Heroku or Coolify: which fits your team's operating model
Heroku fits teams that want the provider to run the platform, and Coolify fits teams that want to run it themselves on servers they control. A team facing a Heroku renewal, a price change or a data residency requirement should first decide who will operate the platform day to day. Heroku runs the dynos, the add-ons such as Heroku Postgres and the patching of its platform, and its Fir generation builds apps only with Cloud Native Buildpacks. Heroku's February 6, 2026 move to a sustaining engineering model, which focuses on stability, security, reliability and support, is context for planning a renewal, not a shutdown notice. Coolify fits when the platform must run in your own cloud account or data center, when the project must stay under the Apache-2.0 license, or when you want Nixpacks or your own Dockerfiles in place of buildpacks.
Coolify connects to each server over SSH, runs one coolify-proxy container per server, and deploys one-click databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL and Redis. That convenience moves work to your team. Someone must own server upgrades, the proxy, database backup schedules and restore tests, and the Coolify documentation on coming from managed platforms makes clear that a rollback does not restore databases or persistent files. Confirm the Coolify version you will run against the current release notes before you commit, and confirm that your team can produce a tested restore from the backups you configure.
The decision turns on four questions: operating capacity, backup ownership, multi-server needs and build compatibility. If your team has no one to carry patching and on-call work, a managed platform may cost less in staff time even when its line items are higher. If you need several servers, check how Coolify's multi-server deployments fit your topology before you assume the single-server model. Finally, test your current Heroku buildpacks and Procfiles against Nixpacks or a Dockerfile on a staging app, because that test will show the real migration effort.
Which platform fits which situation
This table matches common situations to the better fit between Heroku and self-hosted Coolify. Read each row by its condition: if your situation matches the scenario, the better fit column is the starting point, and the why column explains the trade-off you accept.
| Scenario | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small team with no operations capacity, no one on call for servers | Heroku | Heroku runs the platform, the dynos and the managed Postgres for you. Coolify puts patching, server upkeep, backups and rollback recovery on your team, so this fit only holds if someone owns those tasks. |
| Regulated workload that needs provider-run controls and a vendor compliance posture | Heroku, after checking the current tier and certification scope | Your auditor will expect provider evidence for platform controls. Confirm with Heroku which tier and compliance programs cover your workload, since a Coolify install puts those controls, and their evidence, on your own team. |
| Data residency that requires servers in a region you choose | Coolify | Coolify runs on servers you rent or own, so you pick the data center and region. Heroku's region options are documented on its own pages, so confirm each data store's location before deciding. |
| Team with existing Heroku buildpack apps and add-ons | Heroku for the short term, Coolify for a planned move | Coolify uses Nixpacks, Railpack or Dockerfiles instead of Heroku buildpacks, so each app needs a build check. Add-ons also need replacing with Coolify one-click services, and you should test restores before cutover. |
| Cost-driven exit with spare Linux operations skills | Coolify | Self-hosted Coolify is Apache-2.0 with no feature limits, so your recurring cost is the servers and the staff time you spend. Compare that total against Heroku's per-dyno and per-database fees in a written quote, including the time for patching and backups. |
| Multi-server production scale across several hosts | Heroku or a container orchestrator, with Coolify only for simpler layouts | Coolify manages multiple servers over SSH, but you should confirm how it handles failover, placement and shared state for your load. Heroku handles scaling of dynos for you, and larger clusters may point you toward Kubernetes. |
| Teams needing a preview environment per pull request | Coolify | Coolify preview deployments build pull or merge requests from GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Bitbucket, but they need wildcard DNS and a plan for preview databases. Heroku Review Apps work through Pipelines, so compare how each handles preview data before switching. |
How Coolify runs apps on servers you manage
Coolify connects to each server over SSH, prepares it to run Docker workloads, and then deploys applications from a Git repository, a Dockerfile, a Docker Compose file or a prebuilt Docker image. Heroku hides the host entirely behind dynos, so this is the first operational change: you choose the servers, Coolify configures them, and you remain responsible for what runs on them. Each server runs one coolify-proxy container. Traefik is the default reverse proxy, Caddy is the alternative, and both obtain and renew HTTPS certificates automatically. If you select the Custom (None) option, routing and TLS certificates become your responsibility, so confirm that your team can operate that proxy before choosing it.
