Heroku
Tailscale
| Feature | Heroku | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $5/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | startups, prototyping, small-teams, ruby-python-node-developers | developers, remote-teams, homelab-users, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2007 | 2019 |
| Git Deploy | ✓ | ✗ |
| Managed Postgres | ✓ | ✗ |
| Managed Redis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Add Ons | ✓ | ✗ |
| Review Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pipelines | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Scaling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mesh Vpn | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wireguard Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero Config | ✗ | ✓ |
| Acl Policies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Magic Dns | ✗ | ✓ |
| Subnet Routers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Exit Nodes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ssh | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Heroku Pros
- Simplest deployment experience (git push to deploy)
- Extensive add-on marketplace for databases and services
- Great for prototyping and MVPs
- Managed Postgres and Redis included
✗ Heroku Cons
- Removed free tier in 2022
- Expensive for production workloads at scale
- Limited infrastructure customization
✓ Tailscale Pros
- Incredibly easy setup with no configuration needed
- Built on WireGuard for fast, modern encryption
- Works across NATs and firewalls seamlessly
- Free for personal use with up to 100 devices
✗ Tailscale Cons
- Requires Tailscale client on all devices
- Coordination server is not self-hostable (use Headscale fork)
- Less suitable for traditional site-to-site VPN use cases
The Verdict
Heroku is built for startups and prototyping, with a focus on git-deploy and managed-postgres. Tailscale targets developers and remote teams and leads with mesh-vpn and wireguard-encryption.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($5/mo for Heroku, $5/mo for Tailscale), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Tailscale has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Heroku requires a paid subscription from day one.
Tailscale edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Tailscale offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 7), while Heroku takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Tailscale has a slight overall edge — but if simplest deployment experience (git push to deploy) matters most to you, Heroku may still be the right call.