ArduMaker vs Heroku
Heroku is the classic PaaS: managed dynos and add-ons. ArduMaker is a VPS with a panel: more memory for the same price and the database on the same server.
Side by side
| Criterion | ArduMaker | Heroku |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From €5.00/month (list price), fixed per plan: no charges for usage, traffic or requests | No free plan: Eco $5/month (sleeps after 30 min), Basic $7/month with 0.5 GB |
| Root and SSH access to the server | Yes, real root over SSH and a terminal in the browser | No |
| 24/7 processes (agents, bots, workers) | Yes: it is a Linux server, with no time limit and it never goes to sleep | Yes, worker dynos from Basic |
| Deploy from GitHub | Yes: repo and branch, every push deploys, with domain and SSL | Yes, GitHub integration and git push |
| Databases | PostgreSQL, MySQL and Redis installed and managed from the panel | Managed Postgres and Key-Value as paid add-ons |
| Docker and n8n | Docker and n8n (with workers, PostgreSQL and Redis) in one click | Containers via its registry; no n8n |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, remote with OAuth 2.1: servers, deploys, databases, domains, services and tunnels | Yes, official (mcp.heroku.com, OAuth) |
| How it is managed | Web panel, terminal in the browser and AI agents over MCP | Dashboard and CLI |
| Locations | Canada, Poland | United States and Europe |
When Heroku is the better fit
- A very broad add-on ecosystem.
- Compliance and Private Spaces for large companies.
- Years of maturity and documentation.
When ArduMaker is the better fit
- Several GB of RAM per plan versus 0.5 GB per dyno.
- Databases and Redis on the same server, without separate add-ons.
- Root and SSH to install whatever you need.
- AI agents that operate the whole server over MCP.
Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate an app from Heroku?
You link the GitHub repo to the VPS, set up the variables and use the Procfile command as the start command, and restore the database from a Postgres dump. If you used Redis, you install it on the same VPS.
Do I need to know how to administer servers?
Not for the usual tasks: deploys, domains, SSL, databases and services are handled from the panel, or you ask your AI agent to do them. If you know Linux, you have root for everything else.
Sources
Heroku data checked on 2026-10-16 on its official pages. Prices change: confirm them before deciding.