DeployCloud vs Heroku
Heroku defined what a great deploy workflow feels like — git push, and your app is live. DeployCloud brings that same workflow to a server you own, so you keep the ergonomics without the per-dyno bill or the vendor lock-in.
If you loved Heroku's simplicity but not its pricing — especially after the free tier was retired in November 2022 — DeployCloud is built for you. It is an open, self-hosted platform-as-a-service: the same git push deploy, Procfile process model, add-ons and instant rollback, running on one Linux box with Docker instead of on Heroku's cloud.
The same workflow you already know
DeployCloud deliberately mirrors the Heroku mental model, so there is almost nothing new to learn:
- Git push to deploy — push a branch and DeployCloud builds and releases it automatically.
- Procfile processes — declare
web,workerandreleaseprocesses exactly like on Heroku. - Buildpacks, reimagined — bring a Dockerfile, or let Nixpacks auto-detect Node, Python, Go, Ruby, PHP, Rust or Java.
- Add-ons — provision Postgres, Redis and S3-compatible storage in one click, with the connection string injected into your environment.
- Config vars — set environment variables per app; they are encrypted at rest.
- Instant rollback — every release is kept, so rolling back is one click with no rebuild.
Where they differ
| DeployCloud | Heroku | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting model | Self-hosted on your VPS | Fully managed cloud |
| Pricing | Flat — your server bill | Per dyno + per add-on, monthly |
| Free tier | Yes — it's your own box | Removed in 2022 |
| Git push to deploy | Yes | Yes |
| Procfile process model | Yes | Yes |
| Zero-downtime releases | Yes, health-checked | Yes |
| Preview environments | Yes, every branch | Review apps (paid pipelines) |
| Your data location | Your server | Heroku's cloud |
| Vendor lock-in | None — it's open | High |
The trade-off, honestly
Heroku is fully managed — someone else patches the host, watches the hardware and carries the pager. With DeployCloud you run the box, so you own the OS updates and backups. In exchange you get a flat cost that does not scale with the number of apps or dynos, your data never leaves infrastructure you control, and there is no platform that can deprecate a tier out from under you.
DeployCloud is designed for a single trusted team on one server — the sweet spot is a startup, an agency or a side-project fleet that outgrew Heroku's bill but does not want to run Kubernetes.
When to pick which
Choose Heroku if you never want to think about a server and the cost is not a concern. Choose DeployCloud if you want Heroku's workflow at VPS prices, need your data on your own infrastructure, or are consolidating several small apps whose combined Heroku bill has crept up.
Frequently asked questions
Is DeployCloud a drop-in Heroku replacement?
For the core workflow — git push, Procfile, add-ons, config vars and rollback — yes. You point it at a repo and deploy the same way. It does not replicate Heroku's full marketplace of third-party add-ons, but the common ones (Postgres, Redis, object storage) are built in.
How much cheaper is it than Heroku?
DeployCloud's cost is simply your VPS bill — a single server that can host many apps. Because there is no per-dyno or per-add-on charge, teams running several small apps typically see the biggest saving.
Do my apps need changing to move off Heroku?
Usually very little. If your app already has a Procfile and reads config from environment variables — the Heroku way — it will feel at home. Bring your Dockerfile, or let Nixpacks detect the stack.
What do I need to run it?
One Linux server with Docker. The whole platform ships as a docker-compose stack, and Traefik issues Let's Encrypt certificates automatically once you point DNS at the box.
Deploy your first app today.
Self-hosted, open, and yours. Point it at a repo and go — no credit card, no lock-in.