These integration guides are not official documentation and the Strapi Support Team will not provide assistance with them.

What Is Heroku?

Heroku is a cloud platform that supports multiple programming languages and takes the headache out of deploying applications. This Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) strips away infrastructure complexity so you can write code instead of wrestling with servers.

The platform's clean, intuitive interface makes deployment almost trivial. Its ecosystem of add-ons and integrations extends your app's capabilities without the usual setup nightmares.

The beauty of Heroku's PaaS approach? You skip the server management drama. No more late nights configuring servers or troubleshooting infrastructure issues. This makes Heroku perfect for teams without a dedicated DevOps person—you can focus on building cool Strapi features instead of babysitting servers.

For teams looking for an even more streamlined experience tailored specifically to Strapi, Strapi Cloud offers a fully managed alternative—designed and optimized by the creators of Strapi.

Why Use Heroku with Strapi

Heroku is a great fit for developers who want to deploy Strapi quickly without managing infrastructure. It supports fast iteration, integrates easily with version control, and handles scaling and provisioning out of the box, making it ideal for shipping APIs fast.

Here’s why developers often choose Heroku for Strapi projects:

• Fast Setup: You can deploy a Strapi app in minutes using the Heroku CLI and Git.
• Auto-Scaling: Heroku scales dynos automatically, so your API stays responsive under load.
• Tech Stack Flexibility: Add background workers, queues, or custom services as your project evolves.
• GitHub Integration: Connect a repo and enable auto-deploys from your main branch—no manual steps needed.
• Managed PostgreSQL: Use Heroku’s PostgreSQL add-on for production-grade data persistence and backups.
• Minimal DevOps: No need to configure servers or CI pipelines from scratch—Heroku handles most of it for you.

If you prefer a fully managed platform built specifically for Strapi, Strapi Cloud provides zero-config deployment and native optimization from the core team.

Keep in touch with the latest Strapi and Heroku updates

How to Integrate Heroku with Strapi for Deployment

Getting Strapi running on Heroku isn't rocket science. Here are a few simple steps to marry your headless CMS with this cloud platform.

Prerequisites

Before starting, grab these essentials:

• A Heroku account
• Git installed locally
• Node.js and npm installed
• A Strapi application ready to go
• Basic command-line knowledge

Setting Up the Heroku CLI

First, install the Heroku Command Line Interface:

• For Ubuntu-based systems:

1curl https://cli-assets.heroku.com/install-ubuntu.sh | sh

• For macOS:

1brew tap heroku/brew && brew install heroku

• For Windows: Download the installer from the Heroku website.

Then log in:

1heroku login

Creating a Heroku App

Go to your Strapi project folder and create your Heroku app:

1heroku create

This gives you a randomly named app and sets up a Git remote called "heroku."

Configuring PostgreSQL

Heroku's filesystem won't work with SQLite in production. Let's use PostgreSQL instead:

1heroku addons:create heroku-postgresql:hobby-dev

This adds a free PostgreSQL database and automatically sets the DATABASE_URL environment variable. The official guide provides more details on connecting Strapi to PostgreSQL.

Setting Environment Variables

Set up your security keys:

1heroku config:set NODE_ENV=production
2heroku config:set APP_KEYS=$(openssl rand -base64 32)
3heroku config:set API_TOKEN_SALT=$(openssl rand -base64 32)
4heroku config:set ADMIN_JWT_SECRET=$(openssl rand -base64 32)
5heroku config:set JWT_SECRET=$(openssl rand -base64 32)

These commands secure your app and set it to production mode.

Deploying Your Application

Commit your changes:

1git add .
2git commit -m "Ready for Heroku deployment"

Deploy to Heroku:

1git push heroku HEAD:main

This sends your code to Heroku and starts the build.