Coolify replaces Heroku buildpacks with its own build packs: Nixpacks, Railpack (beta), Static, Dockerfile and Docker Compose. Nixpacks and Railpack detect the language and produce an image without a Dockerfile, which is closest to the Heroku experience, but any app that depends on a specific buildpack version or a custom buildpack needs a Dockerfile. Heroku's Fir platform builds apps only with Cloud Native Buildpacks, so an app that moves to Fir has a different build path from the one it used on the older platform. Inventory each app's buildpack list and check it against the Nixpacks and Dockerfile options before you plan the cutover. Railpack is still in beta, so test it against your production build before relying on it.
Coolify runs on Linux only, on Debian, Ubuntu, the Red Hat family, SUSE, Arch, Alpine and 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, using amd64 or arm64. The documented minimum is 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM and 10 GB of free disk, and installation runs from a single script. Those minimums describe the Coolify host, not the capacity your applications need, so size each server against the memory and CPU of the workloads you move from dynos. Confirm the operating system and architecture on each candidate server with your platform team, and treat the Coolify control plane as a system that needs its own patching, backups and access controls.
Capabilities side by side
This table compares how Heroku and Coolify handle deploys, builds, runtimes, databases, backups, previews, scaling and licensing. Read each row as a question to put to your own workload, and treat any Heroku cell marked for confirmation as an item to verify with Salesforce before you rely on it. The main takeaway is that Coolify gives you more control over backups and servers, while Heroku keeps those responsibilities with the provider.
| Capability | Heroku | Coolify |
|---|---|---|
| Git push deploy | Deploys from a Git push to an app remote on the platform | Deploys from a Git repository, with webhooks or a GitHub App for automatic builds |
| Build method | Cloud Native Buildpacks only on the Fir platform | Nixpacks, Railpack (beta), Static, Dockerfile, Docker Compose or a prebuilt Docker image |
| Container runtime and Kubernetes basis | Fir is built on Kubernetes and OCI containers; the Kubernetes layer is managed by Heroku | Runs Docker containers on servers it manages over SSH; no Kubernetes required |
| Databases offered | Heroku Postgres and other add-ons; confirm the current catalog in Heroku's pricing and add-on listings | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, Dragonfly, KeyDB and ClickHouse as one-click services |
| Scheduled database backups | Heroku Postgres backups are managed by the platform; confirm schedules and retention for your plan | Scheduled backups for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB and ClickHouse; not for Redis, Dragonfly or KeyDB |
| Backup storage | Stored by Heroku; confirm the storage location for your region and plan | Can upload to S3-compatible storage that you choose and operate |
| Restore path | Restore through Heroku tooling; confirm the process and any time limits for your plan | Import Backup accepts PostgreSQL SQL dumps, custom and tar archives and all-database dumps |
| Preview deployments | Review Apps tied to Heroku Pipelines; confirm current support for your Git host | Pull and merge request previews for GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Bitbucket, using wildcard DNS and deleted on close or merge |
| Multi-server deployment | Scaling is per dyno and per app on Heroku's infrastructure; confirm options for your Private Space or plan | Deploys to several servers you connect; confirm the multi-server limits in Coolify's scaling docs |
| Dashboard and API access | Dashboard, CLI and Platform API; confirm current API scope with Heroku | Web dashboard and an API that uses token-based authorization; check the API authorization docs for scopes |
| Licensing | Proprietary managed service billed per resource | Apache-2.0 self-hosted edition; the vendor describes it as free with all features |
Where data lives and who controls it
Moving from Heroku to Coolify changes who chooses where data sits, who patches the platform, who restores backups and who holds the keys. Each card below marks the condition under which that shift matters for your organization, and what to confirm before a cutover.
Data location and region choice
Heroku places apps and databases in the regions it offers on its managed platform, so your residency options are the ones Heroku publishes for your account type. With Coolify, the application containers, databases and backup files sit on servers you rent or own, in the data center you select. This matters most when a regulator or contract names a country or region. Before cutover, confirm the server location, the location of any S3-compatible backup bucket and whether logs or metrics leave that boundary.
Patching moves to your team
On Heroku, Salesforce operates the underlying platform and stack upgrades are scheduled by the provider. With Coolify, your team patches the host operating system, Docker, the coolify-proxy container and the Coolify instance itself. Installation requires a supported Linux distribution, so the patch cadence and maintenance windows become your responsibility. This matters when your change policy requires documented patch SLAs. Ask who will own each layer and how security updates reach production.
