Compare
CapRover vs Heroku
Short answer: Pick CapRover if you want self-hosted Docker PaaS; pick Heroku if you want managed containers and data services for web apps. CapRover is free; Heroku starts at $5/month.
CapRoverSelf-hosted PaaS to deploy apps on your own server
HerokuPlatform as a service to deploy and run appsWhich to pick
Pick CapRover if you want…
- Self-hosted Docker PaaS
- A free, open-source tool
- Integrations with Docker Swarm, nginx or Let’s Encrypt (on CapRover's list, not Heroku's)
Pick Heroku if you want…
- Managed containers and data services for web apps
- Hosted PaaS
- Integrations with Git, GitHub or Go (on Heroku's list, not CapRover's)
Side by side
- What it is
- CapRover:CapRover is a free, open-source self-hosted PaaS that deploys and manages Docker-based apps on your own server.
- Heroku:Heroku is a fully managed PaaS that lets developers build, deploy, and scale apps using git, containers, and managed data services.
- Best for
- CapRover:Self-hosted Docker PaaS
- Heroku:Managed containers and data services for web apps
- Who it’s for
- CapRover:Developers and teams who want to run apps on their own infrastructure without vendor lock-in.
- Heroku:Developers, teams, startups and enterprises needing simple app hosting
- Pricing
- CapRover:Free
- Heroku:Paid
- Starting price
- CapRover:Free
- Heroku:$5/month (Eco)
- Free plan or trial
- CapRover:Free to use
- Heroku:—
- Plans
- CapRover:—
- Heroku:Eco $5 per month · Basic $7 per month · Standard-1X $25 per month · Performance-M $250 per month · Private-S $125 per month
- Open source
- CapRover:Yes, 15,178 GitHub stars
- Heroku:—
- Works with
- CapRover:Docker, Docker Swarm, nginx, Let’s Encrypt, Node.js, Python, PHP, Java
- Heroku:Git, GitHub, Docker, Node.js, Ruby, Java, PHP, Python
CapRover features
- Docker-native deployments. Runs any containerized app using Docker and Docker Swarm.
- One-click apps. Installs databases, WordPress, monitoring tools and other services instantly.
- Automatic HTTPS. Issues and renews free Let’s Encrypt certificates with one click.
- Simple control panel. Manages ports, env vars, persistent storage and instance counts from a UI.
- Scalable clusters. Adds nodes to a Swarm cluster and handles load balancing automatically.
- Multiple deployment methods. Deploy via dashboard, CLI, webhook or existing Git workflow.
Heroku features
- Dyno containers. Runs apps in smart, isolated containers with automatic scaling and patching.
- Heroku Postgres. Fully managed PostgreSQL database service optimized for developers.
- Heroku Redis. Managed key-value store with a developer-friendly experience.
- GitHub Integration. Creates disposable Review Apps for pull requests and auto-deploys on push.
- Add-ons & Buildpacks. Extend apps with 150+ third-party add-ons and community buildpacks.
- Security & Compliance. Provides PCI, HIPAA, ISO, SOC compliance and optional Shield environments.
CapRover vs Heroku FAQ
What is the difference between CapRover and Heroku?+
Heroku is a hosted PaaS with a proprietary stack; CapRover provides similar capabilities on your own infrastructure.
Should I use CapRover or Heroku?+
Pick CapRover if you want self-hosted Docker PaaS, a free, open-source tool or integrations with Docker Swarm, nginx or Let’s Encrypt (on CapRover's list, not Heroku's). Pick Heroku if you want managed containers and data services for web apps, hosted PaaS or integrations with Git, GitHub or Go (on Heroku's list, not CapRover's).
Is CapRover or Heroku free?+
CapRover is free. Heroku is paid, from $5/month (Eco).
Which is cheaper, CapRover or Heroku?+
CapRover is free, so it costs less. Heroku starts at $5/month (Eco).
Is CapRover or Heroku open source?+
CapRover is open source (caprover/caprover on GitHub). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Heroku.
Do CapRover and Heroku integrate with the same tools?+
Partly. Both list Docker, Node.js, Python, PHP and 3 more. CapRover also lists Docker Swarm, nginx and Let’s Encrypt; Heroku also lists Git, GitHub, Go, Scala and 1 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.