Verifying Successful Deployment

Open your app in the browser:

1heroku open

You should see the Strapi welcome page. If something's wrong, check the logs:

1heroku logs --tail

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues, check these common causes:

1. Database Connection Errors: Make sure your config correctly uses Heroku's DATABASE_URL.
2. Build Failures: Double-check your dependencies and Node.js version in package.json.
3. Memory Limitations: Watch your app's memory usage—you might need a bigger Heroku dyno.
4. Plugin Restrictions: The Content-Types Builder is disabled in production for security reasons. Make schema changes locally, then redeploy.

Follow these steps, and you'll have successfully integrated Heroku with Strapi in no time. This combination provides a robust, scalable content management solution that grows with your needs.

For deeper details and advanced setups, check the official Strapi documentation on Heroku deployment.

Keep in touch with the latest Strapi and Heroku updates

Project Example: Launch a Content API with Heroku and Strapi

Let's say a startup needed to quickly build and launch a content API for their mobile app. They decided to integrate Heroku with Strapi for flexible content modeling and streamlined deployment. This combination allowed them to go from concept to production in a matter of days.

Their setup included:

• Strapi backend handling content and API generation
• Heroku for hosting
• PostgreSQL database through Heroku's add-on
• GitHub integration for automatic deployment

The deployment process was remarkably efficient. Their technical team could focus on building features rather than managing server infrastructure.

During an unexpected traffic surge from a marketing campaign, Heroku's auto-scaling capabilities ensured the application remained responsive without requiring manual intervention.

If you'd like to try a similar setup, we recommend exploring the Strapi Heroku Starter project. This open-source example demonstrates:

• Strapi is configured specifically for Heroku
• Database setup with Heroku PostgreSQL
• Secure environment variable management
• Continuous deployment with GitHub

Key takeaways from this example:

1. Integrating Heroku with Strapi enables efficient development and deployment.
2. GitHub integration creates a seamless update pipeline.
3. Built-in scaling handles traffic surges automatically.
4. Teams can run production-grade systems without extensive DevOps expertise.

We encourage you to study this example and the starter project to better understand how to integrate Heroku with Strapi for your own applications.

Strapi Open Office Hours

If you have any questions about Strapi 5 or just would like to stop by and say hi, you can join us at Strapi's Discord Open Office Hours, Monday through Friday, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm CST: Strapi Discord Open Office Hours.

For more details, visit the Strapi documentation and the Heroku documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I integrate Heroku with Strapi?

To integrate Heroku with Strapi, you need to set up your Strapi application, configure it to use PostgreSQL instead of SQLite for production, set up environment variables in Heroku, and then deploy your application using Git. The main guide provides detailed steps.

Can I automatically deploy updates to my Strapi app on Heroku?

Yes, by integrating Heroku with GitHub, you can set up automatic deployments so that every time you push changes to your specified GitHub branch, Heroku automatically deploys the new version of your Strapi app.

If you’re looking for a fully managed alternative without the need for third-party integration, Strapi Cloud supports built-in CI/CD workflows and infrastructure managed by the Strapi team.

What are the prerequisites for deploying Strapi on Heroku?

Before deploying Strapi on Heroku, ensure you have a Heroku account, Git installed on your machine, Node.js and npm, a Strapi application ready for deployment, and basic command-line proficiency.

Can I use SQLite with Heroku for my Strapi app?

No, SQLite is not suitable for production environments on Heroku due to its ephemeral filesystem. It is recommended to use Heroku PostgreSQL as the database for Strapi applications when deploying on Heroku.

How do I set up environment variables in Heroku for Strapi?

Use the Heroku CLI to set environment variables such as NODE_ENV, APP_KEYS, API_TOKEN_SALT, ADMIN_JWT_SECRET, and JWT_SECRET for securing your Strapi application. These commands ensure your app is configured correctly for production.

What should I do if my Strapi app deployment on Heroku fails?

If your deployment fails, check the Heroku logs using heroku logs --tail to diagnose the issue. Common problems include database connection errors, build failures, memory limitations, or issues with plugin configurations.z