Docker + {aws, digital ocean, rackspace} is substantially cheaper than heroku.
Docker makes these services relatively comparable to Heroku in complexity, so the heroku value prop has been diluted.
Docker makes these services relatively comparable to Heroku in complexity, so the heroku value prop has been diluted.
Put another way, hardware stores sell paint and paint supplies all day. Buying those and painting a room yourself is certainly cheaper, but it assumes you have the extra time to paint and don't mind you being the laborer. Hiring a painter costs more, but saves you a ton of time, energy, and elevates the level of expertise you are bringing to the job.
Getting started is one thing. The ease of how you maintain and grow is another.
(Heroku Cost) <=> (EC2 Cost) + (EC2 DevOps Cost)
Now we have:
(Heroku Cost) <=> (EC2 Cost) + (EC2 Devops using Docker)
Where (EC2 Devops using Docker) < (EC2 Devops)
So the value proposition has shifted. It's not a "Heroku Killer", but it does dilute their value prop, as my prior post mentioned.
Downtime, on the other hand, is just lost revenue opportunity.
For most well designed services, that is simply not the case. If my revenue from $1000 of heroku bills is $20,000, cutting $500/mo off of my server costs in exchange for any amount of hours or risk is simply not worthwhile.