Using Heroku vs Google Cloud Run for Web App Hosting (2023)

Heroku and Google Cloud Run are popular platforms for deploying and managing applications in the cloud. While both offer similar services, some key differences may make one more suitable for a particular project or organization.

Using Heroku vs Google Cloud Run for Web App Development

Heroku is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that allows developers to easily deploy and manage applications without worrying about infrastructure. It supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks and offers a variety of add-ons for things like databases, caching, and monitoring. Heroku also strongly focuses on developer experience, with features like easy app scaling and continuous deployment.

Google Cloud Run, on the other hand, is a newer platform that offers a more flexible and scalable approach to deploying applications. A container-based system allows developers to run their applications in any language or framework as long as they can be packaged into a container.

Cloud Run also offers automatic scaling and can handle stateless and stateful applications. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services, making it a good choice for organizations already using the Google Cloud platform.

Comparison table of Heroku vs Google Cloud Run

Feature	Heroku	Google Cloud Run
Scalability	Uses a dyno system that automatically scales resources based on traffic.	Uses a container-based system that automatically adjusts resources based on demand.
Deployment	Offers a simple Git-based deployment process	Allows deployment of containerized applications, offering more flexibility for complex applications.
Performance	Not the best for high-performance applications, even with the most powerful dyno.	Can effectively handle high-traffic applications but may require more configuration and monitoring.
Support	Offers extensive support options, including a knowledge base, community forums, and a support ticket system. Has a range of add-ons and integrations.	Also offers extensive support options, including a knowledge base, community forums, and a support ticket system. Integrates well with other Google Cloud services.
Ease of use	Known for simplicity and minimal configuration, ideal for developers who want an easy-to-use platform.	More flexible and scalable, but may require more configuration and management. Better suited for experienced developers.
Ideal For	Smaller to medium-sized applications that require less configuration and management.	Larger, more complex applications that require high scalability and performance.

Article Highlights

Heroku and Google Cloud Run are popular cloud-based platforms for deploying and managing applications, each with unique features that may suit different projects or organizations.
Heroku, a platform-as-a-service (PaaS), emphasizes easy deployment and management, supporting various programming languages and frameworks.
Google Cloud Run is a flexible and scalable platform that utilizes a container-based system, allowing any language or framework to be packaged into a container.
Pricing plans for both platforms are flexible and can cater to various needs and budgets. Heroku’s plans range from free to $5000 per month for the Enterprise plan, while Google Cloud Run offers a free plan, a pay-as-you-go model, and “committed use discounts.”
Heroku and Google Cloud Run are robust platforms for deploying and managing cloud applications. Heroku focuses more on ease of use, and Google Cloud Run on flexibility and scalability.
Heroku uses a dyno system for scalability, allowing the platform to adjust resources automatically based on traffic load.
Google Cloud Run uses a container-based system for scalability, offering automatic adjustment of resources based on demand.
Heroku offers a simple Git-based deployment process, while Google Cloud Run allows containerized application deployment, offering more flexibility for complex apps.
Both platforms offer extensive support options, including a knowledge base, community forums, and a support ticket system. Heroku’s range of add-ons and integrations may provide a slight edge in support.
The choice between Heroku and Google Cloud Run will depend on the specific needs of the user and the application requirements.

What is Heroku

Heroku is a cloud-based platform that allows developers to build, deploy, and manage web applications. It is a fully managed platform that supports several programming languages, including Ruby, Java, Node.js, Python, and PHP. Heroku provides developers with various tools and services that help them focus on building their applications rather than worrying about infrastructure management.

Heroku is known for its ease of use and quick deployment process. It offers a simple and intuitive user interface that allows developers to deploy their applications with just a few clicks. Heroku also provides a range of add-ons that can be easily integrated into applications, such as databases, caching, and monitoring tools.

What is Google Cloud Run

Google Cloud Run is a fully managed serverless platform that allows developers to build and run containerized applications. It supports several programming languages, including Node.js, Python, and Go. Google Cloud Run provides developers with a simple, scalable platform for building and deploying applications.

Google Cloud Run is built on top of Kubernetes, which allows it to scale applications automatically based on demand. It also provides developers with various tools and services that help them build, deploy, and manage their applications. Google Cloud Run supports stateless and stateful applications, making it a versatile platform for building various applications.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run are powerful platforms for building and deploying web applications. While Heroku focuses more on ease of use and quick deployment, Google Cloud Run focuses more on scalability and flexibility. Developers should choose the platform that best suits their needs based on their specific requirements.

Heroku Features

Heroku is a cloud-based platform offering a range of features and capabilities, making it a popular choice for developers.

