Heroku vs Dokku
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Heroku and Dokku.
Heroku The original PaaS — still the easiest deploy | Dokku Self-hosted mini Heroku on your own VPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.3 (393 reviews) | 4.7 (251 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | free |
| Starting price | From €5/mo | Free✓ |
| Best for | Developers who prioritize the largest addon ecosystem and a proven, mature PaaS with minimal configuration | Developers who want Heroku-style deployments at VPS pricing on infrastructure they own and control |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | managed optionus datacentereu datacenterapi access | free tieropen sourceself hostable |
| Visit Heroku → | Visit Dokku → | |
Heroku
Pros
- + Most addon marketplace options — 150+
- + Dead-simple deployments with git push
- + Longest PaaS track record
Cons
- - Removed free tier in 2022
- - More expensive than competitors for equivalent resources
Dokku
Pros
- + Free and open source — just need a VPS
- + Heroku buildpack compatible
- + Full control over your data and costs
Cons
- - Self-managed — you handle updates and maintenance
- - Requires Linux server knowledge
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