PortBayvsServBay
ServBay packs the widest language matrix in this category — PHP, Node, Python, Go, Java, Ruby, Rust and .NET, all switchable from one app. PortBay covers the stacks most macOS developers actually ship every day, but does so as open source, with a higher free-tier ceiling and per-project databases that ServBay shares across sites.
Which one is right for you
You want the full stack, open source.
You want open source you can audit and fork, a free tier that runs more than 5 sites, per-project database isolation, and a tool whose pitch is one-click launches rather than a single GUI that holds your entire environment.
It already fits your workflow.
You need Java, Go, Rust, Ruby or .NET as first-class runtimes in the same app, you want phpMyAdmin and Adminer pre-installed, and you're comfortable with closed source on a subscription. You're evaluating the Windows beta.
Feature by feature
Every row sourced from the live product page. We mark partial support honestly — including where the other side wins.
Coming from ServBay
PortBay reads ServBay's site list, document roots and language runtimes on first launch and imports them with one click. Custom TLDs you configured in ServBay carry over, and PortBay re-issues mkcert HTTPS so browsers continue to trust your local certificates. Per-project databases replace ServBay's shared multi-version instances, so each project gets its own MySQL or Postgres without competing for ports.
- Install PortBay and open it once. It detects ServBay and lists every site.
- Pick the projects to import. Custom TLDs and PHP versions carry over.
- Start a project — ServBay can keep running side by side until you're ready to remove it.
PortBay vs ServBay, in plain terms
How is PortBay different from ServBay when both are paid tools?
PortBay Pro is $10/month; ServBay Pro is $9.90/month or $59/year. Beyond price, PortBay is open source (AGPL-3.0) and its free tier covers 6 projects with no DNS-record limit. ServBay is closed source, with the free tier capped at 5 sites and 5 DNS records. Mail capture and public tunnels are in PortBay's free tier and gated to Pro in ServBay.
Does PortBay support Java, Go or Rust like ServBay?
PortBay treats PHP, Node, static sites and mobile (Flutter, Expo) as first-class and expects you to install Java, Go, Rust or other runtimes via your own shell tooling. ServBay bundles a wider polyglot matrix natively. If you ship in Java or .NET, ServBay's coverage is broader today.
Can PortBay import my ServBay sites?
Yes. PortBay detects ServBay on first launch and offers to import your site list, document roots and PHP versions. Custom TLDs you configured in ServBay carry over, and PortBay re-issues fresh mkcert HTTPS certificates so your local sites stay trusted.
Are databases shared or per-project?
PortBay provisions a dedicated MySQL or PostgreSQL database per project — clean separation, no port conflicts, automatic teardown when you remove the project. ServBay runs shared multi-version instances of each engine; you connect to the version you need and create databases inside it.
Will I be locked out if I stop paying?
No. PortBay's free tier covers 6 projects and is fully functional forever — lapsing Pro just re-applies the project cap. ServBay's free tier is also functional but capped at 5 sites and excludes mail, tunnels and ACME auto-renew.
Run your first local site in one click.
Download for macOSFree & open source · macOS 11+ on Apple Silicon · Pro from $10/mo