SayDeploy Plain comparisons of developer tools, AI coding tools included

Best local dev server managers in 2026

Compare local dev server managers by how they run processes, handle local apps, and support development workflows.

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The options differ mainly in what they manage and how you control them. PM2 manages applications as a daemon process manager and has a web monitoring dashboard. [1] [2] Hotel starts apps from a browser and provides local domains. [3] Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications. [4] Overmind is a process manager that runs the programs listed in a Procfile (a text file naming each program an app needs) and works with tmux (a terminal tool that keeps several programs open in one window). [5] Foreman installs with the gem command, which comes with the Ruby language, and is licensed under the MIT license, which lets anyone use and change the code. [6] [7] Tilt is an open source tool with live updates for running containers. [8] [9] DevWebUI gives a dashboard for starting, stopping and restarting local development servers, with status, CPU, memory and logs in one place. [10]

OptionMain rolePublished setup or platform detail
PM2A daemon process manager for managing applications and keeping them online 24/7. [1]Can be installed globally with npm. [11]
HotelStarts apps from a browser and provides local domains. [3]Works on macOS, Linux and Windows. [12]
Docker ComposeDefines and runs multi-container applications. [4]Uses a YAML configuration file for services, networks and volumes. [13]
OvermindRuns the programs listed in a Procfile and works with tmux. [5]Supports Linux, *BSD and macOS and needs tmux installed first. [14] [15]
ForemanNot publishedInstalls with the gem command and uses the MIT license. [6] [7]
TiltProvides live updates to running containers. [9]Tilt is open source and is maintained by Docker, Inc. [8] [16]
DevWebUIStarts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard and shows status, CPU, memory and logs. [10]There is a ready-to-run Windows app for 64-bit PCs; other systems run it from the project's code using Bun, a JavaScript runtime. [17]

How to read this list

These tools overlap around a simple problem: getting development processes running and keeping track of them. The important difference is what sits at the center of each tool. PM2 is a daemon process manager for keeping applications online. [1] Hotel starts apps from a browser and gives them local domains. [3] Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications from a configuration file. [4] Overmind runs the programs listed in a Procfile and works with tmux. [5] Foreman installs with the gem command and uses the MIT license. [6] [7] Tilt focuses on container development and can update code in running containers. [9] DevWebUI puts local development servers into one dashboard, where servers can be started, stopped and restarted while their status, CPU, memory and logs are visible. [10]

A useful way to narrow the list is to start with the thing that needs managing. If the main need is long-running application processes, PM2 is relevant. [1] If local domains are central, Hotel is relevant. [3] If the application is made from several containers, Docker Compose defines and runs them together. [4] If container development and live code updates matter, Tilt has published support for that workflow. [9]

PM2: manage applications as daemon processes

PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [1] It can be installed globally with npm. [11] Its monitoring dashboard is web based, and monitoring can be started with the command pm2 monitor. [2]

PM2 has an AI assistant connection that lets Claude, Cursor or another compatible AI assistant read PM2 monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, errors, step-by-step request records and alerts, and it signs in with a PM2.io account. [18] The published page says 44 AI tools are available. [19] PM2 Runtime is open source, meaning its code is public, and remains free, while PM2 Plus does not offer a free plan. [20] Check PM2's own page for what PM2 Plus costs.

Hotel: start apps from a browser with local domains

Hotel is a simple process manager for developers that starts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [3] It works on macOS, Linux and Windows. [12] Hotel gives local apps secure https addresses using a certificate it makes on your own computer. [21] It also lets one project answer on many address names, such as anything.project.localhost. [22]

Hotel can point a local address name at a server running somewhere else. [23] Servers are only started when they are accessed. [24] Hotel needs Node, the JavaScript runtime, installed first; you install it with the npm package installer and start it by typing hotel start. [25] [26]

Docker Compose: define and run multi-container applications

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [4] Compose lets developers manage services, networks and volumes in one YAML settings file. [13] A single command can create and start all services from that configuration file. [27]

Compose is published for production, staging, development, testing and CI workflows. [28] Compose Bridge can turn a Compose settings file into settings files for other platforms such as Kubernetes. [29] Check Docker's own pricing page for what each Docker plan costs.

Overmind: run an app's listed programs and control each one

Overmind is a process manager for the programs listed in a Procfile, a text file naming what an app runs. [5] It starts them inside tmux, a terminal tool that keeps several programs open in one window, so users can connect to any program and control it. [30] A single process can be restarted without restarting the whole stack. [31]

Overmind can automatically restart specified processes when they die. [32] Overmind currently supports Linux, *BSD and macOS. [14] It needs tmux installed first. [15]

Foreman: installs with the gem command and uses the MIT license

Foreman is installed with the gem command, the package installer that comes with the Ruby language. [6] Foreman is licensed under the MIT license, which means the code is free to use and change. [7] Check Foreman's own page for what it manages before choosing it.

