Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AMPPS VS OrbStack

Compare AMPPS VS OrbStack and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

AMPPS logo AMPPS

MAMP and WAMP stack with Latest PHP, Apache, MySQL and Softaculous. Install and manage apps like PHP, WordPress and much more with just one click.

OrbStack logo OrbStack

Fast, light, simple Docker & Linux on macOS
  • AMPPS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-17

AMPPS is a bloat-free local development stack with PHP, MySQL, Apache and Softaculous.AMPPS supports all the latest versions of PHP, Apache and MySQL. Installing and updating these packages is just one click. Softaculous auto installer is also included with AMPPS which enables you to install 380+ apps like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, phpBB, etc which can be installed and updated with just one click.

  • OrbStack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

AMPPS

Website
ampps.com
$ Details
freemium $49.0 / Annually
Platforms
Mac OSX Windows
Release Date
2021 October

AMPPS features and specs

  • Lightweight - Install apps as per your needs
  • Latest PHP versions - One click install and update
  • Domain Management - Add unlimited addon/parked/alias domains
  • Database management
  • Enable/Disable PHP extensions
  • Manage Apache Configuration
  • Start, Stop, Restart Apache and MySQL services
  • WordPress Manager - Manage plugins, themes, auto login, WordPress core updates, plugins and themes updates, debug mode
  • Backups - Local, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, AWS S3, FTP, FTPS and SFTP
  • Clone and Staging
  • Remote Import
  • 400+ apps

OrbStack features and specs

  • Performance
    OrbStack is optimized for high performance, providing faster boot times and efficient resource usage compared to other virtualization platforms.
  • User Interface
    The platform offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies management and set up of virtual machines and containers.
  • Integration
    OrbStack integrates well with various development tools and environments, enhancing workflow efficiency for developers.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    It supports multiple platforms, making it versatile and accessible for users across different operating systems.
  • Security
    The platform is designed with robust security features to protect virtualized environments and ensure data integrity.

Possible disadvantages of OrbStack

  • Limited Documentation
    Some users might find the available documentation scarce, making it harder to find solutions to specific issues or advanced configurations.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, there may still be a learning curve for users who are new to virtualization technologies.
  • Pricing
    Depending on the licensing model, OrbStack can be costly for individual developers or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Resource Intensity
    Though efficient, the platform may require significant system resources, which could be a drawback for users with less powerful hardware.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While OrbStack supports various platforms, there might be occasional compatibility issues with specific hardware or software configurations.

Analysis of AMPPS

Overall verdict

  • AMPPS is generally a good choice for developers who need a comprehensive local server solution. It is praised for its ease of use and convenience, though some users might find its resource usage to be higher compared to other lightweight solutions.

Why this product is good

  • AMPPS is considered beneficial because it provides an extensive local development stack for developers. It includes all necessary components like Apache, MySQL, MongoDB, PHP, Perl, and Python in a single package, which makes setting up a development environment straightforward and efficient. Additionally, it supports a wide variety of applications and offers an easy-to-use interface for managing databases and development projects.

Recommended for

  • Web developers who require a full-featured local development stack.
  • Students and educators involved in web development training.
  • Freelancers and small teams who need a simple, all-in-one development environment.
  • Those who prefer managing development environments through a graphical user interface.

AMPPS videos

Install Ampps Webserver With Softaculous

More videos:

  • Review - Install AMPPS on Windows 10
  • Review - WAMP on PC to AMPPS on Mac, wordpress site

OrbStack videos

OrbStack: A Lightweight Alternative for Docker

More videos:

  • Review - Practices for Docker on Mac Mini M2 Pro with OrbStack #mac #orbstack #docker #container

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AMPPS and OrbStack)
Web And Application Servers
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Web Servers
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing AMPPS and OrbStack.

What makes your product unique?