Dashboard access and API tokens
Coolify administers servers, applications and databases through its dashboard and an API that uses bearer tokens, so access control becomes a platform setting you configure. Heroku access is controlled through Heroku teams and its own permission model. Review which users hold administrative roles, rotate API tokens on a set schedule and remove access when people leave. This matters for any team where a single shared login could reach production databases. Check the Coolify API authorization page before you issue tokens to CI pipelines.
Compliance evidence you assemble
When an assessment covers the platform, the controls around Coolify are yours to configure and to evidence: access reviews, change logs, backup tests, encryption settings and host hardening. DeployOpen prepares systems, controls and evidence for these assessments but does not issue audit reports, attestations or certifications. Independent auditors and certification bodies do that work. Ask your assessor early which evidence they will accept, and confirm whether Heroku's own compliance reports still apply to any workload you keep there.
Backups and rollback limits
Coolify can take scheduled PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB and ClickHouse backups, and Redis, Dragonfly and KeyDB are excluded from scheduled backups. Coolify's guide for teams coming from managed platforms notes that a rollback redeploys a retained application image but does not restore databases or persistent files. Heroku customers rely on pg:backups and the platform's recovery features. Plan your own backup tests, off-server copies and restore drills before you retire the Heroku databases.
Vendor concentration and exit
Heroku is a single commercial vendor whose product direction changed in February 2026 to a sustaining engineering model. Coolify is Apache-2.0 licensed, so the code can be run, forked or maintained by your own team if the project changes direction. Its project roadmap and release cadence still determine upgrade timing, and v5 is previewed for later. This matters when a board or procurement policy requires a documented exit path. Record which versions you run, keep infrastructure definitions in version control and confirm the upgrade path between major releases.
What a move from Heroku to Coolify involves
The sequence below takes a Heroku app from inventory to a DNS cutover on a Coolify instance you run, with a checkpoint at each stage so you can confirm the app, its data and its backups before traffic moves. Each step is a decision or check that the next step depends on.
Inventory apps, add-ons and config vars
List every Heroku app, its process types from the Procfile, each add-on attached to it, and every config var, including ones set outside the repository. Record which apps use Heroku Postgres or Heroku Data for Redis, which custom domains and certificates they use, and which scheduled jobs or worker dynos they run. Your team or DeployOpen can produce this as a single inventory sheet. The step is done when every app has a row for its runtime, data stores, domains and jobs, and someone other than the author has reviewed it for gaps.
Choose a build path for each app
Heroku apps built with buildpacks need a different build definition in Coolify. For each app, choose Nixpacks, Railpack (beta), a Dockerfile or the Static build pack, based on what the app needs at runtime. Apps with unusual system dependencies usually take a Dockerfile. Run a test build of every app in Coolify against a non-production branch and record the image size, the start command and any build errors. The step is done when each app builds and starts without errors and the chosen build pack is written down per app.
Provision servers and install Coolify
Prepare one or more Linux servers that meet Coolify's documented minimum of 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM and 10 GB of free disk, on amd64 or arm64 and one of the supported distributions. Install Coolify with its installation script on the instance that will manage them, then connect each server over SSH so Coolify can prepare it for Docker workloads. Confirm the chosen reverse proxy, Traefik by default or Caddy, is running on each server. The step is done when Coolify reports each server as reachable and the coolify-proxy container is healthy. Ask your infrastructure team to confirm firewall rules, patching and access control for these hosts, because Coolify does not take those on for you.
Restore the database and verify the Import Backup path
Export the Heroku Postgres database with pg:backups in pg_dump custom format and download it. Create a PostgreSQL resource in Coolify and restore the dump through Coolify's Import Backup, which accepts PostgreSQL SQL dumps, custom archives, tar archives and all-database dumps. Run row-count and spot-check queries against the restored database and compare them with the Heroku source. Confirm the application connects with its new connection string. The step is done when the restored data matches the source on the agreed checks and the app runs against it in staging. Plan the write freeze and final sync for the cutover, since a snapshot taken before the cutover will not include later writes.
