What is App Stack Builder?

App Stack Builder is a free AI-powered tool that helps founders and developers choose the right tech stack for their projects based on budget, app type, team size, and skill level.

What is the best tech stack for SaaS in 2026?

The best tech stack for SaaS in 2026 typically includes Next.js 16 for frontend, Supabase for database and auth, Vercel for hosting, Stripe for payments, and PostHog for analytics. App Stack Builder can generate a personalized recommendation based on your specific budget and requirements.

Is App Stack Builder free to use?

Yes, App Stack Builder is completely free to use. You can generate unlimited tech stack recommendations without any cost.

What types of apps can I build with the recommended stacks?

App Stack Builder supports various app types including SaaS applications, web apps, mobile apps, e-commerce stores, internal tools, and AI/ML products.

How much does a SaaS tech stack cost per month?

A modern SaaS tech stack can cost anywhere from $0-50/month for bootstrapped startups using free tiers, $100-300/month for growth-stage startups, to $500+/month for enterprise-ready infrastructure. App Stack Builder helps you find the best tools within your specific budget.

What is the best tech stack for solo founders?

For solo founders, we recommend Next.js + Vercel (free), Supabase (free tier), Supabase Auth (free), Stripe (pay as you go), and Plausible or PostHog for analytics. This stack can run your entire SaaS for under $50/month.

Can I export my tech stack recommendations?

Yes, you can export your tech stack recommendations as a PDF document or copy them to your clipboard. You can also share a link to your stack with others.

Hosting

Heroku: Pricing, Features & Alternatives

Heroku is the classic platform-as-a-service that popularized `git push heroku main` deploys, buildpacks, and add-ons. It removed its free tier in late 2022; today the cheapest options are Eco dynos ($5/mo, shared 1,000 hours, sleeps) and Basic dynos ($7/mo, always-on). Still a fast, batteries-included way to ship without managing servers.

Heroku Pricing Plans (2026)

Plan	Price	Highlights
EcoPopular	$5 / month	1,000 dyno hours/mo (shared) · Sleeps after 30 min idle · All languages via buildpacks
Basic	$7 / month per dyno	Never sleeps · Custom domains + SSL · Per-dyno pricing
Standard / Performance	From $25 / month	Horizontal scaling · Metrics & autoscaling · Higher-memory dynos

Pricing summary: From $5/mo. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.

Key Heroku Features

1,000 dyno hours/mo (shared)
Sleeps after 30 min idle
All languages via buildpacks
Add-on marketplace

Pros

+Dead-simple git-push deploys
+Language-agnostic buildpacks
+Rich add-on marketplace
+Mature and reliable

Cons

−No free tier since 2022
−Expensive at scale
−Eco dynos sleep when idle
−Slower innovation under Salesforce

Best Heroku Alternatives

Compare all

Vercel

Free · paid from $20/mo

Railway

Free · paid from $5/mo

Render

Free · paid from $19/mo

Cloudflare Pages & Workers

Free · paid from $5/mo

Netlify

Free · paid from $9/mo

Fly.io

Usage-based

Heroku Compared

Heroku vs Amazon Web Services (AWS)Heroku vs Google Cloud Platform (GCP)Heroku vs Vercel Heroku vs Fly.io Heroku vs Railway Heroku vs DigitalOcean App Platform

Heroku FAQ

What is Heroku used for?⌄

Heroku is a hosting tool. The original git-push PaaS — deploy apps in any language with zero infra, now Salesforce-owned (no free tier).

Is Heroku free?⌄

Heroku does not offer a permanent free tier; paid plans start at $5/month.

How much does Heroku cost?⌄

Heroku plans start at $5/month.

What are the best Heroku alternatives?⌄

Popular Heroku alternatives include Vercel, Railway, Render, Cloudflare Pages & Workers, Netlify. Compare pricing and features on our Heroku alternatives page.

Not sure if Heroku fits your stack?

Get a free, AI-powered tech stack tailored to your budget, app type, and team size — including the best hosting pick for you.

Build my stack free