Zerops vs Heroku
Zerops and Heroku both aim to make git-push style deploys the default way to ship apps. Heroku popularized that model and still has a mature buildpack and add-on ecosystem. Zerops is under active development, with full Linux containers, SSH, and horizontal scaling available without gating it behind higher dyno tiers.
This page is a straight comparison, not a sales pitch. Where Heroku is genuinely stronger, we say so.
Salesforce confirmed Heroku is moving to a sustaining engineering model: security patches and stability fixes continue, but no new features are planned and no new Enterprise contracts are being written. This is a real, disclosed change and relevant if you are choosing a platform for the long term.
At a glance
| Zerops | Heroku | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform status | Actively developed | Sustaining engineering only (Feb 2026) |
| Entry price | Free lightweight project core | $5/month (Eco, sleeps after 30 min) |
| Horizontal scaling | Available by default | Requires Standard tier or above |
| SSH into containers | Yes, any container | No, restricted dyno model |
| Managed Postgres | Included as managed service | Starts at $50/month separately |
| Free tier | Free project core | Removed November 2022 |
What Heroku is
Heroku is the platform that popularized git-push deploys, now owned by Salesforce. Dynos are the unit of compute. Buildpacks and a large add-on marketplace cover a wide range of languages and services. For teams that already know Heroku, the model is familiar and well documented.
Pricing
As of August 2026:
- Eco: $5/month (shared, sleeps after 30 minutes of inactivity)
- Basic: $7/month (no sleeping, no horizontal scaling)
- Standard-1X: $25/month
- Standard-2X: $50/month
- Horizontal scaling requires Standard or above
- Managed Postgres starts separately at $50/month for Standard-0
- The free tier was removed in November 2022
Zerops has a free lightweight project core. Compute is billed per minute, horizontal scaling is available by default, and managed Postgres is a first-class managed service rather than a separate add-on starting at $50/month. See PostgreSQL on Zerops and Scaling.
Dyno and Postgres prices change. Confirm on Heroku's own pricing page before you decide.
Where Heroku is genuinely strong
- Mature ecosystem. Buildpacks and add-ons are extremely well documented and widely understood.
- Minimal surprises for existing users. Teams that already run on Heroku know the operational shape.
- Long track record. Years of production use across many stacks and company sizes.
Where Zerops differs
Active product development
Zerops ships new features regularly. Heroku's disclosed sustaining-engineering model means security and stability continue, but the feature roadmap does not. If long-term platform evolution matters, that difference is material.
Full Linux containers with SSH
Every Zerops container is a full Linux environment via Incus. You can SSH into any running service. Heroku's dyno model is more restricted and does not give general SSH into production dynos.
Horizontal scaling without tier gates
On Zerops, horizontal scaling is available by default. On Heroku, horizontal scaling requires Standard tier or above. Eco and Basic are limited accordingly.
Managed databases as first-class services
Zerops managed databases sit on the same private network as your app and are addressed by hostname. Heroku Postgres is a separate paid add-on (Standard-0 from $50/month). See Internal access.
Quick answers
Often at small and mid scale, yes, but it depends on the dyno mix and add-ons. Heroku Eco starts at $5/month but sleeps after inactivity; Basic is $7/month with no horizontal scaling; managed Postgres starts at $50/month. Zerops has a free project core, per-minute compute, and managed Postgres as a first-class service. Compare your actual dyno and database footprint.
No. In February 2026, Salesforce confirmed Heroku is in sustaining engineering: security and stability fixes continue, but no new features are planned and no new Enterprise contracts are being written.
No general SSH into production dynos. Zerops provides SSH into any running container as a full Linux environment.
No. Horizontal scaling on Heroku requires Standard tier or above. Zerops includes horizontal scaling by default.
When your team already depends on Heroku buildpacks and add-ons, and stability with a known operational model matters more than new platform features or SSH-level container access.
Related comparisons
Zerops vs Railway, Render, Heroku, and Fly.io at a glance.
Usage billing, seat fees, SSH access, and owned hardware.
Workspace tiers, bandwidth changes, and free database expiry.
Multi-region edge deploy, pay-as-you-go pricing, and networking fees.
Keeping this accurate
Pricing and features change often. This page reflects information verified in August 2026. If something is out of date, we'd like to know. The goal is accuracy, not a stacked deck. Always check each platform's own pricing page before you decide.
Jump into the Zerops Discord and ask. The team can walk through your specific use case.