Heroku vs Platform.sh
Heroku vs Platform.sh 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.
// 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 |
// the other side
What about Platform.sh?
Platform.sh (Upsun) is EU-based and enterprise-grade. But at €30-60+/mo minimum, it's not built for indie developers. Runsite is.
// platform.sh problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Platform.sh frustration, solved.
Platform.sh problem
"€30+/mo for a simple app"
Platform.sh/Upsun charges a project fee plus per-hour compute, disk, and backup costs. Even small apps are expensive.
Runsite solution
€5/mo, all included
Web service with compute, SSL, and monitoring for €5/mo. Add PostgreSQL for €5/mo. No hidden fees.
Platform.sh problem
"15-day trial is not enough"
Platform.sh gives you 15 days to evaluate. After that, you're on usage-based billing with no free option.
Runsite solution
Free tier forever
Prototype and test as long as you need. No countdown, no credit card, no pressure to convert.
Platform.sh problem
"Platform YAML config is verbose"
Platform.sh requires .platform.app.yaml, services.yaml, and routes.yaml with platform-specific syntax.
Runsite solution
Push code, we figure it out
Runsite auto-detects your stack. Or bring a Dockerfile — standard tools, no proprietary config.
// comparison
Runsite vs Platform.sh
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Platform.sh |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Cost | €5/mo | ~€30-60+/mo (project fee + compute) |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent, no credit card | ✗ 15-day trial only |
| Pricing Model | ✓ Fixed plans | Per-hour compute + disk + backup fees |
| EU Entity | ✓ EU-registered | ✓ French company (SAS) |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ Full compliance | ✓ Full compliance |
| Multi-Environment | Coming soon | ✓ Git branch = environment |
| Configuration | ✓ Zero-config or Dockerfile | Platform-specific YAML |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + Telegram alerts | ✗ Usage-based billing |
// why consider runsite
Beyond Heroku and Platform.sh
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While Heroku and Platform.sh 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, Heroku or Platform.sh?
Neither Heroku nor Platform.sh 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, Heroku or Platform.sh?
Free tiers on both Heroku and Platform.sh 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 Heroku or Platform.sh 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 — Heroku or Platform.sh?
Pricing on both Heroku and Platform.sh 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 Heroku vs Platform.sh debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →