Ownkube vs Heroku
Heroku set the template for git-push deploys, and Ownkube keeps that ergonomics. Connect a repo, get a live URL, attach a managed database. The differences are in how you pay, how much control you keep, and where the app can run.
At a glance
Section titled “At a glance”| Capability | Ownkube | Heroku |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | Prepaid wallet. CPU and memory metered per minute on actual usage; unused credit rolls over and never expires | Dyno-based pricing by size and uptime |
| Cost to start | Browse free, no card. Deploying needs a plan from $5 / month (no free tier on Compute) | Heroku removed its free tier in 2022; a paid plan is required |
| Deploy from | GitHub or GitLab repo, or a container image | Git push with buildpacks, or a container image |
| Managed Postgres / cache | Managed Postgres 17 / 18 and a Valkey cache, one click each | Managed Postgres and a Redis-compatible add-on |
| Autoscaling | Horizontal autoscaling on CPU and memory | Autoscaling on eligible dyno types |
| Observability | Live logs plus CPU and memory metrics on every deployment | Logs and metrics, with an add-on ecosystem for more |
| Own-cloud portability | Move the same app to your own AWS account with no rewrite; logs, metrics, and health checks come with it | Runs on Heroku’s platform |
| Lock-in | Standard Kubernetes. Disconnect anytime and your apps keep running | Apps run on Heroku’s managed platform |
Where Ownkube is different
Section titled “Where Ownkube is different”Heroku bills a dyno by its size and how long it runs. Ownkube meters the CPU and memory a workload actually uses, per minute, so an idle app costs almost nothing. Your plan loads a prepaid wallet (Personal $5, Team $20), usage draws it down, and unused credit rolls over and never expires. Top up any time from a $5 minimum; at a zero balance apps pause with data retained.
The larger difference is the exit. The same app moves into your own (or a customer’s) AWS account with no rewrite, and its logs, metrics, and health checks come with it. You pay AWS directly at wholesale rates, least-privilege IAM, on vanilla Kubernetes you can disconnect from anytime.
Where Heroku may fit you better
Section titled “Where Heroku may fit you better”Heroku’s add-on marketplace and buildpack ecosystem are deep and battle-tested, with a long track record and a large catalog of third-party services you can attach in a click. If your workflow depends on a specific add-on or a mature buildpack, Heroku’s maturity is real and worth weighing.