Recreate config vars and secrets
Copy each Heroku config var into the matching Coolify application as an environment variable, marking secrets as secret where Coolify offers that option. Replace Heroku-specific values such as DATABASE_URL and REDIS_URL with the addresses Coolify issues. Store the list of keys in your secrets manager, not in a spreadsheet shared by email. The step is done when every app starts with the same set of keys as its Heroku counterpart and the application health checks pass in staging. Note that Redis is a separate case: Coolify's scheduled backups do not cover Redis, so persistence for Redis must be planned separately in the next step.
Run preview deployments and set up wildcard DNS
Configure preview deployments for pull or merge requests on your Git host, through a GitHub App or webhook for GitHub, or the GitLab, Gitea or Bitbucket integration. Create a wildcard DNS record so the default {{pr_id}}.{{domain}} URL resolves, and confirm that the TLS certificate covers it. Open a test pull request and check that the preview builds, runs and is deleted when the request is closed or merged. The step is done when one test preview has gone through a full open and close cycle without manual cleanup.
Cut over DNS in stages and set backup schedules
Lower the DNS TTL in advance, move one low-risk app first, watch logs and error rates, then move the rest in groups. Once traffic is on Coolify, enable scheduled PostgreSQL backups with retention by count, days or size, and send copies to S3-compatible storage outside the Coolify server. Run a test restore from one of those backups before you decommission the Heroku app. Plan persistence for Redis separately, because Coolify does not schedule Redis backups, and decide whether the data is a cache that can be rebuilt or state you must protect. The step is done when each app has been live on Coolify, at least one backup has been restored successfully, and the Redis plan is written down.
Questions buyers ask before choosing Coolify over Heroku
How much effort and time does moving a Heroku app to Coolify take?
The effort depends on how many apps you run, whether each one builds cleanly with Nixpacks, Railpack or a Dockerfile, and how large the databases are. Each app needs its build method chosen, its config vars re-entered as Coolify environment variables, its domain and TLS checked, and its data moved and verified. A small set of standard web apps with small Postgres databases is a much smaller job than dozens of apps with custom buildpacks and large datasets. Ask any provider for a per-app breakdown of build compatibility testing, data migration, DNS cutover and rollback planning, and request the duration assumptions in writing before work starts.
Can our team move off Heroku without outside help?
A team can do it in-house if it has working knowledge of Linux server administration, Docker, DNS, TLS certificates and database backup and restore. Coolify installs with a single script on supported Linux distributions, but the people running it need to understand the reverse proxy, the server's firewall and disk, and how a rollback behaves. Coolify's guide for teams coming from managed platforms notes that a rollback can redeploy a retained application image but does not restore databases or persistent files, so someone must own data recovery. If those skills are thin, a fixed-scope engagement from DeployOpen can cover the setup, hardening, backups and handover, and your team keeps the operating knowledge.
What do we need to provide for a Coolify migration?
You need to provide access and owners, not just budget. That means cloud or data center accounts to create the servers, SSH access for the installation, Git repository access for each app, read access to Heroku config vars and add-on details, and a named owner for each application and database who can approve cutover. You also need maintenance windows agreed for database cutover, and a decision on who receives alerts after go-live. Confirm with your provider which of these they require before the scope is written, because missing access is one of the most common reasons a timeline slips.
Does Coolify support multi-server production deployments?
Coolify does support deploying to more than one server, and its multi-server deployments documentation describes how applications are placed across the servers it manages over SSH. Each server runs its own coolify-proxy container, so routing and HTTPS are configured per server. Before you rely on it for production, read the multi-server documentation closely and confirm with the Coolify project how it behaves for your topology, including how load is balanced, how failover is handled, and how databases are placed. Treat the single control instance and the servers it manages as parts you must back up and monitor yourself.
Do Coolify preview deployments replace Heroku Review Apps?
Coolify preview deployments cover the core pattern of a disposable app per pull or merge request. They build from GitHub through a GitHub App or webhook, from GitLab, Gitea and Bitbucket, and serve each preview at a default {{pr_id}}.{{domain}} URL, which requires wildcard DNS. Coolify deletes previews when the request is closed or merged. Heroku Review Apps also bundle pipeline and app.json behavior, so check whether your preview databases, seed data and environment variables need extra setup in Coolify. Confirm the exact behavior of preview databases with the Coolify documentation before you plan the cutover.
What cost components should we ask for in a quote?
