Heroku vs Coolify
Side-by-side feature comparison and pricing breakdown.
Git Push Deploy
✓
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Automatic SSL Heroku charges for SSL on paid plans; Coolify uses Let's Encrypt
$
✓
Add-On Ecosystem Coolify has 280+ services; Heroku has marketplace add-ons
✓
✓
Database Hosting Heroku Postgres costs extra; Coolify deploys DBs free
$
✓
Docker Support Coolify is Docker-native
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✓
Free Tier Heroku eliminated free tier in 2022; Coolify is free
✗
✓
Scaling Heroku scales easily; Coolify requires Docker Swarm setup
✓
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Pricing
$5/mo
Free Open Source
Save 100% — Save $5-50+/mo per app (Coolify runs on a $5/mo VPS)
Verdict
Coolify brings back the simplicity Heroku was known for, but on your own servers. With Heroku's free tier gone and costs rising, Coolify offers a better deployment experience with 280+ one-click services at just the cost of a VPS.
Best for: Developers who loved Heroku's simplicity but left when the free tier was removed and prices climbed
Last updated: 2026-03-01