os-alt

self-host the SaaS you're paying for

← all SaaS comparisons

Heroku vs Vercel

Self-host either: open-source alternatives compared. · Category: PaaS & app hosting

Both Heroku and Vercel are in the PaaS & app hosting category. Coolify self-hosts as a replacement for both — listed below alongside the picks unique to each.

HerokuVercel
CategoryApp platform / git-push deployFrontend hosting / serverless deploy
SaaS pricing anchor$5-25/dyno/mo for app dynos; add-ons billed separatelyFree hobby; $20/seat/mo Pro plus usage-based bandwidth/builds
Self-host options listed33

Replaces both — 1 shared open-source pick

These open-source projects appear on both /heroku/ and /vercel/ — picking one solves the migration off either SaaS.

Coolifycoollabsio/coolifyalivereplaces both

GitHub
★ 55.0k · last commit 2w ago
License
Apache-2.0
Setup time
10min (single-line bash installer)
Monthly cost
$10 VPS for the controller + apps.

Picks unique to each

Heroku only

  • Dokkualive
    MIT15min (single-line install on a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 VPS)$5 VPS for small apps; scale the box as you grow.
  • CapRoveralive
    Apache-2.020min (Docker Swarm setup)$10 VPS for the controller.

Vercel only

  • Dokployalive
    Apache-2.010min docker-compose$10 VPS for the controller.
  • OpenNextunknown
    MIT15min (build adapter; deploy target is your choice)$0 framework cost; pay for whatever cloud you target (AWS, Cloudflare, etc.

In a terminal? npx os-alt heroku or npx os-alt vercel prints either side — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Which open-source self-host alternatives replace both Heroku and Vercel?

1 open-source project appears on both /heroku/ and /vercel/: Coolify.

How many self-host alternatives are listed for Heroku and Vercel?

3 for Heroku, 3 for Vercel.

Are all the self-host alternatives free?

Yes — every listed option is open source. Your cost is the VPS or hardware that runs it.