PaaS, or platform as a service, is a popular cloud computing concept utilized by millions of enterprises worldwide. As a result, the number of PaaS services available to users has grown dramatically. Netlify and Heroku are two well-known PaaS (Platform as a Service) cloud platforms for hosting websites and web-based applications.
The main distinction is that Netlify focuses on static website hosting, whereas Heroku is built to host dynamic, server-side produced websites and apps. Here in this article, we will learn about the differences between Netlify and Heroku.
What is Netlify?
Netlify, specialized in automation and web hosting, provides serverless hosting and backend service to host static webpages and web applications. You can create and host a website with drag and drop components and Git repositories. Netlify cuts the need for CI/CD pipeline and hosting infrastructure and provides features such as user authentication and serverless functions.
In addition, Netlify allows you to preview each deployment you make or intend to make. This will enable you to see how your site will look after deployment.
Netlify runs a build process across your GitHub repository to pre-render all app pages in static HTML. First, Netlify builds its repository and pushes it to Github. It then runs content over a large CDN to provide visitors with pre-built static web pages.
The most excellent part of Netlify is that it chooses the finest CDN and distributes content through it. Therefore pre-built websites load faster than those on typical hosting networks. Furthermore, instead of reloading the site with each visit, the visitor receives a pre-loaded version from the nearest server.
Features of Netlify
- Branch deployment: With Netlify, users can deploy in branches and use branch features such as development, real-world testing, and review. It allows you to make flexible branch-specific deployments. For example, you can quickly deploy only a particular branch of your Git repo. This is useful for testing new features or quickly finding how a PR will impact your site.
- Free SSL: Netlify provides free SSL for custom domains. Users may quickly set up free SSL. It renews automatically every year.
- Contextual build commands: The Netlify PaaS solution allows customers to create using contextual build instructions. Contextual commands make the technical aspects of bespoke programming much easier to understand.
Netlify Pricing
- Free: The Netlify Starter bundle is free for personal use. You get 100GB of monthly bandwidth and 300 monthly build minutes.
- Pro: The Pro plan costs $19 per month. It is a team-oriented subscription that provides three team members with 1TB of bandwidth per month, 1000 monthly build minutes, and other features.
- Business: Netlify offers the Business plan for a monthly fee of $99 starting at the beginning of the month. It supports more than 5 team members, provides SLA-driven performance advantages, and has 1.5 TB bandwidth and 35000 build minutes per month.
- Enterprise: Netflify offers an enterprise package; the price is available under quotation. It provides 99.99% uptime SLA, 24×7×365 premium support, and an enterprise-grade global edge network. This plan is ideal for large organizations.
Advantages of Netlify
Ease of use
The Netlify UI is straightforward to learn and use without having to Google many “How to” or spend time reading the documentation. As a result, Netlify makes project deployment simple and quick.
You can deploy from a Git repository or drag and drop your project folder. Netlify handles everything else after that. It detects build commands (if any), and your site will be live in seconds with a single click.
Custom Domain
You get a free custom subdomain when designing a new project with Netlify. It is hosted on the Netlify website and will look like this – mysite.netlify.com. Of course, you can also use a custom domain name like mysite.com by simply changing your DNS records.
Asset Optimization
Netlify allows you to optimize assets for your website automatically, making your website load faster. With a few clicks, you can increase the efficiency of your website by using features such as image compression and JS and CSS minification.
Continuous Delivery
Netlify offers continuous delivery whenever you deploy a project from a Git repository. As a result, Netlify builds and updates your project to the most recent version anytime you make a new commit. This is accomplished without creating a configuration file or writing an extensive list of rules.
Less Expensive
Netlify is cheaper, and the sites load faster. Creating and hosting static websites will save you a lot of bucks. It has a plethora of functions. Netlify Edge boosts site performance significantly through worldwide distribution and automatic pre-rendering.
What is Heroku?
Heroku is one of the earliest cloud platforms and was developed in June 2007, initially supporting just the Ruby programming language, but has subsequently expanded to multiple popular languages such as Python, PHP, Scala, Node.js, Go, Java, and many others.
Heroku runs apps on a virtual system called Dynos that can be customized as per the project requirements. Moreover, Dynos can be changed at any moment to meet the changing demands of consumers.
Heroku users may add extra resources by scaling vertically or horizontally. Heroku bills clients monthly based on the number of Dynos they utilize. Heroku and all of its apps are hosted on AWS.
Heroku PaaS is a subsidiary of SalesForce, a trusted name in the software business. Heroku has also grown significantly after its acquisition by SalesForce, with many additional integrations.
