Laravel Herd vs LampRabit: free databases, Apache and Linux
Herd and LampRabit compared: what's free, databases and Redis, Apache and Nginx, Linux support, HTTPS, sharing sites and Node.js projects.
The LampRabit team3 min read
Laravel Herd is a polished, fast way to run PHP locally, and if you live in the Laravel ecosystem, it’s a great tool. LampRabit covers much of the same ground with a different philosophy: everything is free, Apache sits next to Nginx, and Linux is a first-class platform.
At a glance
| Laravel Herd | LampRabit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier; Herd Pro $99/year (at the time of writing) | Free and open source (MIT) |
| Platforms | Windows and macOS (Linux not yet available) | Windows and Linux; macOS in preview |
| Web server | nginx | Apache, Nginx, or both per site |
| PHP versions | Several, with per-site configuration | 8.1 to 8.5 side by side, per site |
.test domains and HTTPS |
Yes (“secure” sites) | Yes, HTTPS on by default |
| MySQL / MariaDB | Herd Pro | Included: MariaDB and MySQL side by side |
| PostgreSQL, MongoDB | Herd Pro | Not yet (on the roadmap) |
| Redis | Herd Pro | Included, with redis-cli and phpRedisAdmin |
| Mail catcher | Herd Pro | Included: Mailpit |
| Node.js | Through nvm | Through NVM, with dev servers routed to their own domain |
| Sharing a site | Expose | Cloudflare quick tunnels (no account) or ngrok |
What’s free, and what isn’t
Herd’s free tier gives you PHP, nginx, local DNS and Node. The services most real projects need (a database, Redis, a mail catcher) are part of Herd Pro. New Laravel apps default to SQLite, so you can get far without them, but a WordPress site or a legacy app needs MySQL on day one.
In LampRabit, every service is part of the free app: MariaDB and MySQL (on their own ports, each version with its own data), Redis, Memcached, Mailpit, phpMyAdmin, Adminer and phpRedisAdmin.
Apache matters more than you’d think
Herd runs nginx. That’s fast and fine for Laravel, but many PHP projects (WordPress plugins, older apps, anything deployed to shared hosting) rely on .htaccess rules that nginx ignores. LampRabit runs Apache, Nginx or both, and you choose per site. Test on the same server your production uses.
Linux
If your team mixes Windows and Linux machines, or you develop on Linux, Herd isn’t an option yet. LampRabit ships its own builds of Apache, Nginx, PHP, Redis and Memcached for Linux, made in the open by a GitHub workflow, so you pick versions exactly as you would on Windows.
Where Herd still shines
- Laravel integration. Herd comes from the Laravel team and plugs into the ecosystem (Forge, Expose, Reverb).
- More databases. PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Meilisearch and MinIO are available in Herd Pro; LampRabit doesn’t have them yet.
- Debugging extras. Herd Pro includes dumps and other debugging tools.
- macOS maturity. On a Mac, Herd is fully supported today; LampRabit’s macOS version is a preview.
The verdict
If you’re on a Mac, live in Laravel and are happy to pay for Pro, Herd is excellent. If you want databases and Redis without a subscription, need Apache, or work on Linux, LampRabit gives you a complete stack for free.
Ready to try? The Herd to LampRabit migration guide walks through moving sites and databases, or just download LampRabit and run it next to Herd. Stop one before starting the other, since both want ports 80 and 443.
Frequently asked questions
Is LampRabit a free alternative to Herd Pro?
For local services, yes. MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, Memcached and the Mailpit inbox are included free in LampRabit. Herd's free tier covers PHP, nginx, DNS and Node; its database, Redis and mail services are part of Herd Pro, listed at $99 a year at the time of writing.
Does Herd run on Linux?
Not at the time of writing. Herd's site says Linux support is being worked on. LampRabit supports Windows and Linux fully, with macOS in preview.
Can LampRabit run Apache?
Yes. LampRabit runs Apache, Nginx or both, chosen per site, so projects that rely on .htaccess work as they do on shared hosting. Herd uses nginx.
