localhost.run

A tunneling service that exposes a local web server to the internet using ordinary SSH.

FreemiumProprietaryCommand line
Official websitelocalhost.runDocumentationlocalhost.run

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About localhost.run

localhost.run gives a web application running on your computer a public HTTPS address. You connect with the SSH client already installed on your system, so there is nothing to download and no account to create for the free tier. TLS certificates are generated automatically.

It is handy for receiving webhooks during development, showing work to clients or reaching a Raspberry Pi from outside. Tunnels can also pass through TLS and non-HTTP protocols. A paid subscription adds a custom or stable domain.

Strengths

  • Works with the standard SSH client, nothing to install
  • No sign-up for free tunnels
  • Automatic HTTPS certificates
  • Supports non-HTTP and TLS passthrough tunnels

Limitations

  • Free domains are not stable between sessions
  • Custom domains require a paid subscription
  • Traffic passes through a third-party service

Details

Pricing
FreemiumFree tunnels with random domains; custom domains cost $9 per month billed annually.
License
Proprietary
Developer
localhost.run
Platforms
Command line
How it runs
Hosted service
Account
Not required
Works offline
No
Best suited for
Developers who need a quick public URL for a local server or webhook endpoint
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to localhost.run

Compare all

Software that can replace localhost.run for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • ngrok

    A tunnelling agent and gateway that exposes a local app to the internet with request inspection.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSCommand line

    ngrok uses its own agent installed on Windows or macOS instead of plain SSH, and adds request inspection plus SSH and RDP access on a larger commercial platform.

  • Pinggy

    A tunneling service that gives localhost a public URL over SSH, with a web debugger for traffic.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxWebCommand line

    Pinggy also works over plain SSH without a client and adds UDP tunnels and a web debugger for inspecting and replaying requests.

  • Tunnelmole

    An open-source tunneling tool that gives a server running on localhost a public HTTPS URL.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    Tunnelmole is open source and optionally self-hostable, installed through a script or npm, whereas localhost.run is a closed hosted service used through SSH.

  • zrok

    An open-source tunneling tool for sharing local services and files publicly or privately, built on OpenZiti.

    FreemiumOpen sourceSelf-hostedCommand line

    zrok is open source and can be self-hosted on OpenZiti, adding private shares and file sharing, but needs an invite and environment setup before use.

  • LocalXpose

    A hosted tunneling service with a client binary that exposes local servers to the internet.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    LocalXpose uses a dedicated client binary and requires an account, but offers automatic TLS for exposing local servers on Windows, macOS and Linux.

  • Expose

    A tunneling service with an open-source client that gives local sites a public URL.

    FreemiumOpen sourceCommand line

    Expose has an open-source client that works through firewalls and VPNs, relying on the Beyond Code hosted service with some features in a paid Pro plan.

  • LocalCan

    A macOS app that gives localhost a stable public URL for testing webhooks and sharing previews.

    PaidProprietarymacOSCommand line

    LocalCan is a paid macOS app giving localhost stable public URLs, a request inspector with replay and snapshots, instead of SSH-based tunnels with changing free domains.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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