Looking for a Heroku alternative?
We built smbCloud for teams that liked what Heroku got right but got tired of how much platform ended up sitting between the code and the deploy. SSH-first, one command, easy to follow.
Why people leave Heroku
Usually they still want simplicity. They just want less platform around it.
That is basically the whole argument. Heroku got a lot right. I just think a lot of teams eventually want something they can explain in plain English.
What smbCloud does well
- Deploy over SSH with one command.
- Support for Node.js, Rails, and Swift/Vapor.
- A setup that feels closer to normal app operations.
smbCloud vs Heroku
Here is the trade, without the usual sales fog.
Pick smbCloud if
- You want Heroku-like simplicity, but with less platform in the middle.
- You mostly ship Node.js, Rails, or Vapor apps.
- You do not want a big platform story around a straightforward deploy.
- You want to understand what is happening when the app goes live.
Stay on Heroku if
- Your team is already deep into Heroku and happy there.
- You depend on Heroku-specific workflows or add-ons.
- You are not looking to change the way you deploy right now.
Best fit
I would look at smbCloud if you still want ease, just with less ceremony.
- Small SaaS teams
- Client projects that need a repeatable deploy path
- Rails apps
- Node.js services and dashboards
- Vapor backends
FAQ
Common questions
Is smbCloud a Heroku replacement?
For some teams, yes. If you mostly ship Node.js, Rails, or Vapor apps and want a simpler SSH-first deploy flow, smbCloud can make more sense.
Who should switch from Heroku to smbCloud?
Teams that still want simplicity, but want less platform in the middle.
Is smbCloud trying to match every Heroku feature?
No. That is not the point. smbCloud is narrower on purpose.
If Heroku feels like more platform than you need, try smbCloud.
Run it on one app. That is usually enough to know.