When it comes to your business needs, do you know which cloud computing platform would be a better fit: the all-encompassing AWS or the developer-oriented Heroku? With 51% of their client base residing in America, AWS remains a popular choice among many. Meanwhile, 48% of companies run their services on Heroku's platform.Key TakeawaysAWS offers comprehensive cloud services such as IaaS (infrastructure as a Service), SaaS(Software as a Service), and PaaS(Platform as a Service). In contrast, Heroku operates solely as a PaaS (Platform as a Service), focusing on the app deployment process and management.AWS has a market share of 50.1%, but Heroku only has 1.8% in the global cloud computing market.AWS cloud services are most suitable for medium and large businesses, while Heroku is popular among startups and enterprise projects.Heroku is more expensive than AWS services; Its cost can reach $17,000 per month for just some applications and databases.AWS vs Heroku: A Basic OverviewAWS and Heroku are popular cloud computing services. However, they differ in key areas. Understanding their differences helps choose the right cloud hosting platform.What is Heroku?Heroku is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) based on the cloud. It runs on top of AWS, and it was created to make it easy to deploy, manage, and scale applications. Heroku platform uses dynos, which are lightweight Linux containers where applications run. The platform automatically configures infrastructure management and has various version control, testing, and collaboration tools, among other services. For startups who want fast deployments or any business that needs simplicity while deploying its app, Heroku will be the best choice for them.Advantages of HerokuEasy Usage: Heroku makes deployment and management simple for startups and small teams. It automatically sets up the infrastructure and provides resources; thus no need for a dedicated DevOps team.Developer Friendly: Heroku Cloud services has a smooth developer experience with version control tools, an easy deployment process as well as quick scaling capabilities. Additionally, developers can use any programming language and add-ons to improve functionality.Swift Deployment: Heroku's pre-configured environment facilitates fast application deployment and scaling, which greatly reduces development time.Disadvantages of HerokuCost: The number and size of dynos used to determine the amount charged by Heroku. Therefore, larger sites with more traffic may incur high costs since they will be charged approximately $35 per dyno per month.Low Flexibility: Heroku platform cannot support very complicated apps, such as microservices, that need a lot of cloud resources. What is AWS?AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform by Amazon. The popular AWS services include launching multiple app instances with elastic compute cloud (EC2), computing, storage, networking, AWS lambda, databases, analytics, machine learning, and security. AWS supports multiple cloud computing models: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS, and SaaS (Software as a Service). It has flexible pricing options like pay-as-you-go and subscriptions, catering to businesses of all sizes.Advantages of AWS ServicesFlexibility and Power: The AWS IaaS platform provides flexible, robust infrastructure management. It excels at handling intricate solutions needing sophisticated orchestration and upkeep, compared to Heroku. AWS effectively supports complex applications like microservices.High-Load Applications: AWS is well-suited for running high-load apps requiring substantial computing power. It offers automated functions like server and environment configurations and scaling. This enables quick, scalable deployments tailored to project needs.Disadvantages of AWS Cloud ServicesComplexity: AWS has a huge range of services, which makes it hard to find the right solution quickly.Management Overhead: Though AWS automates many tasks, developers still need to handle various management duties. This often requires a DevOps team, shifting focus from product to computing infrastructure.AWS vs Heroku: The Key DifferencesLet's understand the key differences between the AWS and Heroku Cloud in terms of features, pricing, scalability, and so on.Heroku vs. AWS: FeaturesFeaturesHerokuAWSRuntime EnvironmentFully flexible with smart containers (dynos). Multiple deployment options and direct access to server