Ask for each cost by who is paid and whether it is one-time or recurring. The self-hosted Coolify edition is Apache-2.0 licensed and free to run, so the main costs are the servers you rent or own, the storage and backup targets, and the labor. Labor covers migration, database cutover and verification, hardening, backup and restore testing, documentation, handover, and ongoing upgrades and support, which can be a retainer. Also ask for the cost of your own on-call time after go-live. Compare these against your current Heroku dyno, Postgres and add-on invoices, and request that every line in the quote traces back to the written scope.
Does Coolify Cloud change where our apps are hosted?
Yes, it changes the control plane. With Coolify Cloud, you bring your own servers, but the Coolify instance that manages them runs on Coolify's managed infrastructure. The self-hosted edition runs the Coolify instance inside your own environment. Coolify's pricing page lists Coolify Cloud at $5 per month for 2 connected servers plus $3 per month for each additional server, with a 20% discount for annual billing. If data residency, access control or dependency on a third party matters to your organization, decide which model fits before you start, and confirm where the management plane sits with the Coolify project.
What changes for your team after the move
Patching, capacity, monitoring, backup verification and incident response move to your team. On Heroku, the provider runs the platform underneath your dynos and add-ons. With Coolify, you run the servers it manages over SSH, so you own operating system updates, Docker and Coolify upgrades, disk and memory headroom (the installer's minimums are a starting point, not a sizing), uptime checks and the on-call rota that answers when a host fails at night. Scheduled PostgreSQL backups run on cron and can be uploaded to S3-compatible storage, but someone must restore a copy into a scratch environment on a regular basis to prove it works. Coolify's guide for teams coming from managed platforms notes that a rollback can redeploy a retained application image but does not restore databases or persistent files, so recovery of data is a process you design and rehearse, not a button. What stays familiar is the core loop: push to a Git branch, let the build run, and watch the new version replace the old one. Environment variables are still set per application, and domains still point at the app through the proxy, which on Coolify is Traefik by default or Caddy, both handling HTTPS automatically. What does not carry over is the provider-managed add-on catalog. Each database, cache or third-party service becomes something you deploy, size, secure and back up, and the dashboard and API are now yours to secure, including who holds admin access and how API tokens are scoped.
Heroku's sustaining engineering model is a planning input for renewal timing, not a shutdown notice. Heroku announced on February 6, 2026 that it is shifting to sustaining engineering focused on stability, security, reliability and support rather than new features, and that Enterprise Account contracts will no longer be offered to new customers. Existing customers should read that as a reason to set a deliberate migration window before the next renewal, so the move is not forced by a price change or a feature gap. Confirm with your account team what the current contract terms, support levels and end-of-support commitments are for your specific plan. This matters most for teams without on-call capacity. If nobody is responsible for patching a host at the weekend or responding to a disk-full alert, a single Coolify server can fail in ways a managed dyno would have hidden. In that case, budget for a retained operator, a support retainer or a managed database before cutover, and write down who acts at 3 a.m. and what they do first. Teams with a named on-call rota, tested backup restores and a monitoring stack in place will find the operational shift manageable.
How DeployOpen helps you evaluate, implement or migrate
DeployOpen is a Chainscore Labs company that plans, implements, hardens, backs up and documents self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own infrastructure. For Heroku vs Coolify, we start with the workloads you run today and the controls your environment needs, then agree what Coolify would take over before any server is touched.
How we scope
- We inventory Heroku apps, add-ons, config vars and domains that would move to Coolify.
- We map each app to Nixpacks, Railpack, a Dockerfile or Docker Compose, and flag builds that need changes.
- We agree the written scope, deliverables and timeline with you before work starts, and confirm which servers Coolify will manage.
How we build
- We install Coolify on servers in your cloud account, data center or air-gapped network, and set up the reverse proxy and TLS.
- We rebuild PostgreSQL and Redis services, configure scheduled backups to your S3-compatible storage, and test a restore.
- We configure preview deployments, wildcard DNS and environment variables, then test the apps and APIs before cutover.
How we hand over
- You receive documentation of the Coolify setup, server inventory, backup schedules and restore steps written for your team.
- We walk your operators through deploys, rollbacks, database restores and what a rollback does not restore.
- We record the cutover plan, DNS steps and the Heroku decommission checklist so the handover is auditable.
How we support
- Ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing are available as a retainer after handover.
- We can help you plan Coolify version upgrades and check backups and restores on a schedule you agree.
- Quotes follow from the written scope, so ask us to itemize server, database, backup, testing and support effort.
