Compare / RunLater vs Heroku Scheduler
RunLater vs Heroku Scheduler
Heroku Scheduler runs a command from your app on a one-off dyno every 10 minutes, every hour or once a day. Heroku says execution is expected but not guaranteed and recommends a custom clock process for critical jobs. RunLater runs any cron expression or an exact date and time, calls a URL, and retries and logs each run.
Heroku Scheduler details are from their own pages (listed under the table), checked October 27, 2026. Prices change; check their page before you decide.
| RunLater | Heroku Scheduler | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequencies | Any cron expression, down to every minute, or one exact date and time | Every 10 minutes, every hour, or every day at a set time |
| Reliability | Failed runs are retried and every attempt is logged | Expected but not guaranteed; jobs can be missed or, rarely, run twice |
| What it runs | Any public URL, any method, your headers and body | A command in your app, on a one-off dyno |
| Run length | Configurable per request, 1 to 300 seconds | A job is stopped at about its interval (10 minutes, an hour or a day) |
| Timezone | Timezone per request, daylight saving handled | Daily jobs are set in UTC |
| Retries | Up to 10 retries with exponential backoff, set per request | None documented |
| Logs | Every run logged with status, timing and response body; kept 7, 30 or 90 days by plan | Your app's log stream, as scheduler.X processes |
| Price | $15/mo (25,000 runs), $39/mo (100,000 runs), $149/mo (500,000 runs) | The add-on has no charge; dyno time for each job is billed |
Sources for the Heroku Scheduler column, read October 27, 2026:
Pick Heroku Scheduler if
- The job is a command that needs your app's code and config on a dyno.
- Every 10 minutes, hourly or daily is precise enough, and an occasional missed run is fine.
Pick RunLater if
- You need a real cron expression (every 5 minutes, weekdays at 9:00) or an exact date.
- A missed run matters: you want retries and a record of every attempt.
- The job is an HTTP endpoint, so it doesn't need a dyno at all.
Try it on your own endpoint
The fastest way to compare is to point both at a real URL. RunLater's trial lasts 14 days and you can cancel from the billing page before it ends.
Start a 14-day trialStarter is $15/month for 250 scheduled requests and 25,000 runs. Cancel before day 14 and you pay nothing.
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