Quick answer
DeployHQ - DeployHQ wins for most builders who want a straightforward deployment tool with a much lower paid entry point, while Deployment wins if you specifically need AWS-native workflows and can live with a tighter free cap.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve different problems. DeployHQ is the more traditional deployment automation tool: one project, 3 deployments per day, 30 build minutes, but unusually broad feature access for free, including API access, zero-downtime deployments, custom domains, team management, and SSO. That makes it easier to test a real release workflow without paying immediately, even though the volume limits are tight. Deployment is narrower on free usage but broader on infrastructure scope: unlimited static sites, web services, repositories, and environments, but only 10 jobs per month. Its appeal is less about raw quota and more about running deployments inside the customer’s AWS account with previews, approvals, logs, and RBAC. If you are choosing purely on free-tier usefulness and the cost of outgrowing it, DeployHQ is usually the safer bet.
DeployHQ vs Deployment free tier, side by side
| DeployHQFTV 54 | DeploymentFTV 62 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free jobs / deploymentsDifferent limit styles, so the practical cap depends on burstiness. | 3 deployments per day | 10 jobs per month |
| Free projects / sites / servicesDeployHQ is much tighter on project count. | 1 project | Unlimited static sites and web services |
| Free repositories / environmentsDeployment is more permissive here. | Connects to GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or self-hosted repos | Unlimited repositories and unlimited environments |
| Free build timeOnly DeployHQ states a build-minute cap. | 30 build minutes | Not specified |
| Free concurrent deploymentsOnly DeployHQ discloses concurrency on the free plan. | 1 concurrent deployment | Not specified |
| Free usersBoth free tiers are single-user. | 1 user | 1 user account |
| Free servers / targetsDeployHQ publishes a server cap; Deployment does not in the provided data. | 5 servers | Not specified |
| No credit card requiredPresent in both inputs. | Yes | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
DeployHQ uses simple flat pricing after free, starting at $9/month for Solo and stepping to $19, $39, and $99. The cost is easy to predict, and the jump from free is modest. Deployment starts at $23/month for Team, but the plan is usage-based on jobs per month, with Enterprise behind contact sales. That means Deployment can stay cheap at low job volumes, but costs are more sensitive to how many deployment jobs you run. For typical small-team usage, DeployHQ is cheaper on the first paid tier.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | DeployHQ | Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| 10 deployment jobs/moDeployment free tier allows up to 10 jobs per month. | Free (within tier) | $23/mo |
| 25 deployment jobs/moDeployHQ’s limit is daily, not monthly, so this depends on how the jobs are distributed. | Free (within tier if staying under 3 deployments/day; otherwise paid) | $23/mo |
| One small team with more than 1 projectDeployHQ free allows only 1 project; its first paid tier expands to 3 projects. | $9/mo minimum | $23/mo minimum |
| Higher-growth workload needing unlimited build minutes and usersDeployHQ Pro includes unlimited build minutes and unlimited users; Deployment’s provided pricing data does not show a comparable fixed cap break. | $19/mo minimum | $23/mo minimum |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick DeployHQ when…
- You want a deployment tool for a small app or client site and need more than 10 release jobs a month.
- You care about low-cost paid plans after free, with a clear $9/month entry point.
- You need features like zero-downtime deploys, API access, or SSO available even on the free tier.
- You manage a small number of projects and servers and want a classic deploy-to-server workflow.
- You want to test a real production release flow without being pushed into AWS-native setup decisions.
Pick Deployment when…
- You deploy inside your own AWS account and want the platform to fit that model.
- You need unlimited static sites, web services, repositories, and environments on the free tier.
- You are working with AI-generated code and want previews, approvals, logs, and Slack alerts in the workflow.
- You only need a handful of deployment jobs per month and want a no-card free plan.
- You want RBAC and an AWS-oriented deployment process more than broad quota on the free tier.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, DeployHQ is the better free-tier choice because it gives you more real deployment capability before payment and a much cheaper, simpler first paid step. Deployment is the better pick only if your workflow is specifically AWS-native or centered on previews, approvals, and AI-era deployment controls, and you do not need many monthly jobs. If you are unsure, DeployHQ is easier to grow into without pricing surprises.
Read the full listings: DeployHQ and Deployment. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.