Fly.io vs Heroku
Compare Fly.io and Heroku on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Fly.io
Cloud PaaS / microVM app platform — PAYG; shared-cpu-1x from ~$1.94/mo in lower-cost regions. Support Standard $29/mo is support, not hosting. Does not outrank Render 7.9.
Best for
- • Teams that want PAYG microVM/app hosting close to users
- • Buyers comparing Fly.io $1.94 shared-cpu-1x to Render Pro $25 + compute
- • Orgs that will not treat $29 Support as the hosting SKU
Starting from $1.94/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Fly.io and Heroku. Choose Fly.io when Teams that want PAYG microVM/app hosting close to users. Choose Heroku when Teams that want Salesforce-backed Cedar dynos with a published Basic $7 always-on floor. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Fly.io is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
Heroku is better for
- ✓ Security & admin
Tie
- • Integrations
Choose Fly.io if: Teams that want PAYG microVM/app hosting close to users
Choose Heroku if: Teams that want Salesforce-backed Cedar dynos with a published Basic $7 always-on floor
Heroku
Cloud PaaS / Cedar dynos — Eco $5 (sleeps); Basic $7 always-on (research floor); Standard-1X $25; Standard-2X $50; Performance-M $250+. No forever-free dyno. Does not outrank Render 7.9.
Best for
- • Teams that want Salesforce-backed Cedar dynos with a published Basic $7 always-on floor
- • Buyers comparing Heroku Basic to Railway Hobby/Pro and Render Pro $25
- • Orgs that will not treat Eco sleep dynos as production always-on TCO
Starting from $7.00/user/mo
No free plan
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Fly.io and Heroku. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- Fly.io
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
Fly.io publishes a lower researched starting floor ($1.94/mo vs $7/mo for Heroku). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
Fly.ioStrongerHerokuWeaker - Depends
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Fly.io does not research a free plan; Heroku does not research a free plan.
Fly.ioDependsHerokuDepends - Depends
User / licence minimum
Seat floors, per-employee minimums, and small-team pricing traps.
Check seat, agent, or licence minimums for Fly.io and Heroku on current vendor packaging.
Fly.ioDependsHerokuDepends - Tie
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
Fly.io and Heroku are close on integrations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Fly.io8/10Heroku8/10 - Heroku
Security & admin
Admin controls, access, compliance posture, and security packaging.
Heroku leads on security admin (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Fly.ioWeakerHerokuStronger
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