Servbay
I got tired of managing dev environments, so I built ServBay
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What is Servbay?
ServBay is an all-in-one local web development environment manager for macOS and Windows that lets developers set up a full stack in just a few clicks. It packages web servers, programming languages, databases, SSL tools, DNS, mail services, reverse proxy/tunneling, and even AI/LLM components into one graphical app.
It is built to reduce the time and friction of configuring local dev environments. The website emphasizes that you do not need to compile dependencies or manually stitch together separate tools; instead, you can install packages and start coding quickly with a non-intrusive setup.
A major focus is version flexibility. ServBay supports multiple versions of PHP, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, Rust, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, and more, with instant switching and multi-version coexistence for testing across different projects.
It also goes beyond basic local hosting by including built-in DNS, free SSL/PKI options, mail server features, reverse proxy/tunnel support, backup tools, and support for custom domains and project-level environment settings. That makes it especially useful for solo developers, freelancers, test engineers, and small teams that need reproducible environments.
The product is positioned as a developer productivity tool with a free tier and paid Pro and Team tiers. The higher tiers add collaboration, unlimited scaling, advanced SSL and mail capabilities, backup automation, and team administration features.
Servbay pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
ServBay Free is $0 and is always free. It includes up to 5 websites, 5 DNS records, custom domains/TLDs, private CA and free SSL certificates, multi-version support for many languages and databases, phpMyAdmin/Adminer, troubleshooting tools, and the AI Assistant. ServBay Pro is $59/year, discounted from $99, and includes all Free features plus 2 device licenses, an email server, PKI system, customizable service configuration, custom HTTP/HTTPS ports, CORS support, unlimited websites and DNS records, unlimited private CA certificates, ACME-based free SSL certificates, wildcard and multi-domain SSL certificates, automatic renewal, multi-instance databases, automatic backups, external backup storage, and technical support. ServBay Team is $399/year, discounted from $999, and includes all Pro features plus team management, 10 user licenses, 2 device licenses per user, higher certificate limits, and team-oriented features like shared configuration and virtual dev networking, with some of those listed as coming soon.
Servbay pros
- One-click local environment setup
- Fast setup in about three minutes
- Non-intrusive installation
- Supports macOS and Windows
- Native desktop app on both platforms
- Multi-version PHP support
- Multi-version Node.js support
- Broad language coverage
- Includes Python, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, Rust
- Built-in MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
- Includes Redis and Memcached
- Built-in DNS service
- Free SSL certificates for custom domains
- Built-in mail server
- Reverse proxy and tunnel support
- Project-level runtime configuration
- Multiple PHP instances can run together
- Multiple databases can coexist
- GUI plus CLI management
- Supports Ollama and AI tooling
- Backup and restore tools
- Team collaboration features in higher plans
- No need to compile dependencies
- Custom domains and custom TLDs
Servbay cons
- Free tier limited to 5 websites
- Free tier limited to 5 DNS records
- Free tier lacks custom ports
- Free tier lacks multiple domain aliases
- Free tier lacks PKI system
- Free tier lacks ACME-issued certificates
- Free tier lacks built-in mail server
- Free tier lacks automatic backups
- Team features are not in Free or Pro
- Some team features are marked coming soon
- Windows support details are less emphasized than macOS
- Some advanced SSL features require paid plans
- Multiple database instances require paid plans
- CORS support requires paid plans
- Website grouping is not available in Free
- Some support channels are paid-plan only
Frequently asked questions about Servbay
What is ServBay?
ServBay is a local web development environment manager that bundles the tools developers usually need into one app. It supports languages, databases, web servers, DNS, SSL, email, proxying, backups, and AI-related tools so projects can be started quickly without assembling each dependency manually.
Which operating systems does ServBay support?
The website says ServBay is available for macOS 12+ and Windows 10+ / Windows Server 2012+. It presents native desktop applications for both platforms.
Which programming languages does ServBay include?
ServBay includes PHP, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, and Rust. The site also highlights support for multiple versions of each language so developers can switch versions based on project needs.
Which databases and data services are supported?
ServBay supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Memcached, and SQLite. The website also says users can run multiple versions and, on paid plans, multiple database instances simultaneously.
What does ServBay do for domains and SSL?
ServBay includes a built-in DNS service so you can use custom domains and even non-existent domains or TLDs locally. It also offers free SSL certificates and, in Pro and Team, a PKI system plus ACME support for certificates from providers like Let's Encrypt, ZeroSSL, and Google Trust Services.
Does ServBay include email features?
Yes, but the full mail server is a paid-plan feature. Pro and Team include a built-in mail server with POP3, SMTP, STARTTLS, SSL/TLS, SMTP relay, SpamAssassin, and a WebMail interface.
Can ServBay expose local services to the internet?
Yes. The site lists reverse proxy and tunnel support, including services such as Ngrok, Pinggy.io, FRP, and Oray Peanut Shell. This is positioned as useful for debugging webhooks, testing intranet services, and creating secure tunnels.
How many websites can I host on ServBay?
The Free plan supports up to 5 websites. Pro and Team remove that limit and allow unlimited websites.
Does ServBay support backups?
Backups are part of the paid plans. Pro and Team include automatic scheduled backups, manual backups, restore support, and the ability to back up to external storage.
Is ServBay suitable for teams?
Yes. The Team plan is designed for distributed teams and includes team management, 10 user licenses, 2 device licenses per user, and higher SSL certificate limits. The site also mentions team-sharing, unified configuration, and virtual dev network features as coming soon.