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Laravel Herd

Freemium#18 of 26 in Development Environment Management Tools

Laravel Herd: A focused local PHP and Laravel environment with version management and practical development tools. Ranked #18 of 26 in Development Environment Management Tools by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for laravel and PHP developers on macOS or Windows.

7.1/10Editor score

Visit Laravel Herd

Laravel Herd7.1 Visit Laravel Herd

At a glance

Editor score
7.1 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Laravel and PHP developers on macOS or Windows
Free plan
Yes
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Manages PHP and Node.js versions alongside local nginx and .test domains
- Includes databases, services, email capture, logs, and Xdebug detection
- Connects local projects with Laravel Forge and supports herd.yml configuration
Where it doesn't
- Supports only macOS and Windows
- Does not provide container support
- Herd Pro has no trial

Our verdict on Laravel Herd

Laravel Herd is a native desktop development environment for PHP and Laravel applications. It brings together PHP, nginx, Node.js, Composer, the Laravel installer, and local site routing so developers can create and manage local web applications without assembling each dependency manually. Its audience is primarily Laravel and PHP developers working on macOS or Windows who want local runtime management, project configuration, and supporting development services in one desktop application.

The freemium structure starts with Herd Basic, which includes PHP, nginx, DNS, Node.js, Laravel Forge integration, and community support. Herd Pro adds Dumps, Mail, Log Viewer, Services, XDebug detection, and email support. Herd Teams includes 10 Herd Pro Licenses, a License Management Portal, and priority email support. The published purchasing terms also state that Herd Pro has no trial and that purchases include a 14-day refund policy. This makes Basic a suitable entry point for core local development, while Pro is aimed at developers who need deeper debugging, logging, mail, and service features.

Herd’s strongest fit is a Laravel-centered workflow: PHP version installation and switching, Node.js management through nvm, Composer and the Laravel installer from the terminal, local databases, email inboxes, and herd.yml project configuration are all part of the feature set. Laravel Forge and Expose are supported integrations. The trade-off is platform scope: Herd supports macOS and Windows, and its category specifications do not include container support. Developers on those operating systems who want a focused PHP and Laravel environment should consider Herd; teams requiring Linux coverage or container-based workflows should choose an alternative that matches those requirements.

Your product? Our editors can test Laravel Herd in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Laravel Herd pricing

Plans Free planFreemium A usable free plan; paid tiers unlock the limits above. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026.

See plans on herd.laravel.com

All 3 Laravel Herd plans and prices →

Laravel Herd fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Not verified
Supported operating systems	Not verified
Runtime management	Yes
Dependency locking	Not verified
Configuration as code	Yes
Shell integration	Yes
Container support	No
Money-back guarantee	14 days
Deployment	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS
Support	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate)
Integrations	2 integrations: Laravel Forge, Expose
Pricing	Free plan (source)
Website	herd.laravel.com
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Laravel Herd integrations

Laravel Herd lists 2 integrations on its own site.

Laravel Forge
Expose

Alternatives to Laravel Herd

See all Laravel Herd alternatives →

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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Laravel Herd for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Laravel Herd is listed in our Development Environment Management Tools directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update