Some of the key features and capabilities of Heroku include:

Easy to Use: Heroku is known for its ease of use, making it an ideal choice for developers new to cloud-based platforms. The platform offers a simple, user-friendly interface that allows developers to easily deploy and manage their applications.
Scalability: Heroku offers a scalable infrastructure allowing developers to scale their applications as needed. The platform automatically handles load balancing, so developers don’t worry about managing their infrastructure.
Add-ons: Heroku offers a range of add-ons that can be used to extend the functionality of applications. These add-ons include databases, caching, and messaging services, among others.
Integration: Heroku integrates with various third-party services, making it easy for developers to incorporate these services into their applications. The platform also offers a range of APIs that can be used to integrate with other systems.

Google Cloud Run Features

Google Cloud Run is a serverless platform offering a range of features and capabilities, making it a popular choice for developers.

Some of the key features and capabilities of Google Cloud Run include:

Serverless: Google Cloud Run is a serverless platform, meaning developers don’t have to worry about managing their infrastructure. The platform automatically handles scaling and load balancing, making it easy for developers to focus on building their applications.
Container-based: Google Cloud Run is based on containers, which makes it easy for developers to package and deploy their applications. The platform supports Docker containers, which can be used to build and deploy applications consistently and repeatedly.
Flexible: Google Cloud Run is a flexible platform that can be used to build and deploy various applications, from simple microservices to complex web applications. The platform supports various programming languages and frameworks, making it easy for developers to use the tools they are familiar with.
Integration: Google Cloud Run integrates with a range of Google Cloud services, making it easy for developers to incorporate these services into their applications. The platform also offers a range of APIs that can be used to integrate with other systems.

Pricing Comparison

When it comes to pricing, both Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer flexible plans that can fit a variety of needs and budgets.

Heroku Pricing

Heroku offers a free plan that includes 512 MB of RAM and 1 web dyno, allowing users to test and deploy their applications without cost. However, this plan has some limitations, such as a maximum of 550 hours of usage per month and a sleep time of 6 hours per day.

For those who need more resources, Heroku has several paid plans that offer more RAM, dynos, and add-ons for scalability, monitoring, and security. The paid plans start at $7 per month for the Hobby plan, which includes 512 MB of RAM and 1 dyno, and go up to $5000 per month for the Enterprise plan, which includes custom resources, support, and SLAs.

Google Cloud Run Pricing

Google Cloud Run also offers a free plan that includes 2 million monthly requests and 360,000 GB-seconds of CPU and memory usage. However, this plan has some limitations, such as a maximum of 1 GB of memory per container and a maximum of 1000 requests per minute.

For those who need more resources, Google Cloud Run has a pay-as-you-go model that charges based on the number of requests, CPU usage, and memory usage. The pricing starts at $0.000024 per request and $0.0000025 per GB-second and varies depending on the region and the instance type.

Additionally, Google Cloud Run offers a discounted pricing model called “committed use discounts” that allows users to commit to using a certain amount of vCPU and memory for a period of 1 or 3 years in exchange for a lower price.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer competitive pricing models that suit different needs and budgets. Users should carefully evaluate their requirements and usage patterns to choose the most cost-effective option for their applications.

Ease of Use Comparison

When choosing between Heroku and Google Cloud Run, ease of use is an important factor to consider. Both platforms offer different levels of ease of use, depending on the user’s needs and experience.

Heroku Ease of Use

Heroku is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It is a fully managed platform that allows users to deploy and manage their applications easily. Heroku provides a user-friendly interface that makes deploying and managing applications easy. Users can deploy their applications with a single command, and Heroku takes care of the rest.

Heroku also offers a wide range of add-ons that can be easily integrated into applications. These add-ons include databases, caching, logging, and more. Heroku’s add-ons are easy to use and can be added to applications with just a few clicks.

Google Cloud Run Ease of Use

Google Cloud Run is a more advanced platform requiring some technical expertise. It is a container-based platform that allows users to deploy and manage their applications with containers. Google Cloud Run provides a command-line interface that can be used to deploy and manage applications.

Google Cloud Run also offers a wide range of features and services that can be used to build and deploy applications. These features include auto-scaling, load balancing, and more. However, these features can be complex and require technical expertise.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer different levels of ease of use. Heroku is a more user-friendly platform that is easy to use for beginners. On the other hand, Google Cloud Run is a more advanced platform requiring some technical expertise.

Scalability Comparison

Heroku Scalability

Heroku is known for its scalability and can handle a large number of users and requests with ease. The platform offers horizontal scaling, meaning additional resources can be added to the application as demand increases. This is done automatically, and the user does not have to worry about managing the scaling process.

Heroku uses a dyno system to manage its scalability. Dynos are lightweight containers that run the application code. Each dyno can handle a certain amount of traffic, and additional dynos can be added to handle more traffic. The number of dynos can be increased or decreased based on the traffic load, which can be done manually or automatically.

Google Cloud Run Scalability

Google Cloud Run is also known for its scalability and can handle many users and requests easily. The platform offers horizontal scaling, meaning additional resources can be added to the application as demand increases. This is done automatically, and the user does not have to worry about managing the scaling process.

