The best ngrok alternatives depend on how you want to start. Some give a local service a public address with one command and no account, some are hosted services you sign up for, and some are open source servers you run yourself. Ten options follow in no particular order, each described from its own website or project page.
You've got something running on localhost and you need the outside world to reach it: a webhook from a payment or chat service, a client who wants to see a demo, or a phone that needs to load the site you're building. ngrok is the name most developers know for that, and it's far from the only one.
ngrok itself isn't in this list. The ten tools below are alphabetical and in no particular order, and each description comes from the tool's own website or project page, read as of Nov 2026. I've kept plan names, limits and tiers out of it, because those change faster than the tools do.
Localhost tunnels at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| bore | Open source TCP tunnel | One small command-line tool for TCP |
| Cloudflare Tunnel | Hosted tunnel daemon | Reaching services without a public IP address |
| Expose | Managed tunnel with an open source core | Webhooks and testing local sites on phones |
| frp | Self-hosted reverse proxy | Exposing a server behind NAT on your own terms |
| Localtonet | Multi-protocol tunneling platform | Apps, APIs, devices and proxies from one binary |
| localtunnel | Localhost sharing tool | Quick sharing with no DNS or firewall changes |
| LocalXpose | Hosted tunneling service | Remote access to local servers and IoT devices |
| Pinggy | SSH-based tunnel service | Starting a tunnel from a plain ssh command |
| Tunnelmole | Open source tunnel with no sign-up | A public URL from one npx command |
| zrok | Open source zero trust sharing | Hosted or self-hosted private sharing |
Ten ways to put localhost on a public URL
bore
Best for: Developers who want a single Rust binary for both client and server, which its README says makes tunnels and nothing else.
Cloudflare Tunnel
Best for: Connecting services to Cloudflare through a lightweight daemon in your own setup, so they don't need a publicly routable IP address.
Expose
Best for: Receiving webhooks and testing local sites on mobile devices through any firewall, with the option to host the open source core yourself.
frp
Best for: Teams with their own public server who want an open source reverse proxy for a machine sitting behind a NAT or firewall.
Localtonet
Best for: Exposing apps, APIs, devices and proxies from one portable binary that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Docker.
localtunnel
Best for: Sharing a web service on your machine without touching DNS or firewall settings, through a unique public URL that proxies to it.
LocalXpose
Best for: People who want hosted tunnels for local servers and IoT devices, with custom domains and reserved subdomains on higher tiers.
Pinggy
Best for: Opening HTTP, TCP, TLS or UDP tunnels from an ordinary ssh command with no download, or from its desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Tunnelmole
Best for: Getting a public URL for a local server without creating an account, using an open source client and a server you can self-host.
zrok
Best for: Sharing services peer to peer over an open source zero trust network, either as a hosted service or on your own servers.
No account, an account, or a server of your own
The surprise when you read these pages together is how many need no sign-up at all. Tunnelmole's page says you can run npx tunnelmole 3000 and get a public URL with no signup, and that its client and server are both open source. Pinggy's page starts the tunnel from an ordinary ssh command and lists 'No downloads'. bore's README calls it a simple TCP tunnel and says 'that's all it does', and the project runs a public server you can point it at.
Others need an account or a machine of your own. frp is a reverse proxy you run on a server you control, and zrok is open source tunnelling built on OpenZiti, offered as SaaS or self-hosted. So before you compare features, decide whether you want to sign up, run a command, or run a server.
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How the ten split by kind
- One command, no sign-up. The npx option and the ssh option above, plus the single-binary TCP tunnel.
- Hosted accounts. Localtonet and LocalXpose run the public side for you, and Cloudflare Tunnel is a daemon that connects your services to Cloudflare's network.
- Managed, with a core you can host. Expose, from Beyond Code, runs a managed service and also publishes an open source core for your own infrastructure.
- Open source servers you run. The reverse proxy and the OpenZiti-based tool above, for when you want the traffic on your own machine.
- A quick share with nothing to configure. localtunnel hands out a unique public URL that proxies to your machine, with no DNS or firewall changes.
Before you point a tunnel at your laptop
- What sits in front of it. A tunnel makes whatever you point it at reachable from the internet. Check whether the tool adds HTTPS, a sign-in step or access rules, or simply passes traffic straight through.
- Which protocols you need. Some tools handle web traffic only. If you're sharing a game server, a database or SSH, look for TCP or UDP support.
- Whether the address stays the same. A random URL each time is fine for a quick test and a nuisance for a webhook you've registered with another service.
- Where the public server lives. On a hosted service, your traffic passes through the vendor's servers. With a self-hosted tool, it passes through yours.
- Request inspection. Some tools let you capture and replay requests, which saves a lot of guesswork when you're debugging webhooks.
- Your operating system. Most ship a client for Windows, macOS and Linux, but check before you build a workflow around one.
Three everyday jobs for a localhost tunnel
For a webhook test that lasts ten minutes, a no-account command is the quickest route. For a demo you'll share with a client over several days, a hosted account with an address that doesn't change saves you sending new links. And for testing on your phone, any of them works, as long as the tool serves HTTPS so the mobile browser doesn't complain.
If you're testing an API rather than exposing one, my roundup of API testing tools and my list of Postman alternatives cover the client side, and my Cloudflare alternatives look at the wider network and security picture.
Do you make a localhost tunnel tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice before you open a tunnel
Start with the job, not the tool. A quick webhook test suits a no-account command, a long-running demo suits a hosted account with a fixed address, and anything that has to keep traffic on your own hardware suits an open source server you run yourself. Whichever you pick, remember that a tunnel exposes whatever you point it at, so check what the tool puts in front of it, keep test data out of anything public, and close the tunnel when you're done.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Related: writing for us on saas tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ngrok alternative?
It depends on how you want to start. One-command tools with no account suit quick tests, hosted services suit longer demos and teams, and open source servers suit people who want the traffic on their own machine.
Is there an ngrok alternative with no sign-up?
Yes. Some tools here say you can get a public URL with a single command and no account, either through npx or an ordinary ssh command, as of Nov 2026.
Can I self-host an ngrok alternative?
Yes. Several tools here publish open source servers or an open source core that you can run on a machine you control.
Are localhost tunnels safe?
A tunnel makes a local service reachable from the internet, so treat it like any public server. Check what the tool adds in front, such as HTTPS or a sign-in step, and close the tunnel when you've finished.
Are there free ngrok alternatives?
Several pages here name a free plan or an open source edition, as of Nov 2026. Free terms change, so check the tool's own site before you rely on one.
Do I need a tunnel to test webhooks?
If the service sending the webhook can't reach your machine, yes. A tunnel gives your local server a public URL to register with that service while you build.