Heroku Features
- Heroku Runtime: Heroku’s containers, often known as Dynos, are used to execute programs. It has a fully controlled runtime environment that supports many popular programming languages, including Ruby, Python, Go, Java, Scala, Node.js, and PHP.
- Heroku DX: Heroku DX is an app-focused tool that assists developers in creating and deploying apps.
- Heroku Elements: It is a Heroku marketplace where you can access its add-ons and resources.
- Heroku OPEX: Heroku OpEx enables users to detect and resolve application issues precisely. OpEx lets them modify operating flows specifically.
- Security: This includes SSL, authentication, PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, SOC, and other standards compliance.
- Heroku Postgres: It is a managed SQL database service provided by Heroku. All Heroku-supported languages may access Postgres databases using a PostgreSQL driver.
- Heroku Redis: It is a key-value data store available as an add-on. It is accessible through any Redus driver and supports all Heroku-supported languages.
Heroku Pricing
- Free: Heroku has a Free plan that starts at $0. It is appropriate for developers who want to deploy non-commercial apps such as MVPs, proof of ideas, and college projects.
- Production: This starts at $25 per month and can increase depending on additional requirements. This strategy is appropriate for firms developing business applications such as web apps and APIs.
- Advanced: For enterprises with more advanced development and usability requirements, Heroku provides an Advanced package starting at $250. It is ideal for applications that require rich feature sets and high performance.
- Enterprise: For users searching for customized pricing for their flexible requirements, Heroku also provides an Enterprise plan. This plan is best suited for big enterprises with higher compliance, cooperation, and security requirements.
Advantages of Heroku
Developer friendly
Heroku is dedicated to assisting developers in honing their skills to construct feature-rich apps. The Heroku experience benefits developers because they have access to several essential tools to speed up fundamental developmental processes. They are no longer required to complete different repetitious chores and may instead focus on significant growth initiatives.
No infrastructure management
Heroku relieves developers of the effort of server maintenance by providing an easy-to-use web interface. Developers can quickly generate new software releases in the form of branches and swiftly deploy branches across many environments. Heroku’s simplicity of use makes it an appealing option for application development.
Developers may also choose from a variety of tier packages that are more suited to the complex needs of huge enterprises. The user-friendly Heroku platform interface enables customers to do simple scaling, administration, and application monitoring.
Easy Scale
Heroku uses virtual servers called Dyno to run the code written by developers. Dyno consists of CPU, memory, application code, and its dependencies. Once your app is deployed, You can build an unlimited number of clones with horizontal scaling.
If your app faces a surge in traffic, you can manage it by creating multiple app instances with a single click. Heroku can automatically detect traffic surges and launch extra Dynos.
Plugins and third-party support
Heroku ecosystem includes several add-ons and plugins that might be useful to you while developing, administering, and running applications. Integrated Add-ons simplify developers by adding services and managing configurations, invoicing, and data from the CLI or the Heroku Dashboard.
Free to use
Users can get started with Heroku’s free tier, with certain limitations and basic capabilities. It is a good way for individuals who want to learn and build a simple cloud app. Developers can choose this option at first before committing to the platform to understand the platform functionalities and determine if it’s a good fit for your application’s requirements.
Heroku vs Netlify: Comparison in 2022
The main difference between Netfliy and Heroku is that Netlify is ideal for modern web project automation while Heroku works with web and mobile apps.
Netlify is focused on frontend development, while Heroku is focused on backend developers. In addition, Netlify provides continuous integration out of the box, while Heroku has the option to turn CI on.
Netlify vs Heroku: Complete Comparison Overview
| Feature | Heroku | Netlify |
| Start Date | 2007 | 2014 |
| Owner | SalesForce | Netlify |
| Free hosting | Available | Available |
| Code integration platform | GitHub, BitBucket, and Gitlab | GitHub, BitBucket, and Gitlab |
| CDN | Available | Available |
| Custom DNS | Supports | Supports |
| A/B testing and beta deployment | Available | Available |
| Container support | Yes | Yes |
| Preview Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Pageviews and usage analytics | Not available | Available |
| Backend database | Available | Not available |
| Pricing policy | Pay as you go | Fixed-price |
| Project types | Mobile and Web | Web |
| Team logs | Not available | 7-day history with pro plan |
| Asset optimization | Not available | Available |
Wrapping up
Heroku and Netlify both provide a platform that you can use to deploy web apps developed in any language at a low cost. However, a deeper examination of their documentation and capabilities reveals that Netlify targets frontend developers and is best suited for static websites. In contrast, Heroku offers more extensive and valuable backend support.
That’s it for this article.
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Amit Doshi is a Cloud Engineer who has experienced more than 5 years in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. He is an IT professional responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining cloud computing infrastructure, applications, and services.