Last updated May 19, 2023

There are two ways to enable SSL for your Heroku app’s custom domains. The options are listed in order of recommended use:

• Automated Certificate Management (ACM)
• Heroku SSL

In general, use Automated Certificate Management unless your app requires functionality that ACM doesn’t support. This article provides summaries of the functionality provided by each method.

For enabling SSL on apps in Private Spaces, refer to the documentation here.

When to use Automated Certificate Management (ACM)

With Automated Certificate Management (ACM), Heroku automatically manages TLS certificates for apps running on paid dynos on the Common Runtime. Certificates handled by ACM automatically renew one month before they expire, and new certificates are created automatically whenever you add or remove a custom domain.

ACM is recommended for most Heroku apps, because:

• It provides TLS certificates at no additional cost
• It supports creating certificates for multiple domains
• It automatically renews TLS certificates before they expire

ACM doesn’t support:

• Wildcard domains
• OV/EV certificates
• Apps using internal routing
• Eco dyno apps

If your app requires any of the functionality that ACM doesn’t support, use Heroku SSL instead.

DNS Targets for ACM

DNS targets for ACM end with herokudns.com for Common Runtime apps, or herokuspace.com for Private Spaces apps. For example:

example.com        example.com.herokudns.com
www.example.com    www.example.com.herokudns.com

Or

example.com        random-word-odhsycy1xdsqfbqy8gceaa2d.herokudns.com

Or for Private Spaces

example.com        random-haiku-5196.also-random-3847.herokuspace.com

Again, AMC doesn’t support wildcard domains.

When to use Heroku SSL

Heroku SSL is a free service for apps running on paid dynos that allows you to upload your own TLS certificate. You’re responsible for purchasing and renewing this certificate.

Use Heroku SSL instead of Automated Certificate Management (ACM) if:

• You want to use an OV/EV certificate
• Your app must support wildcard domains
• Your app uses internal routing

Heroku SSL uses Server Name Indication (SNI), an extension of the TLS protocol.

DNS Targets for Heroku SSL

DNS targets for Heroku SSL follow these patterns:

example.com        example.com.herokudns.com
www.example.com    www.example.com.herokudns.com
*.example.com      wildcard.example.com.herokudns.com