Heroku vs. Netlify | Secrets Unlocked

Thousands of businesses around the world depend on Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud computing model to create and host their applications. This method is preferred by business owners because it is agile and has lots of rich features. 

Since PaaS became a popular model for application development, many service providers have emerged over the years. Netlify and Heroku stand out as the most popular among the other PaaS companies in the world today.  Both platforms have die-hard users that vouch for the outstanding benefits of each platform.

We have taken the to create this article to compare Netlify vs Heroku so you can have an objective overview of the two platforms. By considering the different features and benefits that each platform has to offer, you can choose the option that aligns with your development objectives.

Overview of Heroku

Heroku is a PaaS known for its support for a wide array of programming languages, including PHP, Node.js, Go, Scala, Java, Python, and Clojure. Apps hosted in Heroku runs in a virtual environment called dynos, which can be customized to align with the user requirements. In essence, the user can increase the app resources by scaling horizontally or vertically. 

Heroku pricing structure is based on the number of dynos that are used.  Heroku and all its applications are hosted in AWS. The resources available on Heroku makes the tasks of application development easier and more accessible to developers.  Heroku also presents a user-friendly dashboard that allows users to create customized configurations. 

The Pricing Structure of Heroku

• Free/Hobby Plan: This plan is excellent for developers looking forward to building and deploying a non-commercial app such as MVPs, prototypes, proof of concepts, and so on. This plan is free
• Production: This plan is designed for creating business applications such as APIs and web apps.  The cost starts at $25 per month and may increase based on add-on features. 
• Advanced:  Businesses that have more complicated requirements and usability demands can use the high-performance plan. This cost starts at $250 per month. 
• Enterprise: Heroku offers this package for corporations that prefers to have options that align with their customized requirements, such as compliance, collaboration, and security.  This plan is priced based on a custom quote. 

The Features of Heroku

• Heroku DX: This is the brand name for an app-centric environment that allows developers to focus on development tasks while creating and deploying apps. 
• Dynos: Apps on Heroku are launched in a runtime environment called dynos. Users have extensive freedom to manage the runtime environment, which features support for codes in multiple programming languages. 
• Heroku OpEx: This feature gives developers access to tools that expedite the procedures of troubleshooting and fixing bugs in apps. It also allows the user to create customized flows for app operations. 

The Benefits of Heroku

• Scalability: It is quite easy for users to replicate dynos along with its config and resource requirements. It takes just a few clicks of the mouse to create multiple instances of an app. 
• Simplicity:  The simplicity and user-friendly features of the Heroku platform is one of the primary elements that attract developers. Apps can be deployed with a single click, and software versioning is easy to accomplish on this platform. 
• Security: Heroku offers top-notch security for your apps, irrespective of the app’s unique requirements.  You do not have to bother about installing security patches with Heroku. 

An Overview Netlify

Netlify provides businesses with advanced web hosting and automation solutions so that companies can create set up websites without hassles.  It is quite easy for a business with a Netlify account to set up a web site on the platform. All that is required is to drag and drop design components from the computer to create the web application. Alternatively, the user can import a Git repository into the platform seamlessly. 

When using the Git import option, the user has the flexibility to choose the branch to host.  Besides, the user can also run commands when the need arises. The website can go live with a customized domain name, and the platform also offers SSL encryption without additional costs. Summarily, Netlify allows a user to launch projects without bothering about setting up the server or maintaining infrastructure. 

The Price of Netlify

The pricing structure of Netlify is as follows:

• Starter: This package offers 100GB bandwidth/month with continuous deployment and add-on access features. It is entirely free for personal use.
• Pro: The package supports up to three team members. It offers 400GB bandwidth, 1000 build minutes/ month, and many other features. The cost is $19/month.
• Business:  The business package supports up to 5 team members, offers 600GB bandwidth/month in addition to SLA-driven performance benefits.  The business package starts at $99 per month. 

The Features of Netlify

• Branch Deployment: The platform offers an excellent environment for branch deployment, feature building, testing on a production environment, and reviewing. It gives developers the flexibility to make branch-specific deployments.
• Contextual Build Commands: With access to contextual build commands, developers can carry out custom deployment with minimal technical hassles.
• Free SSL: Developers can add Secure Socket Layer to their custom domains with ease. They can also choose additional options such as custom SSL, managed SSL, and dedicated SSL. The Free SSL the platform offers is provided by SSL and renews annually at no cost. 

The Benefits of Netlify

• User-Friendly and Simple Pricing: Netlify is quite easy to use. It is an excellent option for those who want to get their website online without technical hassles.  This is a great plus for this platform.
• Fast Deployment:  The drag and drop function makes website deployment more straightforward and quicker than ever.
• Automatic Enhancement: The web assets and design elements are automatically optimized by Netlify to enhance performance.
• Continuous Deployment: The platform allows continuous deployment through its support for Git repository deployment, 

Netlify vs Heroku | Core Differences

• Netlify is a custom-built solution designed to help developers expedite website deployment and hosting process. It also offers a suite of continuous integration tools in addition to an embedded CDN service. This service is best suited for frontend developers.
• On the contrary, Heroku accommodates multiple types of deployments ranging from apps to websites. The platform supports a wide array of programming languages such as Java, Node.js, Scala, Clojure, Python, PHP, and Go.  This service aligns with the needs of backend developers. 
• Netlify works with a fixed price structure and Heroku with a Pay as you go model.
• Both providers are scalable solutions.
• Netlify delivers out-of-the-box continuous integration.
• Heroku is focused towards the backend and Netlfiy the frontend.

Conclusion  

The service offering of Heroku aligns with developers that want to build, operate, and manage apps on the cloud. The functions of the platform are excellent for developing and deploying web and mobile apps. The main features of Heroku are the pre-configured containers referred to as Dynos and the fully-managed runtime environment. The main benefits derivable from Heroku are scalability and access to top-notch security.

The Netlify platform offers automation for web-based projects, and it is focused on frontend developers. Free SSL, CDN, and continuous integration are among the core features of the platform. It is an excellent choice for businesses that places value on fast deployment, continuous integration, and user-friendliness.

In this article, you have learned about Heroku and Netlify cloud platforms and the service they provide for developers.  If you are considering Netlify vs Heroku, then this article would help you reach a decision. Factors to consider are your budget, features required by your existing project, and the levels of flexibility you need.

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