Heroku alternative
The Heroku alternative
that costs a fraction.Heroku made deploying a git push, then made it expensive and killed the free tier. You also never controlled the dyno or the database host. SelfHost keeps the push-to-deploy ease but runs it on a real server you own, with a dedicated managed PostgreSQL option, and bills pay-as-you-go from around $0.02/hr.
The magic of Heroku. Without the Heroku bill.
The short answer
Heroku-easy deploys,
at a fraction of the cost.
If you loved Heroku but not the dyno pricing, the removed free tier, or never seeing the server, SelfHost is the closest in spirit with more control. Push from GitHub, get a managed PostgreSQL with PITR and pooling, and pay by the hour on a server you actually own.
Credit where due
What Heroku gets right.
Heroku defined push-to-deploy. The workflow is simple and battle-tested, and the buildpacks just work.
A large marketplace of add-ons for databases, caching, and logging, wired in with a click.
Years of production use mean it is dependable and well-documented, with no surprises in how it deploys.
Where it falls short
Why teams outgrow
Heroku.
Dyno pricing and paid add-ons add up fast, and the free tier is gone. Small projects that used to be free now cost real money every month.
Heroku hides the server completely. You cannot control the box, run several apps on one server, or choose where it runs.
Heroku Postgres is convenient but expensive at scale, and you do not control the underlying host.
Many teams feel Heroku has not moved forward, which is what set off the long Heroku exodus.
Side by side
Heroku vs SelfHost.
| Feature | Heroku | SelfHost |
|---|---|---|
| A real server you control | Hidden dyno | Yes, yours |
| Git / GitHub deploy | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | Removed in 2022 | Welcome credit, ~48 hours |
| Many apps on one server | Per-dyno | One server, fill it |
| Dedicated managed PostgreSQL (PITR, pooling, Multi-AZ) | Heroku Postgres add-on | Full managed product |
| Bring your own cloud (AWS) | No | Yes, BYOC |
| AI / MCP control plane | None first-party | 150+ first-party tools |
| Add-on ecosystem | Large marketplace | Deploy anything from GitHub or Docker |
| Entry cost | Paid dynos | From ~$0.02/hr, pause to pay nothing |
Comparison reflects typical Heroku usage as of 2026. Features and pricing change often, so check the latest from each provider before you decide.
Why switch to SelfHost
The control you want.
None of the operations.
A project server starts around $0.02/hr (about $0.50 a day) and pauses at a zero balance, instead of monthly dyno and add-on fees.
Your app runs on a dedicated server you can see and control, with several apps on one box if you want.
Dedicated managed PostgreSQL with PITR, pooling, and Multi-AZ, or BYOC on your own AWS account.
Connect GitHub, auto-deploy on push, get PR previews and rollbacks. The Heroku habit, on your server.
Manage deploys, domains, and databases from your editor with 150+ MCP tools.
Standard containers and Postgres, your own domains, your own AWS if you want it.
The Heroku exodus, somewhere better
Teams left Heroku when the free tier ended and the bills grew. The usual landing spots either hide the server too (Railway, Render) or hand you a VPS to babysit. SelfHost is the middle: Heroku-style deploys on a real server we run for you, billed by the hour.
See the proof.
Being honest
Other Heroku alternatives.
We think SelfHost wins when you want control, a managed database, and AI ops in one place. If your priorities differ, here are the honest options worth a look.
The most common Heroku successor, slick and usage-based, but still hides the server.
Predictable flat pricing and a clean UI, also an abstracted platform.
More control and global reach, but more to operate yourself.