PythonAnywhere vs Heroku Scheduler for Python Cron Jobs

If you are a Python developer looking to run a script on a schedule, you have likely narrowed your choices down to PythonAnywhere or Heroku Scheduler. In this post, we break down the key differences.

The Contenders

PythonAnywhere

PythonAnywhere is a long-standing hosting platform built specifically for Python. It provides a web-based environment where you can write and run code without configuring a VPS.

Heroku Scheduler

Heroku Scheduler is an add-on for the popular Heroku platform. It allows you to run scheduled tasks (known as dynos) at specific intervals.

Comparison Breakdown

1. Pricing and Free Tiers

PythonAnywhere offers a generous "Beginner" plan that is completely free. However, there is a massive catch: you are limited to exactly one scheduled task, and it can only run once every 24 hours.

Heroku famously killed its free tier. To use Heroku Scheduler, you must have a paid Dyno plan, which means your baseline cost for running a simple cron job is at least $7/month.

2. Scheduling Flexibility

Heroku Scheduler allows intervals of 10 minutes, 1 hour, or 1 day. It does not support exact standard cron syntax.

PythonAnywhere's paid plans support standard cron syntax, but again, the free tier is restricted to once daily.

3. Ease of Use

Both platforms require some setup. PythonAnywhere is simpler because it gives you an in-browser console. Heroku requires you to install the Heroku CLI, set up a Git repository, push your code, and provision the add-on.

The Modern Alternative: Serverless Execution

If you just want to run a Python script every hour or every day without paying $7/month or fighting daily limits, consider a purpose-built platform like LiteLambda.

LiteLambda allows you to paste your Python code in the browser, define your pip packages, and set a standard cron schedule. It runs in an isolated Docker container and offers a generous permanent free tier with minute-level precision.