resources. RollbackEasy rollback of database or code. Ability to roll back to previous versions. App Monitoring Tracks metrics like response time, throughput, and memory. App metrics included. Integration Full GitHub integration. AWS Service Integration. LanguagesSupports Ruby, Java, PHP, Python, Node.js, Go, Scala, and Docker (with some complexity).Supports any language but requires advanced knowledge. Addons and Services Hundreds of add-ons for security, mailing, content management, testing, alerts, and notifications. About 700 third-party components. Over 200 services and 2000 features including computing, storage, databases, analytics, networking, and more. Regions2 main regions (Europe and USA) and 6 smaller regions (Virginia, Oregon, Dublin, Frankfurt, Sydney, Tokyo) for Private Spaces.Available in 190 countries and territories worldwide. VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) Supported with Heroku Enterprise plan and Shield option, with a one-year commitment.Included at no extra cost. ComplianceHIPAA and SOC2 compliance with Heroku Enterprise and Shield option. Includes HIPAA and SOC2 compliance with built-in features like database encryption, VPC security groups, and firewalls.Heroku vs. AWS: PricingBoth platforms offer different pricing according to the services provided; let's check them out here:Cloud ComputingHeroku offers Dyno plans starting from $250/month for Performance-m(2.5GB) and going up to $750/month for Standard 4(30 GB RAM, 750 GB storage). AWS provides EC2 On-Demand Linux Instances, such as t3.micro for $7.48/month, t3.small for $14.98/month, and c5.2xlarge for $244.80/month.DatabaseHeroku's Heroku Postgres Standard 4 costs $750/month, while AWS's RDS for PostgreSQL db.t3.large is priced at $546/month.In-Memory StorageHeroku Redis Premium-9 is available for $1,450/month, whereas AWS's ElastiCache cache.r4.large costs $164.16/month.Object StorageHeroku does not directly offer object storage but recommends using Amazon S3, which is available as part of AWS offerings.Data StreamingApache Kafka Basic-2 on Heroku is priced at $175/month, while Kinesis Data Streams (KDS) on AWS totals $50.58/month.Support PlansHeroku offers free Standard support and premium options starting from $1,000/month. AWS provides a Basic free tier and paid Developer, Business, and Enterprise plans based on AWS usage. ServiceHerokuAWS (Amazon EC2)Hosting TypePlatform as a Service (PaaS)Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Instance TypeDyno (Shared or Dedicated)EC2 InstancePricing ModelPay as you goPay as you goBase PricingFree tier available, Paid plans start at $7/moFree tier available, Paid plans start at $0.0059/hourStorageIncluded in the the dyno priceEBS Volume pricing variesCompute ResourcesIncluded in dyno priceEC2 Instance pricing variesDatabaseAdd-on pricing variesRDS pricing variesData TransferIncluded up to certain limits, then priced per GBData Transfer pricing variesSupportIncluded in paid plansBasic support included, premium support availableCalculator for Heroku and AWS PricingPerformance & Reliability between Heroku and AWSAspectHerokuAWSUptime99.95% SLA with Dynos and Postgres99.99% SLA across services like EC2, S3ScalabilityAuto-scaling with Dynos (limited control)Full control over scaling (Elastic Load Balancer, Auto Scaling)LatencySuitable for small/medium apps (mild latency)Low latency with global availability zonesPerformanceManaged PaaS, optimized for simple appsHigh performance with customizable resources (compute, storage, etc.)Case StudiesStartups, small businessesEnterprises, global tech leadersAWS vs Heroku: Scaling CapabilitiesBoth platforms offer scalability options, but their approaches differ. Heroku enables manual horizontal and vertical scaling via its dashboard or CLI. It also provides auto-scaling for Private Space dynos. AWS supports AutoScale and has dedicated services for auto-scaling and reserving computing capacity based on demand.Heroku caters to beginners, requiring less technical expertise for basic deployments and scaling operations. However, AWS, being a comprehensive cloud platform with numerous services, demands advanced technical knowledge to utilize and manage its scalability features and other services efficiently.Heroku's pricing model is relatively inexpensive for starting projects. But it can become very costly as scaling requirements increase. AWS may have higher upfront costs for initial deployments. But its pricing structure