Heroku vs Vercel: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Heroku and Vercel 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:
- • Platform as a service that scales with you
- • Deploy apps with git push heroku main
Vercel
Frontend cloud platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.2/10 vs 8.0/10)
- • You want to try before committing
- • Frontend cloud platform
- • Next.js creators
| At a Glance |  Heroku |  Vercel |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 80/100 | 92/100 |
| Feature | Heroku | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 92 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentContainer Orchestration | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD |
How Heroku and Vercel Compare
Heroku
The original easy deployment platform, now owned by Salesforce
Paid · 80/100 score
Vercel
Frontend cloud platform
Free tier available · 92/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Vercel has a free tier. Heroku is paid only.
Go with: Vercel
Want the highest-rated option?
Heroku: 80/100. Vercel: 92/100.
Go with: Vercel
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Vercel
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Heroku is paid. Vercel is freemium. Vercel lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Vercel scores higher: 92/100 vs 80/100.
Key Takeaways
Vercel
- Higher score: 92/100 vs 80
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Heroku
The Bottom Line
Vercel (92/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heroku or Vercel better?
Vercel scores 92/100 in our evaluation. Heroku is paid and Vercel is freemium.
What are Heroku and Vercel used for?
Heroku: The original easy deployment platform, now owned by Salesforce. Vercel: Frontend cloud platform.
What does Heroku cost vs Vercel?
Heroku is a paid tool. Vercel is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.