Heroku vs Vercel
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
The verdict
Both Heroku and Vercel are credible web hosting tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Heroku — The original developer PaaS.
Choose Vercel if you'd rather have a lower starting price (free – $20/user/mo), a free plan to start on and a higher overall rating (4.6/5). The platform for frontend developers.
Heroku vs Vercel: side by side
| Dimension | Heroku | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $5/mo | Free – $20/user/moWinner |
| Free plan | No | YesWinner |
| Pricing model | Usage-based | Freemium |
| Best for | Startups, Prototyping | Frontend Developers, Startups |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Api |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.6/5Winner |
Heroku key facts
- Vendor
- Salesforce
- Pricing
- Usage-based — From $5/mo
- Free tier
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Api
- Best for
- Startups, Prototyping
- Editor rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Founded
- 2007
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Vercel key facts
- Vendor
- Vercel, Inc.
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $20/user/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Api
- Best for
- Frontend Developers, Startups
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Heroku better than Vercel?
Neither is universally better — Vercel edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Heroku or Vercel cheaper?
Vercel is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $20/user/mo. Heroku starts at from $5/mo; Vercel starts at free – $20/user/mo.
Can Heroku replace Vercel?
Yes for most teams — both are web hosting tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.