Manage Heroku

What is Heroku

Overview

Heroku is a cloud platform (PaaS) that lets developers build, run and operate applications entirely in the cloud.

It provides managed runtimes (dynos), data services (Postgres, Redis) and add‑ons to simplify deployment and scaling for teams and startups.

How it is billed

Billing is managed directly through your Heroku account and linked payment method (credit card).

Mobile app stores (Apple App Store / Google Play) do not handle Heroku subscription billing.

How to cancel Heroku

Preliminary notes

Before cancelling billing, confirm which apps, add‑ons and services are active on your account.

Removing apps only does not always stop charges unless payment methods or paid resources are fully removed.

Step‑by‑step cancellation

• Sign in to your Heroku Dashboard and list all active resources (apps, add‑ons, databases, Redis instances).
• For each app, scale down or stop dynos, then destroy the app if you no longer need it.
• Remove paid add‑ons and managed data services (delete databases, Redis instances) to stop recurring charges.
• Remove or update your credit card from Account Settings if you want to prevent future billing.
• Confirm there are no remaining billed resources in the Billing section and check for unpaid invoices.
• Retain screenshots of the Dashboard and billing pages that show resources were removed and the payment method deleted.

What happens when you cancel

Access and services

Once you delete apps and paid resources they stop running and are no longer billed going forward.

Deleted resources - including databases and add‑ons - are typically unrecoverable unless you restored backups prior to deletion.

Billing and invoices

Cancelling does not automatically generate a refund for partial billing periods in most cases.

You should verify your Billing page for any final invoices or outstanding charges after cancelling resources.

Will I get a refund?

General refund policy

Heroku generally does not issue refunds for cancellations made mid‑billing cycle; timing cancellation at the end of a billing period is advised.

Heroku explicitly does not provide refunds for outages, incidents or maintenance events. See Heroku's policy for incident refunds:

Heroku - Partial refund for incident/maintenance

Exceptions and processing

• Refunds are rare and limited to specific cases such as tax‑exemption adjustments.
• If a refund is issued, it may take approximately 5 - 10 business days to appear in your account. See details:
• Heroku - How long to receive a refund
• Refunds must be returned to the original card that was charged; Heroku cannot re‑route refunds to a different card:
• Heroku - Refund to different card

Heroku plans and pricing

Pricing summary

Below are approximate monthly ZAR conversions of Heroku's USD list prices (historical USD→ZAR rates from 2025).

Actual billed amounts may vary due to daily exchange rates, taxes (VAT) and Heroku's conversion policy.

Your consumer rights in South Africa

Key rights

South African consumer protection laws (for example, the Consumer Protection Act) require clear terms, truthful billing and informed consent for charges.

These rights can be relevant if you believe you were billed unfairly or without proper disclosure.

Limitations and practical steps

• Heroku's public policies do not explicitly adopt a European‑style 14‑day automatic cooling‑off period.
• If you suspect unfair billing, gather documentation (invoices, screenshots) and contact Heroku support first, then consider formal consumer complaints if unresolved.

Customer experiences

Positive feedback

Users in South Africa praise Heroku for ease of deployment via "git push", rapid provisioning and strong usability for small teams and startups.

See local reviews summarising these strengths:

GetApp South Africa - Heroku reviews

Negative feedback

Many reviewers report problems with unexpected billing, charges after deleting services, and difficulty cancelling subscriptions.

Some customers describe slow or limited responses from support and difficulties accessing account help when locked out:

Trustpilot - Heroku reviews

GetApp South Africa - Additional user comments

Documentation checklist

What to gather before you contact support

• Account email and username used for Heroku.
• List of app names, add‑on names and resource IDs you will delete.
• Billing statements and dates of disputed charges (screenshots preferred).
• Last four digits of the card charged and any invoice or transaction IDs.

How to present your case

• Chronological timeline of actions you took (deletions, cancellations) with timestamps.
• Clear request (refund, reversal, confirmation that billing stopped) and supporting evidence.
• Be prepared to escalate via account support channels if the first response is unsatisfactory.

Common mistakes

Deleting apps but not payment methods

A common error is deleting apps but leaving paid add‑ons or the credit card active; this can allow charges to continue.

Always verify the Billing page shows zero active billed resources and remove the payment method if you do not intend to pay again.

Assuming automatic refunds

Many users expect prorated refunds when cancelling mid‑cycle; Heroku’s policy is generally not to refund for mid‑cycle cancellation or outages.

If you need an exception, prepare documentation and be ready for limited success and normal processing times.

Comparative recap

Quick feature comparison

After cancelling

Verify billing and records

Check your billing page and bank/card statements for any remaining or future charges after cancellation.

Keep copies of invoices, screenshots and confirmation messages for at least several billing cycles.

Where to get help and next steps

• For refund or billing questions, consult Heroku’s help pages on refunds and incident policies:
• Partial refund policy
• Refund processing times
• Refunds to different card policy
• Review user experiences before re‑subscribing: GetApp South Africa and Trustpilot.

Address

Corporate address

Heroku (part of Salesforce)

415 Mission Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States

Contact considerations

Use your Heroku account support channels for account‑specific requests and billing disputes.

When escalating outside Heroku, retain evidence and reference South African consumer protections if applicable.