a simpler veneer over a complex cloud provider.

Verdict: Best if you already use DigitalOcean and want to stay in one ecosystem. The database pricing pushes costs higher than alternatives.

Quick Decision Matrix

Our Recommendation

For most developers leaving Heroku, the choice comes down to what you value:

• Convenience over control → Railway or Render
• Control over convenience → InstaPods or Coolify
• Performance at scale → Fly.io

The days of Heroku being the only simple option are over. Every platform listed here deploys in under 5 minutes, supports Git workflows, and costs less than what Heroku charges for the same resources.

Pick the one that matches how you actually work, not how Heroku taught you to work.