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Heroku vs Dokku
Heroku vs Dokku
A side-by-side look at Heroku (the paid SaaS) and Dokku (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Heroku | Dokku | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | App hosting platform as a service by Salesforce. | Self-hosted mini-Heroku on a single server. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | MIT |
| Pricing | Eco dynos from $5/month; production tiers from $25. | Free to self-host |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | No |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Heroku-style git-push deploys on your own single VPS.
Dokku strengths
- Deploy via git push, just like Heroku.
- Works on any Linux VPS.
- Plugin ecosystem for databases, SSL, etc.
Dokku weaknesses
- Single-host — limited scaling story.
- Requires Linux sysadmin comfort.
- UI is CLI-first.
What's the catch with Heroku?
- Free tier removed in 2022.
- Pricing grew sharply for small projects.
- Vendor lock-in with buildpacks and add-ons.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Heroku: see Heroku alternatives, or learn more about Dokku on its project page.