Platform comparison
Heroku vs AWS Amplify
Side-by-side comparison of Heroku and AWS Amplify — pricing, features, deployment workflow, and developer experience. Plus how CreateOS combines the best of both into a unified workspace with AI-assisted deployment, managed databases, GPU compute, and a 150+ template marketplace.
Heroku
Modern Heroku alternative without the legacy pricing
Best for: Simple PaaS + Modern Creator Economy
AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify alternative without the AWS complexity
Best for: Full AWS Capabilities, Zero AWS Overhead
CreateOS Recommended
Unified execution environment that combines deployment, managed databases, AI-assisted building, and a template marketplace.
Best for: Builders who want all three in one workspace.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Heroku | AWS Amplify | CreateOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited / time-bound | Limited / time-bound | Permanent free tier — 1 project, 30 build minutes |
| Pricing model | Eco at $5/month, Basic at $7/dyno, Standard at $25/dyno | Pay-as-you-go, complex pricing calculator needed | Free → $49/mo Plus → $149/mo Pro. No surprise overages. |
| AI-assisted deployment | Limited | Limited | Built-in NodeOpsGPT + MCP integration with Cursor/Claude Code |
| Managed databases | Add-on or BYO | Add-on or BYO | PostgreSQL, MySQL, Kafka, Valkey — one-click |
| Template marketplace | Limited / starters only | Limited / starters only | 150+ templates, 70% creator revenue share |
| GPU compute | Not native | Not native | On-demand NVIDIA GPUs, per-second billing |
| Vendor lock-in | Proprietary platform | Proprietary platform | Open architecture — Docker images portable anywhere |
Choose Heroku if…
You specifically need simple paas + modern creator economy and your project fits Heroku's primary use case. Miss the old Heroku? CreateOS brings back simple PaaS deployment with modern features: template marketplace, flat pricing, and no dyno headaches.
Read the full Heroku alternative guide →Choose AWS Amplify if…
You specifically need full aws capabilities, zero aws overhead and your project fits AWS Amplify's primary use case. Get Amplify's frontend hosting power without navigating AWS. Simple deployment, template marketplace, and no AWS account required.
Read the full AWS Amplify alternative guide →Choose CreateOS if…
You want one workspace covering deployment, managed databases, AI-assisted building, GPU compute, and a 70%-revenue-share template marketplace — without juggling 15+ tools.
See how CreateOS works →Heroku vs AWS Amplify: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Heroku and AWS Amplify?▾
Heroku: Modern Heroku alternative without the legacy pricing. AWS Amplify: AWS Amplify alternative without the AWS complexity. Both are deployment platforms with overlapping features, but they target slightly different workflows. Heroku is best for simple paas + modern creator economy, while AWS Amplify is best for full aws capabilities, zero aws overhead.
Is Heroku or AWS Amplify cheaper?▾
Heroku pricing: Eco at $5/month, Basic at $7/dyno, Standard at $25/dyno. AWS Amplify pricing: Pay-as-you-go, complex pricing calculator needed. Total cost depends on your traffic, build minutes, and which add-ons you need. CreateOS offers transparent flat-tier pricing — Free, $49/mo, or $149/mo — with no usage overages, and a permanent free tier for hobby projects.
Should I use Heroku, AWS Amplify, or something else?▾
If you only need simple paas + modern creator economy, Heroku is a solid choice. If you need full aws capabilities, zero aws overhead, AWS Amplify fits well. If you want both — plus AI-assisted deployment, managed databases, GPU compute, a template marketplace with 70% revenue share, and transparent flat-tier pricing — CreateOS combines the strengths of both into a unified workspace.
Can I migrate from Heroku or AWS Amplify to CreateOS?▾
Yes. CreateOS auto-detects your framework (Next.js, React, Vue, Python, Go, Rust, Node.js, Bun, Docker), preserves your environment variables, and provisions managed databases automatically. Most projects migrate in under 15 minutes with zero downtime — connect your GitHub repo, click deploy, update DNS.
Do Heroku, AWS Amplify, or CreateOS support custom domains and SSL?▾
All three support custom domains with automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt. CreateOS includes 1 custom domain on Free, 5 on Plus, and 20 on Pro — DNS configuration is guided step-by-step in the dashboard.