Heroku vs. Kubernetes

Heroku and Kubernetes represent different deployment philosophies: Heroku is a managed PaaS that abstracts infrastructure complexity with simple git-based deployments, while Kubernetes is a container orchestration framework requiring explicit configuration and specialized knowledge. Heroku suits startups and small teams prioritizing feature velocity over infrastructure control, offering quick deployment but limited customization. Kubernetes becomes necessary for applications requiring sophisticated autoscaling, custom routing, microservices architectures, or cost optimization at scale, though it demands dedicated platform engineering expertise. The comparison covers architecture differences, cost structures, scaling capabilities, security models, and operational complexity. Managed Kubernetes services (GKE, AKS, EKS) bridge the gap by reducing operational overhead while maintaining Kubernetes' flexibility.