Heroku vs Cloudways: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Heroku and Cloudways comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Heroku
The original easy deployment platform, now owned by Salesforce
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • Platform as a service that scales with you
- • Deploy apps with git push heroku main
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Best for you if:
- • Managed cloud hosting from $11/month on DigitalOcean to $37/month on Google Cloud
- • Pay-as-you-go with free SSL, backups, staging, and 24/7 support across all plans
| At a Glance |  Heroku |  Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 80/100 | 70/100 |
| Feature | Heroku | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 70 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentContainer Orchestration | Hosting & DeploymentVPS & Servers |
How Heroku and Cloudways Compare
Heroku
The original easy deployment platform, now owned by Salesforce
Paid · 80/100 score
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Paid · 70/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Heroku
Want the highest-rated option?
Heroku: 80/100. Cloudways: 70/100.
Go with: Heroku
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Heroku
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Heroku scores higher: 80/100 vs 70/100.
Key Takeaways
Heroku
- Higher score: 80/100 vs 70
- Our pick for this comparison
Cloudways
The Bottom Line
Heroku (80/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heroku or Cloudways better?
Heroku scores 80/100 in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Heroku and Cloudways used for?
Heroku: The original easy deployment platform, now owned by Salesforce. Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting platform.
What does Heroku cost vs Cloudways?
Heroku is a paid tool. Cloudways is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.