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Hosting & Infra

Coolify vs Heroku: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Coolify and Heroku. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Coolify starts at $5/mo and Heroku starts at $5/mo. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Coolify vs Heroku: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureCoolifyHeroku
Starting Price$5/mo$5/mo
Number of Plans24
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelopen-sourceusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Coolify and Heroku are both priced at $5/mo, making them equally accessible Hosting & Infra tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 25 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Coolify stands out with a free plan for getting started. Coolify uses open-source pricing while Heroku uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Hosting & Infra needs.

Pricing Plans
Tier 1
Self-hosted
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Full access to all features
  • Need your own infrastructure for Coolify
  • No limitation or restrictions
  • Community support ((20k+) members)
  • Automated or Self-managed updates
  • Includes all upcoming features
Start with Self-hosted
Eco
$5/month
Includes
  • 1000 dyno hours/mo
  • Sleep after 30min
  • Custom domains
Start with Eco
Tier 2
Cloud
$5/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Connect unlimited servers
  • Unlimited deployments per server
  • Free email alerts for Coolify events
  • Community + limited email support
  • Founder-tested updates
Start with Cloud
Basic
$7/month
Includes
  • Always on
  • 512 MB RAM
  • Custom domains
  • Free SSL
Start with Basic
Tier 3
Standard 1xPopular
$25/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 512 MB RAM
  • Horizontal scaling
  • Preboot
  • Metrics
Start with Standard 1x
Tier 4
Performance M
$250/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 2.5 GB RAM
  • Dedicated resources
  • Autoscaling
Start with Performance M

Swipe to compare plans →

Coolify

Self-hostable open-source PaaS alternative to Heroku and Vercel

View all Coolify plans

Heroku

Cloud platform for building, running, and scaling apps

View all Heroku plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Coolify if:

  • You need a free plan with Full access to all features, Need your own infrastructure for Coolify—Coolify offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Coolify's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You need predictable billing — Coolify's open-source model avoids surprise overages

Choose Heroku if:

  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Heroku offers 3 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Heroku's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Coolify offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Heroku requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Coolify a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Coolify's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $5/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Heroku's tiering starting at $5/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Coolify's 2 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Heroku's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Coolify is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Coolify vs Heroku

Which is cheaper, Coolify or Heroku?
As of March 2026, both Coolify and Heroku start at the same price of $5/mo. Compare their features at each tier to determine which offers better value for your needs.
How many pricing plans does Coolify have vs Heroku?
Coolify offers 2 pricing plans, while Heroku offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Coolify or Heroku offer a free plan?
Coolify offers a free plan, while Heroku does not. If budget is a concern, Coolify lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Heroku plan?
The Standard 1x plan is Heroku's most popular tier, priced at $25/mo. Key features include 512 MB RAM, Horizontal scaling, Preboot.
What pricing models do Coolify and Heroku use?
Coolify uses a open-source pricing model, while Heroku uses usage-based pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Coolify and Heroku compare for Hosting & Infra?
Both Coolify and Heroku are Hosting & Infra tools. Coolify offers 2 plans starting at $5/mo, while Heroku offers 4 plans starting at $5/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Hosting & Infra needs.

Sources

  1. Coolify Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Heroku Official PricingVendor pricing page

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