and scalability options make it more cost-effective as workloads and resource demands grow, especially for larger projects and enterprises.Heroku vs. AWS: Ease of UseHeroku and AWS have different approaches for developers. Heroku focuses on simplicity with clear guides. Its deployment uses Git and takes under 30 minutes. However, it has less control over computing resources compared to Infrastructure-as-a-Service like AWS. Heroku is ideal for beginners.AWS offers many management tools and services. It provides immense flexibility and granular resource control. But this requires advanced technical skills to navigate documentation, manage deployment, and optimize infrastructure. While Heroku simplifies DevOps, AWS empowers full control. AWS suits organizations with specialists proficient in infrastructure scaling.Heroku vs. AWS: Monitoring & LoggingMonitoring and logging are crucial for managing cloud apps and infrastructure. Both providers offer solutions. Heroku provides Librato and Heroku Dashboard for monitoring apps and platform resources. AWS offers comprehensive monitoring with AWS Trusted Advisor and Amazon CloudWatch for AWS services and custom resources.Heroku's logging options include Papertrail, Heroku Logging Add-ons, and Coralogix Logging for centralizing and analyzing app logs. AWS logging services like AWS CloudTrail and CloudWatch Logs track user activity and API usage and collect logs from AWS services and apps.Although both offer monitoring and logging, AWS generally provides more comprehensive and scalable solutions. AWS tools deeply integrate with numerous services, simplifying monitoring and logging complex architectures and large deployments. However, Heroku's options align with its focus on simplicity and ease for app deployment and management.FeatureHerokuAWSScalabilityVertical and horizontal scaling availableVertical and horizontal scaling availableHorizontal ScalingAutomatic scaling based on web and worker dynosAutoscaling groups for EC2 instancesVertical ScalingLimited to dyno size adjustmentVertical scaling by changing instance typesLoad BalancingIncluded with platformElastic Load Balancer (ELB) or Application Load Balancer (ALB)Auto-ScalingAutomatic scaling based on predefined rulesAutoscaling based on CloudWatch metricsDatabase ScalingAdd-ons for managed databasesRDS for managed relational databases, DynamoDB for NoSQLStorage ScalingAdd-ons for various storage solutionsScalable storage solutions like S3, EBS, and EFSNetwork ScalingNetwork resources automatically scaleNetwork resources scale with instance typesGlobal ScalabilityGlobal presence with Heroku Private SpacesGlobal infrastructure with multiple regionsCustomizationLimited customization optionsHighly customizable infrastructure with AWSComparing Scenarios where Heroku and AWS are more suitableScenarioHerokuAWSSmall StartupsHeroku is ideal due to its ease of use, minimal setup, and managed services. Prototyping and DevelopmentQuick deployment and integrated tools make it suitable for prototyping. Simple Web ApplicationsPerfect for simple apps with low to medium traffic. Educational ProjectsProvides a straightforward platform for learning and teaching. Large Enterprises AWS offers services and scalability for large enterprises.Complex Applications Suitable for complex apps and required advanced configurations.High Scalability Needs Provides high scalability and performance for growing needs.Custom Infrastructure Requirements Allows for custom infrastructureUseful AWS and Heroku Commands:FunctionalityHeroku CommandAWS CommandLogin to CLIheroku loginaws configureCreate a new appheroku create my-appaws elasticbeanstalk create-application --application-name my-appDeploy an appgit push heroku masteraws elasticbeanstalk create-environment --application-name my-app --environment-name my-env --version-label my-version --solution-stack-name "64bit Amazon Linux 2 v3.2.2 running Node.js 14"View app logsheroku logs --tailaws logs get-log-events --log-group-name /aws/elasticbeanstalk/my-app --log-stream-name my-log-streamScale dynos/instancesheroku ps:scale web=2aws autoscaling set-desired-capacity --auto-scaling-group-name my-asg --desired-capacity 2Open the app in a browserheroku openN/A (Open the app URL in your browser manually)Set environment variablesheroku config:set MY_VAR=valueaws elasticbeanstalk update-environment --environment-name my-env --option-settings Namespace= aws:elasticbeanstalk:application:environment, OptionName=MY_VAR,Value=valueView