ServBay vs Laravel Herd

ServBay is free and is compatible with macOS 12 or newer

In the field of web development, setting up and managing local development environments has always been a major challenge for developers. Whether you are a PHP Developer, a Node.js Developer, or need to develop on macOS, choosing the right development environment tool is crucial. Today, we will delve into the comparison between ServBay and Laravel Herd to help you make an informed decision.

ServBay VS Laravel Herd

Strong Reasons to Choose ServBay

One-Click Environment Setup

ServBay simplifies the installation process to just one app, two steps, and three minutes for setting up a development environment. No tedious manual configuration is required, allowing you to get into development faster. Whether it’s for a PHP development environment or a Node.js development environment, ServBay can handle it effortlessly.

Concurrent Multi-Version Operation and Switching

Whether it is PHP or Node.js, ServBay supports running multiple versions concurrently, allowing you to easily manage and switch between different versions to meet various project requirements. This is especially important for developers who need to switch between multiple projects.

Powerful Team Collaboration Features

ServBay offers features like batch configuration deployment and environment locking to ensure that all team members have identical development environments, thus eliminating compatibility issues caused by environment differences and improving team efficiency. In large projects, aligning development environments is both the most important and time-consuming task.

Graphical Management Interface

ServBay provides intuitive interfaces for system resource monitoring, service management, and configuration, making it simple and easy to manage, suitable for users of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, you can get started easily.

Introduction to Laravel Herd

Laravel Herd is a development environment tool officially produced by Laravel, supporting the switching of multiple PHP versions and Node.js. Although it has some recognition within the Laravel community, its free version doesn’t support databases, and its graphical interface is overly simplistic, with many features requiring payment. Additionally, it does not support modern frameworks like Phalcon and Swoole, and it has minimal PHP modules, making the NGINX Rewrite rules complex and doesn’t support managing hosts files. For users requiring advanced features, Laravel Herd may not fully meet their needs.

Comparison between ServBay and Laravel Herd

Features/Characteristics	ServBay	Laravel Herd
Environment Setup	One-click	One-click
Multi-Version Support	Concurrent PHP and Node.js versions	Single PHP version
Team Collaboration	Batch configuration deployment, Environment locking	None
Graphical Interface	Professional	Simple
Database	Free	Paid
DNS Service	Support	No support
SSL Certificates	Support	No support
Pricing	Free/$99 year	Free/$99 year

Advantages of ServBay

Comprehensive Service Support

ServBay supports not only web servers, various programming languages (PHP, Node.js), databases (SQL and NoSQL), but also DNS servers, email servers, and tunneling services for internal network penetration. It is a complete macOS development environment solution.

Custom Domain and Free SSL

ServBay allows users to customize domains and supports free SSL certificates, ensuring the security and professionalism of the development environment. In comparison, Laravel Herd’s support in this area is insufficient, only supporting *.test domains.

Simplified Rewrite Configuration

ServBay uses a more modern web server, Caddy, enabling you to manage and configure your web services without writing complex Rewrite and htaccess rules.

Support for Modern Frameworks

ServBay natively supports modern frameworks like Phalcon and Swoole, ensuring you can develop with the latest technology stack, whereas Laravel Herd has serious deficiencies in supporting modern PHP frameworks.

Advanced Features

Including quick start operations, command-line interface support, unified service management, Docker and Node.js application proxy, to further enhance the development experience. Whether it’s quickly starting a new project or managing existing ones, ServBay provides efficient solutions.

Share to Team Feature

ServBay’s distinctive feature allows you to share the current project with remote colleagues, enabling them to work as if they were on a local environment, eliminating the need to compete for test environments within the team.

User Testimonials

T, Independent Software Developer:

“I used to use Laravel Herd, but its limited functionality and module support, particularly for modern frameworks, was inadequate. Since switching to ServBay, I can set up development environments in just a few minutes, greatly improving my work efficiency.”

J, Computer Science Student:

“As a student, Laravel Herd’s configuration was too complex for me, especially writing NGINX Rewrite rules. ServBay’s graphical interface and one-click installation simplified the entire process, allowing me to focus on learning and development instead of wasting time configuring environments.”

B, Freelance Developer:

“As a freelance developer, I need to switch between multiple projects. Laravel Herd’s support in this area is limited, whereas ServBay’s concurrent multi-version operation and switching function allows me to easily manage different project environments, significantly improving my efficiency.”