Tilt: update code in running containers

Tilt is open source. [8] Tilt can send code changes to running containers in seconds rather than minutes. [9] Tilt can also share a development environment with others so they can work on issues together. [33]

Tilt is maintained by Docker, Inc. [16] Support is available in the #tilt channel of the official Kubernetes Slack during Mon-Fri EST business hours. [34]

DevWebUI: control local dev servers from one dashboard

DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. DevWebUI lets developers start, stop and restart local development servers from one dashboard and see each server's status, CPU, memory and logs. [10]

One small file per repository lists the servers to run, and changes made in the GUI are written back to that file. [35] When a port is already taken, DevWebUI shows which process holds it and can free the port when asked. [36] Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and stays available across restarts, with each file:line link opening in the editor. [37] Processes can also be controlled by typed commands, without the dashboard. [38] DevWebUI can start a repository's Docker Compose containers first, wait until their ports are ready, and set up the database connection details. [39]

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [40] It is open source under the MIT License. [41] There is a ready-to-run Windows app for 64-bit PCs; on other systems it runs from the project's code using Bun, a JavaScript runtime, and the taskbar icon is Windows-only for now. [17]

How to choose

Choose around the workflow that already exists. For applications that need a daemon process manager and web monitoring, PM2 provides those functions. [1] [2] For browser-based local app access with local domains, Hotel provides that model. [3] For projects built around multiple containers, Docker Compose describes the whole app in one settings file and starts everything with one command. [13] [27]

If a project already has a Procfile, Overmind runs those programs inside tmux and can restart a single program without restarting the rest. [5] [30] [31] For container development where code changes need to reach running containers quickly, Tilt can send code changes to running containers in seconds rather than minutes. [9]

For a local setup that needs one place to start and stop several servers, DevWebUI provides that dashboard and also shows status, CPU, memory and logs. [10] If Docker Compose is already part of the repository, DevWebUI can start those containers first and wait until their ports are ready. [39] Before choosing, check the operating system, whether containers or local processes are the main concern, and whether browser access or terminal control matters more.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between PM2 and a local dev server manager?

PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [1] Its monitoring dashboard is web based and can be started with pm2 monitor. [2] Check whether the need is keeping an application running in the background with a web monitoring page, which is what PM2 describes, or a tool for starting and watching local development servers. [1] [2]

Is Docker Compose a local dev server manager?

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [4] It keeps services, networks and volumes in a single YAML settings file. [13] A single command can create and start all services from that configuration. [27]

What does Hotel do for local development?

Hotel starts apps from a browser and provides local domains. [3] It gives local apps secure https addresses using a certificate made on your own computer, and lets one project answer on many address names. [21] [22] Hotel works on macOS, Linux and Windows. [12] It needs Node, the JavaScript runtime, installed first. [25]

What does DevWebUI do for local development?

DevWebUI provides one dashboard for starting, stopping and restarting local development servers while showing their status, CPU, memory and logs. [10] It can identify the process holding a port and free that port when asked. [36] It can also be controlled with typed commands instead of the dashboard. [38]

Can DevWebUI work with Docker Compose?

DevWebUI can start a repository's Docker Compose containers first, wait until their ports are ready, and set up the database connection details. [39] Docker Compose itself defines and runs applications made of several containers. [4] The useful check is whether that combined workflow matches the repository's development setup.

Does Overmind require tmux?

Yes, Overmind needs tmux, a terminal tool that keeps several programs open in one window, installed first. [15] Overmind is a process manager for the programs listed in a Procfile, a text file naming what an app runs. [5] It starts them inside tmux so users can connect to individual programs and control them. [30] Overmind currently supports Linux, *BSD and macOS. [14]

Is DevWebUI free?

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [40] It is open source under the MIT License. [41] Windows has a ready-to-run app for 64-bit PCs, while other systems run it from the project's code using Bun, a JavaScript runtime. [17]

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [40]

Try DevWebUI

Sources

  1. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  2. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  3. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  4. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  5. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  6. Foreman, github.com/ddollar/foreman, read 2026-10-07
  7. Foreman, github.com/ddollar/foreman, read 2026-10-07
  8. Tilt, tilt.dev, read 2026-10-07
  9. Tilt, tilt.dev, read 2026-10-07
  10. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  11. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  12. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  13. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  14. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  15. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  16. Tilt, tilt.dev, read 2026-10-07
  17. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  18. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  19. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  20. PM2, pm2.io/pricing, read 2026-10-07
  21. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  22. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  23. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  24. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  25. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  26. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  27. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  28. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  29. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  30. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  31. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  32. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  33. Tilt, tilt.dev, read 2026-10-07
  34. Tilt, tilt.dev, read 2026-10-07
  35. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  36. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  37. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  38. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  39. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  40. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  41. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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