Comparisons · Heroku
DenkOps vs Heroku.
Heroku made git-push deploys famous and still has one of the largest add-on catalogues. DenkOps is narrower: always-on slots for APIs, bots, cron jobs and MCP servers, deployed and operated by your AI coding agent. Here is how they compare.
Free: 1 project, no credit card. 5 project slots €39/month, €5 per extra slot.
Side by side
| Spec | DenkOps | Heroku |
|---|---|---|
| Process model | Always-on slot | Dynos; Eco dynos sleep after 30 minutes without web traffic |
| Filesystem | Durable /persist disk | Ephemeral, lost on restart |
| Long responses / streams | No router timeout on the slot | 30 s to first byte, then a rolling 55 s idle window |
| Languages | Bun (TypeScript/JS), Python | Ruby, Python, Java, Node.js, Go, PHP, Scala, Clojure, .NET buildpacks |
| Scheduled jobs | Managed cron in denkops.json with run history | Heroku Scheduler: 10 min, hourly or daily; runs not guaranteed |
| Remote MCP servers | Streamable HTTP with OAuth sign-in built in | MCP servers as STDIO processes behind the Managed Inference and Agents add-on |
| EU region | Managed EU infrastructure | EU region available |
| Pricing | 1 project free; 5 slots €39/month, €5 per extra slot | No free dynos; Eco $5/month pool, Basic $7, Standard-1X $25 |
| Add-ons and databases | Durable disk and key-value SDK, no marketplace | Large add-on marketplace, managed Postgres and Key-Value |
Facts about Heroku come from its official documentation, checked November 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Which one fits
- You want a bot, webhook or MCP server that never sleeps, without paying per dyno
- Your app keeps files or a small database on disk
- You stream responses or run long requests
- You want your coding agent to deploy, read logs and roll back
- You rely on Heroku's add-on marketplace or managed Postgres
- Your stack is Ruby, Java, Go or PHP
- Your team already runs on Heroku pipelines and review apps
FAQ
Is DenkOps a Heroku alternative?
For Bun and Python APIs, bots, cron jobs and MCP servers, yes: always-on slots with a durable disk and flat pricing. For Ruby or Java apps, or teams that depend on Heroku add-ons, Heroku remains the better fit.
Does Heroku have a free tier?
Heroku has no free dynos. Eco dynos cost $5 per month for a shared pool of hours and sleep after 30 minutes without traffic. DenkOps has one free project that does not sleep.
Can I host an MCP server on Heroku?
Heroku's Managed Inference and Agents add-on runs custom MCP servers as STDIO processes behind a toolkit URL with the add-on's key. DenkOps hosts Streamable HTTP MCP servers with OAuth sign-in for Claude and ChatGPT users.