Localdock (site) gives local development projects a real HTTPS address so you can share your dev environment with anyone, no client-side install needed. It's a one-time $9 payment for the macOS app, with no free tier and no subscription. If you'd rather not pay anything up front, or want a tool with an ongoing free plan, here are the options with real free tiers.
| Product | Free tier | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Localdock | No | $9 one-time | Simple local-to-HTTPS sharing on macOS |
| Ngrok Alternative Without Subscription (LocalCan) | Yes | $8/mo | Public URLs and tunnels without a subscription |
| Local development with .local domains and HTTPS (LocalCan) | Yes | $8/mo | .local domains with automatic HTTPS on your network |
| Share local Docker Compose apps for real-time reviews (Livecycle) | Yes | Not stated | Teams reviewing Docker Compose apps together |
| Reach your localhost server from the internet with LocalXpose | Yes | $8/mo | Basic tunnels for localhost, NAT, or firewalled servers |
Ngrok Alternative Without Subscription (LocalCan)
LocalCan (site) started as a tool for publishing .local domains on a local network with automatic HTTPS, then expanded into public URLs and SSH tunnels as a subscription-free alternative to ngrok. It suits developers who want tunnels without recurring billing pressure. There's a free tier for ephemeral public URLs and local dev; paid plans start at $8/month, with a $189 one-time lifetime option. The limitation: the free tier is aimed at short-lived, ephemeral use rather than permanent public links.
Local .local Domains with HTTPS (LocalCan)
This is the original LocalCan launch: publish .local domains on your local network via mDNS, with a built-in reverse proxy for HTTPS termination and port forwarding. It suits developers who mainly need local-network access rather than public internet sharing. The free tier covers local development plus one live public URL (60-minute sessions, 1 GB/month); paid plans start at $8/month or $189 one-time. Limitation: free public URLs are capped at one at a time and time-limited.
Share Local Docker Compose Apps for Real-Time Reviews (Livecycle)
Livecycle (site) is a Docker Desktop Extension that creates a secure, shareable tunnel to your local Docker Compose environment so teammates can review code changes in real time, without waiting on CI or staging. It suits teams already using Docker Desktop for development. It's listed as free, and requires Docker Desktop, whose own subscription tiers (Personal $0, Pro, Team, Business) apply separately. Limitation: no standalone pricing is stated for Livecycle itself beyond the Docker Desktop plan it runs on.
Reach Your Localhost Server from the Internet with LocalXpose
LocalXpose (site) is a reverse proxy that exposes a localhost server to the internet, aimed at developers, DevOps engineers, sysadmins, and anyone behind a NAT or firewall who needs a public tunnel. It suits general-purpose tunneling rather than dev-specific features like custom local domains. The free starter plan includes 2 active tunnels; the Pro plan starts at $8/month (billed annually at $96/year), with custom enterprise pricing available. Limitation: the free plan is capped at 2 tunnels, which may be tight for larger projects.
How to choose
If you just want a one-time payment and don't mind no free option, Localdock is straightforward at $9. If you want a genuinely free way to test tunneling or local HTTPS first, LocalCan's free tier or LocalXpose's 2-tunnel starter plan are the least restrictive starting points. If your team already lives in Docker Desktop and reviews Compose apps together, Livecycle avoids adding a separate tunneling subscription.
FAQ
Does Localdock have a free tier? No, it's a one-time $9 payment with no ongoing free plan.
Which alternative is fully free with no paid tiers at all? None listed are entirely free forever; Livecycle is described as free but runs on top of Docker Desktop, which has its own paid tiers.
Which tool is best for exposing a local server to the public internet for free? LocalXpose's free starter plan (2 active tunnels) or LocalCan's free ephemeral public URL tier both cover this without payment.