Platform comparison
Heroku vs Netlify
Side-by-side comparison of Heroku and Netlify — 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
Netlify
Modern Netlify alternative with full-stack capabilities
Best for: Full-Stack Infrastructure in One Platform
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 | Netlify | 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 | Pro at $19/user/month, Functions usage-based | 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 Netlify if…
You specifically need full-stack infrastructure in one platform and your project fits Netlify's primary use case. CreateOS goes beyond static hosting. Get Netlify's simplicity plus databases, message queues, and a marketplace to monetize your templates.
Read the full Netlify 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 Netlify: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Heroku and Netlify?▾
Heroku: Modern Heroku alternative without the legacy pricing. Netlify: Modern Netlify alternative with full-stack capabilities. Both are deployment platforms with overlapping features, but they target slightly different workflows. Heroku is best for simple paas + modern creator economy, while Netlify is best for full-stack infrastructure in one platform.
Is Heroku or Netlify cheaper?▾
Heroku pricing: Eco at $5/month, Basic at $7/dyno, Standard at $25/dyno. Netlify pricing: Pro at $19/user/month, Functions usage-based. 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, Netlify, or something else?▾
If you only need simple paas + modern creator economy, Heroku is a solid choice. If you need full-stack infrastructure in one platform, Netlify 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 Netlify 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, Netlify, 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.