Alternatives to MAMP
A local web server environment with Apache or Nginx, MySQL and PHP for macOS and Windows. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
MAMP
A local web server environment with Apache or Nginx, MySQL and PHP for macOS and Windows.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as MAMP.
XAMPP
Apache, MariaDB, PHP and Perl packaged as one local development stack.
XAMPP is free and open source, adds Linux support and bundles Apache, MariaDB, PHP and Perl, though it lacks a Nginx option and lags upstream versions.
Laragon
A lightweight, portable local development environment for PHP, Node.js and other web stacks on Windows.
Laragon is a lightweight, portable environment for PHP, Node.js and other stacks with automatic SSL for local sites, but it runs only on Windows.
Laravel Herd
A native PHP and Laravel development environment for Windows and macOS with PHP and nginx included.
Laravel Herd uses native PHP and nginx binaries on Windows and macOS with Composer included, but databases and mail tools sit in the paid Pro tier.
Local
A desktop app that sets up and runs WordPress sites on your own computer for development.
Local offers one-click WordPress installs with SSL on Windows, macOS and Linux, plus shareable Live Links, but it only handles WordPress sites.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
PHP
A general-purpose scripting language and interpreter especially suited to web development.
DBngin
A free desktop app for starting local PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and Redis servers with one click.
MySQL Workbench
Oracle's desktop application for developing SQL, administering MySQL servers and analysing query performance.
Sequel Ace
A free, open-source macOS app for managing and querying MySQL and MariaDB databases.
Composer
Dependency manager for PHP projects.
mkcert
A zero-config command-line tool that creates locally trusted HTTPS certificates for development.
