What Happens to Your Heroku Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Billing
Dyno hours + add-ons
Data
Export Postgres before closing
Transfer
App transfer supported
Step-by-Step Guide
Export Heroku Postgres databases
Use heroku pg:backups:download to export all database data. This is the most critical step as data is lost on account closure.
Transfer apps to another user
Heroku supports app transfers. Use heroku apps:transfer or the Dashboard → Settings → Transfer Ownership.
Review and cancel add-ons
Check all add-ons (Redis, monitoring, email, etc.) as each may bill separately. Resources tab shows all add-ons per app.
Scale down dynos and delete apps
Scale all dynos to 0 or delete apps to stop charges. Contact Heroku support for estate account closure.
Document Now Checklist
- Heroku account email
- List all apps and their purposes
- Monthly Heroku bill amount
- List all paid add-ons
- Note any custom domains on Heroku
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Heroku. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
GitHub
GitHub has no formal memorialization process. Private repos become permanently inaccessible without account credentials. Add a trusted contact as org owner for any organizations you manage.
Vercel
Add a trusted person to your Vercel team with Admin role. This ensures deployments continue.
Netlify
Add a trusted person to your Netlify team. Team → Members → Invite.
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