W, Technical Team Leader:

“We used to use Laravel Herd within our team, but the lack of batch configuration and environment locking features resulted in frequent discrepancies in team members' development environments. Since switching to ServBay, these issues have been resolved, and our development efficiency has increased significantly."

Detailed Comparison of Features between ServBay and Laravel Herd

ServBay vs Laravel Herd
Features\Products	ServBay	ServBay Pro	Laravel Herd	Laravel Herd Pro
Pricing
Pricing	free	$99	free	$99
Free version	5 hosts, Ulimited functions	/	/	/
Free trial	/	14 days	/	❌ No
Functions
macOS support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Native macOS App	Swift + SwiftUI	Swift + SwiftUI	Swift + PHP + Valet	Swift + PHP + Valet
Install package size	13 MB	13 MB	121 MB	121 MB
Package upgradeable	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Security updates	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	/	/
Oprating System
Non-intrusive	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Launch at login	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Start with system	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
CLI support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
APP GUI
Newbie friendly	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Quick control/Menubar	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Service control panel	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Multilingual	✅ Yes, 12 languages	✅ Yes, 12 languages	❌ No	❌ No
Easy to use APP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Configurable via GUI	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❗️limited	✅ Yes
Easy backup	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Hosts / Websites
Configurable via GUI	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Multiple Hosts	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Max Hosts	5	unlimited	unlimited	unlimited
Custom Domains	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Custom TLDs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Multiple Domains/Alias	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
SSL support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Free private/self-sign SSL	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Local private/self-sign CA	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Selectable PHP Version	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Static Web Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Reverse Proxy	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Docker/Node.js Proxy	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Redirection(301/302)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Programing Languages
PHP support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Multiple PHP versions	5.6 - 8.4	5.6 - 8.4	7.4/8.0/8.1/8.2/8.3	7.4/8.0/8.1/8.2/8.3
PHP 8.4	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Multiple PHP instances	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Instantly switch PHP versions	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Node.js support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❗️ Yes, NVM	❗️ Yes, NVM
Node.js 22	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Multiple Node.js versions	12 - 22	12 - 22	16/18/20/21	16/18/20/21
Instantly switch Node.js versions	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Web Servers
Apache HTTPd	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
NGINX	❗️ No, Coming soon	❗️ No, Coming soon	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Caddy	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Databases
MySQL support	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Multiple MySQL versions	/	/	❌ No	❌ No
Instantly switch MySQL versions	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
MariaDB support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Multiple MariaDB versions	10.4 - 11.5	10.4 - 11.5	❌ No	❌ No
Instantly switch MariaDB versions	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
PostgreSQL support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Multiple PostgreSQL versions	10 - 16	10 - 16	❌ No	❌ No
Instantly switch PostgreSQL versions	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Redis support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Memcached support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
SQLite 3	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Tools
phpMyAdmin	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Adminer	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
OpenSSL	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Composer	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
cURL	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
npm	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
pnpm	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
yarn	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Mail Server
Built-in Mail Server	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
DNS
Built-in DNS Server	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❗️Only for *.test domains, it will override the system's DNS settings, and users cannot change and custom domains.	❗️Only for *.test domains, it will override the system's DNS settings, and users cannot change and custom domains.
Custom domains	5	unlimited	❌ No	❌ No
hosts file manage GUI	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
host domain resolution via /etc/hosts	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
host domain resolution via local Built-in DNS Server	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❗️Only for *.test domains, it will override the system's DNS settings, and users cannot change and custom domains.	❗️Only for *.test domains, it will override the system's DNS settings, and users cannot change and custom domains.
Common PHP Modules
APC/APCu	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
xDebug	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
opcache	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
IMAP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
gd	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
cURL	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
OpenLDAP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
mysql	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
pgsql	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
sqlite	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
pdo-*	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	mysql	mysql
sodium	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
MongoDB	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
redis	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
memcache	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
memcached	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
imagick	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Phalcon	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Swoole	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Tunnels/Reverse Proxy
Cloudflared	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
frpc	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Development tools
Development Library	✅ Yes, Independent package	✅ Yes, Independent package	❌ No	❌ No
Re-Compile support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Additional PHP Extensions Compile	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No, Via Homebrew	❌ No, Via Homebrew
Support
Documents	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Community	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
E-Mail	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Pay support	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Discord/Telegram	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No

Download ServBay 1.6.1

ServBay is free and is compatible with macOS 12 or newer