Google Cloud Run uses a container-based system to manage its scalability. Containers are lightweight, portable, and easily moved from one environment to another. Each container can handle a certain amount of traffic, and additional containers can be added to handle more traffic. The number of containers can be increased or decreased based on the traffic load, which can be done manually or automatically.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer excellent scalability options. The choice between the two platforms will depend on other factors such as pricing, ease of use, and deployment options.

Deployment Comparison

When it comes to deploying applications, both Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer simple options.

Heroku Deployment

Heroku provides a Git-based deployment process that allows developers to push changes to their codebase and automatically deploy it to their Heroku app. Additionally, developers can use Heroku’s CLI to deploy their applications directly from their local machine.

Heroku also offers a variety of add-ons that can be easily integrated into an application, such as databases, caching, and logging services. These add-ons can be managed through the Heroku dashboard or the CLI.

Google Cloud Run Deployment

Google Cloud Run also offers a Git-based deployment process but with the added benefit of being able to deploy containerized applications. Developers can package and deploy their application to Cloud Run using their preferred containerization tool, such as Docker.

Cloud Run also allows for automatic scaling so that the application can handle sudden spikes in traffic without any manual intervention. Cloud Run integrates well with other Google Cloud services, such as Cloud Build and Storage.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer simple and effective deployment options. Still, Google Cloud Run’s containerization and automatic scaling support may be more appealing to developers with more complex applications.

Performance Comparison

When it comes to performance, both Heroku and Google Cloud Run have their advantages and disadvantages. In this section, we will compare the performance of both platforms based on various factors.

Heroku Performance

Heroku is known for its ease of use and simplicity, but it may not be the best option for high-performance applications. Heroku’s performance depends on the size and type of the application, as well as the number of dynos (application containers) used.

Heroku provides a range of dyno types, each with different performance characteristics. The smallest dyno is free but has limited resources and can only handle small applications. The most powerful dyno is the Performance-M dyno, which has 14GB of RAM, 8 virtual cores, and can handle high-traffic applications.

However, even with the most powerful dyno, Heroku may not be able to handle extremely high traffic or resource-intensive applications. In such cases, it may be necessary to use additional add-ons or services, which can increase the cost of running the application.

Google Cloud Run Performance

Google Cloud Run is a serverless platform that allows developers to run their applications in containers. It provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure that can easily handle high-traffic applications.

Google Cloud Run automatically scales up or down based on the number of requests, ensuring the application is always available and responsive. It also provides a range of machine types that can handle different workloads, from small to large applications.

Google Cloud Run also provides monitoring and debugging tools to help developers optimize their application’s performance. These tools can help identify bottlenecks, slow queries, and other application performance issues.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run have advantages and disadvantages regarding performance. Heroku is easy to use and provides a range of dyno types, but it may not be the best option for high-performance applications.

Google Cloud Run, on the other hand, provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure that can handle high-traffic applications with ease but may require more configuration and monitoring.

Support Comparison

When it comes to supporting, both Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer extensive documentation, community forums, and customer support. However, there are some differences between the two platforms.

Heroku Support

Heroku offers a variety of support options, including a knowledge base, community forums, and a support ticket system. Their documentation is extensive and covers a wide range of topics, from getting started with Heroku to advanced features. In addition to their documentation, Heroku offers a range of add-ons and integrations to help users get the most out of their platform.

Heroku’s support ticket system is available 24/7 and offers a one-business-day response time for all tickets. They also offer a premium support option for an additional fee, which includes faster response times and access to a dedicated support team.

Google Cloud Run Support

Google Cloud Run also offers a variety of support options, including a knowledge base, community forums, and a support ticket system. Their documentation is extensive and covers a wide range of topics, from getting started with Google Cloud Run to advanced features.

In addition to their documentation, Google Cloud Run offers various integrations with other Google Cloud services.

Google Cloud Run’s support ticket system is available 24/7 and offers a one-business-day response time for all tickets. They also offer a premium support option for an additional fee, which includes faster response times and access to a dedicated support team.

Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer extensive support options for their users. However, Heroku’s add-ons and integrations may give it a slight edge for users looking for more comprehensive support options.

Using Heroku vs Google Cloud Run

In summary, both Heroku and Google Cloud Run offer solid options for deploying and managing applications in the cloud. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses; the best choice will depend on the user’s specific needs.

Heroku is a great option for developers who want a simple, easy-to-use platform that requires minimal configuration and management. It offers many add-ons and integrations and we can be easily integrate into applications. However, it may not be the best choice for larger, more complex applications that require high scalability and performance.

On the other hand, Google Cloud Run is a more flexible and scalable platform that can handle larger workloads and provide better performance. It also offers various deployment options and supports various programming languages. However, it may require more configuration and management, making it a better choice for more experienced developers.

Overall, both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them will depend on the user’s specific needs. It is important to carefully evaluate the application requirements and each platform’s capabilities before making a decision.

Cloud Hosting Article Series

This article is part of our series on cloud hosting for your web applications. Check out the following articles to dig further into your options.