Google Cloud vs Heroku
Google Cloud vs Heroku compared for European indie developers and small startups. Pricing, EU jurisdiction, GDPR posture — and why Runsite (an EU-registered PaaS in Frankfurt) is worth a look.
// google cloud problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Google Cloud frustration, solved.
Google Cloud problem
"$300 free credits ran out in 3 months"
Google Cloud's free trial is generous but temporary. After 90 days, everything is billed — and per-second pricing adds up fast.
Runsite solution
Free tier that doesn't expire
Runsite's free tier is permanent. No countdown, no credit card. Build and iterate as long as you need.
Google Cloud problem
"Cloud Console is overwhelming"
GCP has hundreds of products, nested menus, and IAM policies. Deploying a simple app takes dozens of clicks.
Runsite solution
One screen, two minutes
Connect GitHub, pick EU region, deploy. No console maze, no IAM, no project hierarchy.
Google Cloud problem
"CLOUD Act concerns for EU clients"
Google is a US company. EU enterprises increasingly reject GCP for data sovereignty reasons.
Runsite solution
EU entity, EU law
Runsite is registered in the EU. Your data is governed by European privacy laws. No transatlantic jurisdictional conflicts.
// comparison
Runsite vs Google Cloud
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | ✓ Git push deploy | Console + gcloud CLI + IAM |
| Billing Clarity | ✓ Fixed plans | Per-second/per-request billing |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + Telegram alerts | ✗ Budget alerts only |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | ✗ US company (Alphabet), CLOUD Act |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | 90-day / $300 trial credit |
| Managed PostgreSQL | ✓ From €5/mo | Cloud SQL from ~$7/mo (db-f1-micro) |
| ML/AI Services | Not available | ✓ Vertex AI, BigQuery, TPUs |
| Global Regions | Frankfurt (eu-central) only | ✓ 40+ regions worldwide |
// the other side
What about Heroku?
Heroku killed its free tier and raised prices. Runsite gives you EU hosting, transparent pricing, and a free tier that actually stays free.
// heroku problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Heroku frustration, solved.
Heroku problem
"My $7/mo dyno sleeps after 30 min"
Eco dynos spin down constantly. Cold starts kill your API response times and user experience.
Runsite solution
Always-on containers, even on free tier
No sleep. No cold starts. Your app runs 24/7 on dedicated resources in EU data centers.
Heroku problem
"I got a $2,400 bill I didn't expect"
Heroku's autoscaling and add-on pricing is opaque. Surprise invoices are a rite of passage.
Runsite solution
Hard spending limits + alerts
Set a monthly cap. Get Telegram alerts at 80%. We physically cannot charge you more than your limit.
Heroku problem
"Free tier is gone. Hobby is $7/mo per app"
Heroku removed free dynos in 2022. A simple side project now costs $7+/mo minimum.
Runsite solution
Permanent free tier, no credit card
Run side projects, prototypes, and demos forever. Free means free — not "free for 90 days".
// comparison
Runsite vs Heroku
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Heroku |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | ✗ Removed in 2022 |
| Basic Web Service | €5/mo | $7.00/mo |
| Web Standard (1 vCPU, 1GB) | €12/mo | $25/mo |
| Managed PostgreSQL | €5/mo | $9/mo |
| Data Region | ✓ EU only (Frankfurt, eu-central) | US default, EU = Enterprise only |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity, full compliance | ✗ US company (Salesforce) |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + alerts | ✗ No built-in limits |
| Sleep / Cold Starts | ✓ Always-on | Eco dynos sleep after 30min |
// why consider runsite
Beyond Google Cloud and Heroku
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While Google Cloud and Heroku default to US markets, Runsite is built exclusively for European developers. Frankfurt (eu-central) region, EU entity, EU jurisdiction — no transatlantic transfers.
Real GDPR Compliance
EU-registered entity. Your data is governed by European law. No US jurisdiction, no CLOUD Act.
Predictable Pricing
No per-invocation charges, no surprise bills. Fixed plans with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts.
Common Questions
FAQ
Which is better for EU hosting, Google Cloud or Heroku?
Neither Google Cloud nor Heroku is EU-native. Both are US-headquartered and route the majority of traffic through US data centers. For genuine EU data residency, an EU-registered platform like Runsite is the safer choice — a Frankfurt (eu-central) region under EU jurisdiction, no transatlantic transfers, no CLOUD Act exposure.
Which has the better free tier, Google Cloud or Heroku?
Free tiers on both Google Cloud and Heroku change frequently and often include compute or bandwidth caps that expire after a trial period. If a permanent free tier matters, evaluate the current terms on each provider before committing.
Is Google Cloud or Heroku GDPR-compliant?
Both can be configured to support GDPR-compliant workloads via Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), but as US entities they remain subject to the CLOUD Act. For workloads where US jurisdiction is a hard blocker, an EU-headquartered provider is required.
What is the cheapest way to deploy a side project — Google Cloud or Heroku?
Pricing on both Google Cloud and Heroku can scale unpredictably with traffic or build minutes. Hard spending caps are not available on either platform. Predictable monthly pricing with usage caps is a differentiator to look for elsewhere.
// explore alternatives
Try the European Alternative
Skip the Google Cloud vs Heroku debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →