Blog · Explainer
What is a PaaS? Platform as a service, explained.
A PaaS (platform as a service) is a cloud service that runs your application for you: you provide the code, and the platform handles servers, runtimes, HTTPS, and scaling. Heroku, Render, Railway, and Runex are examples.
- PaaS = you bring code; the platform runs it
- It sits between IaaS (raw servers) and SaaS (finished apps)
- You trade some control for far less ops work
- Examples: Heroku, Render, Railway, Runex
Definition
What does platform as a service mean?
The provider manages everything below your code. You manage the app and its settings.
In a PaaS, the provider operates the servers, operating system, language runtimes, networking, and TLS certificates. You push code, set environment variables, and the platform builds and runs it.
The model became popular with Heroku in the late 2000s. Today most PaaS products build from Git and run apps in containers.
Example: on Runex, connecting a GitHub repo is the whole setup. Runex builds it, runs it in an isolated container, and serves it at an HTTPS URL.
Compare
PaaS vs IaaS vs SaaS: what's the difference?
It's about how much the provider manages. IaaS gives you servers, PaaS runs your app, SaaS is the app.
| PlatformPaaS | InfrastructureIaaS | SoftwareSaaS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You manage | Code and config | OS, runtime, code, config | Nothing but your data |
| Provider manages | Servers, runtime, TLS, scaling | Hardware and virtualization | Everything |
| Example | Runex, Heroku, Render | AWS EC2, DigitalOcean Droplets | Gmail, Slack |
| Best for | Shipping apps fast | Full control | Using software, not building it |
Features
What does a PaaS typically include?
The pieces every web app needs in production.
Build from Git
Pushes become deploys.
HTTPS
Certificates issued and renewed.
Environment variables
Config and secrets outside code.
Scaling
More instances when traffic grows.
Managed databases
Often offered next to your app.
Logs
Build and runtime output.
Decide
When should you use a PaaS?
When shipping matters more than controlling the server.
A PaaS fits when…
- You're a small team without dedicated ops
- Your app is a standard web app or API
- You want previews, rollbacks, and HTTPS built in
Consider IaaS when…
- You need root access or custom kernels
- You run unusual system software
- You have ops capacity and need the lowest raw cost
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to related searches.
What are examples of PaaS?
Heroku, Render, Railway, Google App Engine, and Runex are PaaS products. Each builds your code and runs it without you managing servers.
Is AWS a PaaS?
AWS offers both. EC2 is IaaS; services like Elastic Beanstalk and App Runner are PaaS-style offerings on top of it.
Is a PaaS more expensive than IaaS?
Per unit of compute, usually yes. But a PaaS removes the time you'd spend on server setup, patching, TLS, and deploy scripts.
What is the main disadvantage of a PaaS?
Less control. You work within the runtimes and settings the platform supports and can't log into or modify the underlying servers.
Next step
Put it into practice.
Deploy an app from GitHub on Runex and get a live HTTPS URL. Free to start.