environment variablesheroku configaws elasticbeanstalk describe-configuration-settings --application-name my-app --environment-name my-envRun a one-off commandheroku run bashaws ssm start-session --target instance-id (for EC2 instances)List all apps/environmentsheroku appsaws elasticbeanstalk describe-applicationsDelete an app/environmentheroku apps:destroy --app my-appaws elasticbeanstalk terminate-environment --environment-name my-envAttach a databaseheroku addons:create heroku-postgresql:hobby-devaws rds create-db-instance --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --db-instance-class db.t2.micro --engine postgres --allocated-storage 20 --master-username myuser --master-user-password mypasswordMigrate databaseheroku run rake db:migrateN/A (Run database migration commands specific to your application and database)View current releasesheroku releasesaws elasticbeanstalk describe-application-versions --application-name my-appRollback to a previous releaseheroku releases:rollback v123N/A (AWS Elastic Beanstalk does not have a direct rollback command, but you can create a new environment with a previous version)Add a custom domainheroku domains:add www.example.comaws route53 change-resource-record-sets --hosted-zone-id Z3M3LMPEXAMPLE --change-batch file://routing.jsonSSL Certificate Managementheroku certs:add my-cert.pem my-key.pemaws acm import-certificate --certificate fileb://my-cert.pem --private-key fileb://my-key.pem --certificate-chain fileb://my-cert-chain.pemList environment variablesheroku configaws ssm get-parameters-by-path --path /myapp/ --recursiveComparison of community support and learning resources for Heroku and AWSAspectHerokuAWSCommunity ForumsSmaller, active community forumsExtensive, large forums (AWS Discussion)Official DocumentationClear, beginner-friendly docsComprehensive, but complexThird-Party TutorialsAbundant for rapid prototyping & appsMany tutorials on DevOps & cloud servicesCertificationsNo formal certificationsAWS Certifications (Associate, Pro)Support ChannelsPaid support tiers, basic free supportExtensive paid support (Basic to Enterprise)Learning PlatformsHeroku Dev Center, Coursera, UdemyAWS Skill Builder, Udemy, A Cloud GuruHeroku vs. AWS: Quick ComparisonBefore going to the final verdict, let's have a quick comparison table that will help you learn about both platforms in one glance:BasisAWSHerokuOwnerAmazonSalesforceType of BusinessStartup, Mid-scaleMid-scale, Large enterprisesEase of useRequire technical team Beginner-friendlyDeployment SpeedFasterFastSupported ArchitectureDatabase and Application Tier, Load balancer Platform.Load Balancer/Web server, Database tier.Companies usingEricsson, Toyota, Ellie Mae, Choice Hotels, Yesware, Syniverse, Westfield.Airbnb, Atlassian, Agile Ventures, Full Stack Academy. Final VerdictBoth Heroku and AWS are powerful platforms. Each excels in different areas. There's no simple answer to which one is best when comparing Heroku vs. AWS. But considering the differences mentioned above can guide your decision. Ultimately, understand your organization's required features and know how much you can invest in them. Also, assess your team's DevOps skills and resources before choosing. Pick the platform that helps achieve business goals while keeping developers productive.Which is right for you?In short, use Heroku if:You prioritize speed over cost (ideal for building MVP apps, deploying, and testing quickly).Your team lacks dedicated DevOps engineers.Your project is relatively simple, requiring modest computing power.You prefer using Git for deployment.Use AWS if:You need flexible infrastructure and granular server/environment control.Your team has experienced DevOps engineers.You require auto-scaling and support for complex projects, including microservicesYou want to avoid vendor lock-in and want greater flexibility. A Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution like Heroku won't give you that.Your choice between Heroku and AWS cloud hosting should depend on your needs, tech skills, and long-term goals. Heroku is great for quick app deployment and testing, and it's developer-friendly. AWS offers unmatched flexibility, scalability, and infrastructure control. But AWS has a steep learning curve and has high operational complexity.Read Morehttps://devopsden.io/article/aws-devops-interview-questionsFollow us onhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/devopsden/
