Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

localhost.run VS Expose

Compare localhost.run VS Expose and see what are their differences

localhost.run logo localhost.run

Instantly share your localhost environment!

Expose logo Expose

A beautiful, open-source, tunneling service - written in PHP
  • localhost.run Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-24
  • Expose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

localhost.run features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Localhost.run provides a simple way to expose your local server to the internet without requiring complex configurations or additional software installations.
  • No Installation Required
    You can use localhost.run directly from your terminal without the need to install any software or dependencies.
  • Free and Instantaneous
    Localhost.run offers a free service, and you can quickly start tunneling without any wait times or sign-ups.
  • Wide Compatibility
    It works with any web server running on your local machine, making it highly versatile.

Possible disadvantages of localhost.run

  • Stability and Uptime
    As a free service, localhost.run may not be as reliable as paid alternatives, potentially leading to unexpected downtimes.
  • Limited Customization
    Localhost.run doesn't offer many advanced features or customizations, which may be a drawback for more complex use cases.
  • Security
    By exposing your local server to the internet, there could be potential security risks if your server is not properly configured or secured.
  • Performance
    The performance of the tunnel can be slower compared to running the server locally due to additional network hops and bandwidth limitations.

Expose features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Expose offers a simple and intuitive interface making it easy to create secure tunnels without deep technical knowledge.
  • Security
    Provides HTTPS tunneling by default which ensures secure data transmission over the internet.
  • Custom Subdomains
    Allows users to create custom subdomains, making it easier to remember and access local services.
  • Local Development Support
    Facilitates local development by enabling developers to expose their local servers to the internet for testing or demonstration purposes.
  • Open Source
    Expose is open-source, allowing developers to contribute and modify the software as they see fit.

Possible disadvantages of Expose

  • Limited Free Tier
    The free tier may have limitations in terms of usage duration or features compared to paid plans.
  • Reliance on External Service
    Requires an internet connection and dependence on an external service to expose local servers.
  • Potential Latency
    Using an external tunneling service can introduce additional latency compared to hosting a server directly.
  • Complexity for Advanced Configurations
    While it's easy to use for basic tasks, advanced configurations or custom setups might require more technical expertise.
  • Resource Limitations
    May face performance constraints if running many tunnels concurrently or handling high traffic, especially on lower-tier plans.

Analysis of localhost.run

Overall verdict

  • Localhost.run is a good tool for developers who need a fast, efficient, and secure way to share their local development environments. Its ease of use and minimal setup make it an excellent choice for quick sharing and testing scenarios.

Why this product is good

  • Localhost.run is a service that provides a quick and easy way to expose a local server to the internet. It is often praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and minimal setup requirements. It allows developers to share their work quickly for collaboration, testing, or demonstration purposes without needing to deploy to a public server. It uses a secure SSH tunnel, which adds a layer of security to the service.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need to demo their work to clients or teams
  • Collaborative programming and real-time feedback
  • Testing webhooks or APIs from an external source
  • Temporary exposure of local servers for testing purposes

localhost.run videos

No localhost.run videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Expose videos

How To Use Mastering The Mix EXPOSE - Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Expose by Mastering the Mix | Finding Issues in Your Master Tutorial
  • Review - The Expose First Day First Show Review
  • Review - Exposed Movie Review Spoiler!!!!
  • Review - NTS: Exposed (2016) (Keanu Reeves) Movie Review
  • Review - Expose 2 by Mastering the Mix | Ultimate Beginners Guide & Review of Key Features

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to localhost.run and Expose)
Localhost Tools
73 73%
27% 27
Testing
73 73%
27% 27
Webhooks
81 81%
19% 19
Tunnel
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

Share your experience with using localhost.run and Expose. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare localhost.run and Expose

localhost.run Reviews

Tunnelling services for exposing localhost to the web
localhost.run is very similar to Serveo but with less features. In fact, as far as I can tell, it only does 1 thing: expose your local web server to the web with a public URL. And it does that well enough for me.
Source: chenhuijing.com

Expose Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, localhost.run seems to be a lot more popular than Expose. While we know about 42 links to localhost.run, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Expose. 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.

localhost.run mentions (42)

View more

Expose mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing localhost.run and Expose, you can also consider the following products

ngrok - ngrok enables secure introspectable tunnels to localhost webhook development tool and debugging tool.

tunnelto.dev - Expose localhost to the internet with a public URL

Portmap.io - Expose your local PC to Internet from behind firewall and without real IP address

cotunnel - Remote access and tunnels to your local device.

sish - An open source serveo/ngrok alternative. HTTP(S)/WS(S)/TCP Tunnels to localhost using only SSH.

Packetriot - Serve Web Apps. Connect to Hosts & Devices.