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macOS · Apple silicon · Since 2025

Local development,without the headache.

Vhostly makes virtual hosts, PHP, Apache, SSL, ports, and local development environments effortless on macOS.

Download for macOSView on GitHub
  • macOS

Free for personal use No account Pro for work

Vhostly
A preview of the Vhostly macOS app: a sidebar grouping Virtual Hosts, Backups, SSL and Network under Sites, and Health, Apache, PHP, Ports, Services and Logs under Environment, with Apache reported as running. The site list shows my-app.test, a static site serving ~/Sites/my-app over HTTPS only, with plain HTTP redirected; api.test, a proxy forwarding to localhost:3000 over HTTPS, its npm run dev started by Vhostly; and legacy-project.test, a static site that is currently inactive.

Features

Everything your local environment needs.

Vhostly wraps the parts of local web development that normally live in terminal commands and configuration files — and gives them a calm, native interface.

  • Virtual Hosts

    Create and manage local domains without manually editing configuration files.

  • PHP Versions

    Switch the version Apache loads, and the one your terminal uses.

  • SSL Certificates

    Enable trusted local HTTPS with minimal configuration.

  • Apache Management

    Start, stop, restart, and configure Apache easily.

  • Port Management

    See and manage development ports from one place.

  • Phones and public links

    Open a site on your phone with a QR code, or share it with a temporary public link.

  • Start commandsNew

    Switch a proxy site on and its dev server starts with it. Switch it off and it stops.

    php artisan migrate --force && php artisan serve

All features

How It Works

From folder to https:// in three steps.

No terminal gymnastics, no half-remembered commands. Point Vhostly at a directory and it takes care of the rest.

  1. 1

    Add your project

    Select your local project directory.

    ~/Sites/my-app

  2. 2

    Choose your environment

    Point it at a folder or a dev server, and turn on HTTPS.

    my-app.testSTATICSSL

  3. 3

    Start developing

    Vhostly handles the local configuration automatically.

    https://my-app.test

Developer Experience

Less configuration. More coding.

Without Vhostly

six manual steps
  • Edit Apache config/etc/apache2/httpd.conf
  • Configure virtual hostsextra/httpd-vhosts.conf
  • Update hosts filesudo nano /etc/hosts
  • Generate certificatesopenssl req -x509 -nodes …
  • Change PHP configurationphp.ini · LoadModule php_module
  • Restart services manuallysudo apachectl restart

With Vhostly

one step

One clean interface.
Done.

my-app.test

STATICSSL
  • No config files to hand-edit
  • Trusted local HTTPS in one click
  • Dev servers behind a real domain
  • Services restart themselves

News

Releases and security notices.

All news

Nothing hidden

Nothing to take on faith.

Vhostly edits your Apache config and installs one small root-owned helper for /etc/hosts. Every file it touches is listed with how to undo it, and the only script that runs as root is published in full. The core is free; Vhostly Pro adds the time-savers and is the license for work. Report bugs and follow releases on GitHub.

How Vhostly stays safeRead Documentation
  • Every change documentedEach file it writes, and how to undo it by hand.
  • Free for Personal UseSide projects, learning, charities and schools.
  • Vhostly Pro$19 a year, or $59 for life. See pricing

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Does Vhostly replace MAMP or Valet?
It overlaps with both. MAMP ships its own Apache, PHP and MySQL, while Vhostly drives the ones Homebrew already installed. Valet does something similar through nginx from the terminal. Vhostly does it with a window, on Apache.
Is Vhostly free?
Yes, for personal use: up to five sites, PHP versions, Apache, local HTTPS, Health and Backups, with no time limit. Every install also gets all Pro features for 14 days. Work and client use needs a Pro license.
Which Macs does it run on?
Apple silicon Macs with Homebrew. Intel Macs are not supported today.
Does it install PHP or Apache for me?
It can. The first-run checks and the Health panel offer to install anything missing with Homebrew, and show the command before running it.
Does Vhostly keep PHP up to date?
No. PHP comes from Homebrew, so you update it with brew upgrade and restart Apache. Keep PHP on the latest release, because security fixes only reach you that way. Vhostly posts critical PHP notices in its News panel and on this site.
Do I need to keep the app open?
No. Vhostly writes ordinary Apache configuration, and Apache keeps serving after you quit. Only public links close when the app quits.
Can I open my sites on my phone?
Yes. Share a site on the Network panel and scan the QR code on the same Wi-Fi, or create a temporary public link. Both are Pro features.
Why does it want my password on first launch?
To install one small root-owned helper that writes Vhostly's block of /etc/hosts and accepts only .test and .localhost names. Apache runs as you, without a password. The security page shows the helper in full and how to undo it.

All questions

Your machine deserves a better local development setup.

Spend less time configuring your environment and more time building. Every download includes 14 days of Vhostly Pro.

  • macOS

    Available

    Apple silicon · .dmg

    Download

Free for personal use No account Pro for work