Heroku Postgres vs ScaleWay Database
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Heroku Postgres is a reliable, fully managed database-as-a-service offering built on the powerful PostgreSQL object-relational database system. It abstracts away the operational overhead of database management, allowing engineering teams to focus entirely on building and scaling application features. Deeply integrated into the Heroku ecosystem, the service provides seamless provisioning, automated backups, credential management, and straightforward scaling options. It empowers developers to maintain secure, high-performance data infrastructure without manual server administration.
ScaleWay Database is a fully managed Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) offering reliable PostgreSQL and MySQL hosting. It removes the operational burden of database administration by automating routine tasks such as backups, patching, and scaling. Designed for developers and businesses of all sizes, the platform ensures high availability, security, and performance for critical data workloads. Users can easily spin up instances via console or API and focus entirely on application development rather than infrastructure management.
- Deep native integration with the Heroku platform and ecosystem
- Zero operational overhead for provisioning and infrastructure maintenance
- Convenient database branching and follower setup via CLI
- Reliable automated backup and point-in-time recovery features
- Fully managed infrastructure reduces operational overhead
- Predictable hourly and monthly pricing models
- Seamless integration with Scaleway cloud ecosystem
- Automated backups and point-in-time recovery
- Can become expensive compared to running raw cloud provider databases directly
- Tied closely to the Heroku ecosystem, making external migration more complex
- Limited granular configuration access compared to self-hosted PostgreSQL instances
- Limited to PostgreSQL and MySQL engines
- Fewer advanced enterprise features compared to AWS RDS
- Data centers primarily focused in Europe
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Heroku Postgres
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Worry-free fully managed database hosting for modern cloud applications.
Alternatives to ScaleWay Database
View all →Fully managed, scalable SQL database service built seamlessly for Heroku developers.
Worry-free fully managed database hosting for modern cloud applications.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataScaleWay Database is the safer default for teams needing predictable pricing and European‑centric data residency, while Heroku Postgres offers tighter Heroku integration but at higher cost and potential lock‑in.
Key differences
- •ScaleWay is limited to PostgreSQL and MySQL; Heroku Postgres supports only PostgreSQL but adds features like forks and followers.
- •ScaleWay’s datacenters are in Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw (Europe only); Heroku offers both US and EU regions.
- •Heroku provides deep CLI/Heroku‑specific tooling and automatic env‑var injection; ScaleWay relies on generic monitoring dashboards.
- •Heroku’s pricing can become expensive versus ScaleWay’s predictable hourly/monthly rates.
- •ScaleWay integrates with the broader Scaleway cloud ecosystem; Heroku is tightly bound to the Heroku platform.
Pricing & value
ScaleWay advertises predictable hourly/monthly pricing; Heroku noted as potentially expensive compared to raw cloud databases.
Uptime & reliability
Both provide 99.95% SLA and automated backups with point‑in‑time recovery.
Performance
ScaleWay offers dynamic compute/storage scaling; Heroku’s performance depends on plan tiers, not specified.
Developer experience
Heroku includes CLI/database forks, followers, and automatic env‑var config, streamlining dev workflows.
Regions & compliance
Heroku provides both US and EU regions; ScaleWay is Europe‑only (Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw).
Support
Neither product’s support level is detailed in the facts.
Lock‑in
Heroku is tightly tied to its ecosystem, making migration harder; ScaleWay is less platform‑specific.
Choose Heroku Postgres if…
Heroku‑centric teams valuing seamless platform integration, DB branching, and read‑scale followers.
Choose ScaleWay Database if…
SMBs or developers needing European data residency, predictable costs, and generic cloud integration.
Common questions
Which service is cheaper for a steady‑state workload?
ScaleWay offers predictable hourly/monthly pricing; Heroku is noted as potentially more expensive.
Can I run MySQL with these services?
Only ScaleWay supports MySQL; Heroku Postgres supports PostgreSQL exclusively.
I need a read‑replica for high‑availability, which provides it?
Heroku offers follower databases for read‑scale and warm standby; ScaleWay provides HA failover but no explicit read‑replica feature.