Heroku alternatives: 3 indie app deployment platforms like Heroku
Heroku popularised push-to-deploy hosting. Developers now look for platforms that run containers on cheaper servers, deploy to infrastructure they own, or deploy straight from an AI coding tool.
Heroku alternatives(3)
1.Ployz — Deploy apps to your own Linux servers without paying per server
Open source: turns Linux servers you rent anywhere into a push-to-deploy platform with previews, HTTPS, databases and backups.
Open source · Developer Tools, SaaS, Open Source · Details and pricing
2.Inquir Compute — Deploy container apps, databases and functions in one workspace
Deploys containers, databases and functions in one workspace with private networking, preview URLs and rollback.
Freemium · Developer Tools, SaaS · Details and pricing
3.CloudPloy — Deploy anywhere from your AI tool.
A hosted MCP server that deploys from Claude Code, Cursor or ChatGPT to AWS EC2 or any server over SSH.
Freemium · Developer Tools · Details and pricing
What to compare in a Heroku alternative
- Where your app runs: their cloud or your own servers.
- Containers, databases, workers and preview environments.
- Logs, health checks and rollback.
- How cost grows with each extra app or server.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free alternative to Heroku?
- Ployz is listed as free or open source. Inquir Compute and CloudPloy have a free plan with paid upgrades. Check each product's page for current limits.
- Are these made by Heroku?
- No. They're independent products from indie makers and small teams, listed on IndieLaunch. None is affiliated with Heroku.
- How was this list chosen?
- Each product was launched on IndieLaunch and reviewed before it went live. We list it here when its own description shows it does the same job as Heroku. Products aren't ranked by payment. Each page has the full description, features and pricing.
Built a Heroku alternative?
Launch it on IndieLaunch for free. Once it's approved it can be listed here.