# EnvKit Review 2026: Free Laragon, XAMPP & Herd Alternative ![EnvKit desktop app](https://envkit.net/og.jpg) If you've ever spent an afternoon fighting hosts-file edits, mismatched PHP versions, or a self-signed certificate that Chrome refuses to trust, you already know why local development tooling matters. **EnvKit** is a new desktop app that tries to solve all of that in one place — and it's completely free. This article breaks down what EnvKit is, what it includes, how it stacks up against Laragon, XAMPP, and Laravel Herd, and how to get started. What Is EnvKit? --------------- EnvKit is a free local development environment for **Windows and macOS**, positioned as a modern alternative to Laragon, XAMPP, WAMP, and Laravel Herd. Instead of installing and configuring a web server, PHP, and databases separately, EnvKit runs everything behind a single control panel and manages per-site configuration automatically. Note EnvKit is currently in public beta, distributed directly from GitHub — no account, no credit card, and no paywall gating any feature. Core Features ------------- ### One Control Room for Your Whole Stack EnvKit bundles nginx **and** Apache (you can switch between them), multiple isolated PHP versions, MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB, Mailpit, and Node.js dev servers — all managed from a single tray/menu-bar app with a Dashboard, Sites, Services, Databases, Logs, and Tools view. ### Trusted `.test` HTTPS, Automatically EnvKit generates a locally trusted certificate authority and issues certificates for your `*.test` hostnames. That means `https://app.test` just works, with no browser warnings and no manual certificate wrangling — even fully offline. ### Live Debugging Built In A standout feature is EnvKit's live inspector: it can intercept `dump()`/`dd()` calls, flag N+1 and slow queries, and stream outgoing mail, views, events, jobs, and HTTP requests in real time — scoped per site and even per git branch, across Laravel and Symfony projects. ### Databases With Admin UIs Included MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Redis, and MongoDB all ship with one-click access to phpMyAdmin, pgweb, and mongo-express on trusted local hosts — no separate installs required. ### Laravel Reverb & WebSockets For real-time Laravel apps, EnvKit can run Laravel Reverb alongside PHP-FPM, Redis, and your database, routing WebSocket traffic through the same trusted local stack. ### Node, React, and Next.js Alongside PHP You're not limited to PHP. EnvKit can scaffold or link Node, React, Next.js, or Vite projects, running the dev server and reverse-proxying it with hot-reload over HTTPS — complete with `nvm` and per-project `.nvmrc` support. ### Import Existing Laragon Projects Switching tools usually means rebuilding your setup. EnvKit's onboarding wizard can detect and import existing Laragon sites and PHP extensions, so current projects carry over with their workflow intact. ### AI/MCP Control EnvKit ships a built-in **MCP server**, letting AI coding assistants (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, Zed, and others) start services, diagnose failures, and manage sites directly from your editor — with self-heal paths for common local-dev breakages. EnvKit vs. Laravel Herd vs. Laragon vs. XAMPP --------------------------------------------- FeatureEnvKitLaravel HerdLaragonXAMPPPlatformsWindows, macOSmacOS, WindowsWindowsWindows/macOS/LinuxPriceFreeFree + paid Pro ($99/yr)FreeFreeWeb servernginx + ApachenginxApache + nginxApacheMultiple PHP versionsYesYesYesNoTrusted local HTTPSYesYesYesManualPostgreSQL / RedisYesPaid tierPartialNoMongoDBYesNoPartialNoMail catcherYes (Mailpit)Paid tierNoPartialLaravel Reverb (WebSockets)YesPartialNoNoAI/MCP controlYesNoNoNoThe short version: **Herd** is more established but reserves databases, Mailpit, and dump/log tooling for a paid Pro tier. **Laragon** is Windows-only and lighter on database/service breadth. **XAMPP** is the most bare-bones of the group. EnvKit's pitch is bundling everything the others split across tiers or leave out entirely, for free. Getting Started in 3 Steps -------------------------- 1. **Install EnvKit** — download one installer for Windows or macOS; it sets up the tray/menu-bar app and auto-updates silently afterward. 2. **Add a site** — create a fresh Laravel or Node app, clone from Git, link an existing folder, or bulk-import everything from Laragon. 3. **Open your `.test` domain** — services start, HTTPS is trusted automatically, and your site is live. Start coding. Windows installs via a `.exe` from the [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/Env-Kit/envkit-releases), or a one-line PowerShell command. macOS requires Apple Silicon (M-series) running macOS 12 Monterey or later. Warning EnvKit no longer supports Intel Macs — Apple Silicon (M-series) only. Is EnvKit Really Free? ---------------------- Yes. Every feature in the current release — nginx/Apache, all bundled databases, unlimited `.test` sites, Node support, cron job management, and AI/MCP control — ships in the free download. There's no account creation and no paywall. EnvKit is proprietary (not open source), but free to use. Final Thoughts -------------- EnvKit is worth a look if you're currently juggling Laragon, XAMPP, or multiple standalone services just to get a Laravel or Node project running locally with trusted HTTPS. Its biggest differentiators are the built-in live debugging inspector, the breadth of bundled databases with admin UIs, and native AI/MCP integration — features that competing tools either omit or lock behind a paid tier. Since it's still in public beta, expect some rough edges, but active GitHub releases suggest steady iteration. **Learn more or download EnvKit:** [envkit.net](https://envkit.net/) | [GitHub releases](https://github.com/Env-Kit/envkit-releases) --- \*\*Note: Product screenshots (Dashboard, Sites, and live-debugging views) are from envkit.net \*\*