Laravel Herd review
A focused local PHP and Laravel environment with version management and practical development tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Laravel Herd pros and cons
- 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
Laravel Herd fact sheet, pricing and score →
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