AMPPS's answer

AMPPS is a bloat-free stack so you only install the apps that you want to install.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

AMPPS's answer

You can install from a long list of PHP versions available. You can switch PHP versions with a click. You can also install new PHPs when they are released or upgrade the existing PHPs, Apache, MySQL to the latest version with a click.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

AMPPS's answer

If you are a developer who use any of the following technologies then you can use AMPPS : - PHP - Apache - MySQL - MongoDB

User comments

Share your experience with using AMPPS and OrbStack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AMPPS and OrbStack

AMPPS Reviews

Best XAMPP Alternatives for Website Development in 2024
The last alternative to XAMPP on our list is AMPPS available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. AMPPS provides a complete local setup for WordPress site development. With its versatility across multiple operating systems, it offers convenience and flexibility for developers.
Source: instawp.com
8 Best MAMP Alternatives (Definitive List)
The free version of AMPSS doesnโ€™t limit the number of local websites that you can set up. However, that version doesnโ€™t come with AMPPSโ€™ built-in WordPress manager tool. This feature helps you manage multiple WordPress websites using a panel thatโ€™s very similar to a multisite setup.
Source: kinsta.com
13 Best XAMPP Alternatives
Most AMPPS servers offer similar features as shared hosting plans from companies like HostGator or DreamHost without requiring you to pay a monthly fee. If you donโ€™t have your server, many hosts offer great packages for $5-10 per month that let you test out how effective an AMPPS setup will be for your needs.
Source: thetechtian.com
9 Best XAMPP Alternatives Cross Platform Web Server
AMPPS supports a variety of open sources web applications such as Dolphin, Joomla!, and WordPress. As a result of which, creating a website has become a matter of mere minutes. All you need for that is the AMPPS package and the latest version of your favorite web application.
10 Best alternatives of XAMPP servers for Windows, Linux and macOS
AMPPS comes with a Domain Administrator and an auto-installation tool for hundreds of web applications. Also, there are many free features that we have not yet explored. In comparison, I think that AMPPS could be a better alternative to WAMP, MAMP, and XAMPP.

OrbStack Reviews

We have no reviews of OrbStack yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OrbStack seems to be a lot more popular than AMPPS. While we know about 36 links to OrbStack, we've tracked only 3 mentions of AMPPS. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AMPPS mentions (3)

  • Best MAMP Alternatives in 2025
    AMPPS is available for both Windows and MacOS, offering a straightforward setup for WordPress site development. Its versatility across different platforms makes it a convenient and flexible choice for developers. Furthermore, this tool enables you to test your site locally without interfering with the production site, making it a solid option for development and testing environments. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Form data from form page isn't submitted to the database, how can I fix this issue?
    It should have generated a log file, though. If it didn't then you need to make sure you actually restarted everything. I'd also consider switching to something like Ampps and see if that helps. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to install WordPress
    Some web hosting providers offer a Softaculous auto-installer that simplifies WordPress installation to the smallest. - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago

OrbStack mentions (36)

  • Zed is 1.0
    You might find OrbStack useful here as a replacement for Docker Desktop. So much faster and uses way less resources: https://orbstack.dev/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • How to Turn Any SaaS Into a Telegram Bot in 30 Minutes Using OpenClaw
    On macOS, I recommend OrbStack. It is lighter than Docker Desktop. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Run Docker and Kubernetes on your Apple Silicon in an Enterprise Environment
    There are a bunch of options to run containers locally on macOS. In addition to the dominant Docker Desktop, there are other excellent tools like OrbStack, Podman/Podman Desktop and even a solution from Apple starting with macOS 26 (Tahoe). - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Red Hat takes on Docker Desktop with its enterprise Podman Desktop build
    Another alternative (although Mac OS-only) is [0] OrbStack. Some devs in my team are running it as a more performant alternative to Docker Desktop for Mac and they are very happy so far. [0]: https://orbstack.dev. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Code and Let Live
    Have you tried https://orbstack.dev/? - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AMPPS and OrbStack, you can also consider the following products

XAMPP - XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server that is primarily used when locally developing web applications.

Warp Terminal - The terminal for the 21st century. Warp is a blazingly fast, rust-based terminal reimagined from the ground up to work like a modern app.

MAMP - MAMP is the abbreviation for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It is a reliable application with its four components that allows you to access the local PHP server as well as the database server (SQL).

Podman Desktop - Containers and Kubernetes for application developers

EasyPHP - EasyPHP installs a portable local WAMP server including the server-side scripting language: PHP 5, the web Server: Apache 2, the SQL Server: MySQL 5, a database manager: PhpMyAdmin and others development tools.

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images