localtunnel

What it is

Localtunnel is a tool that allows developers to expose their local web servers to the internet. This makes it easy for developers to share and test applications in development without needing to configure complex network settings or deploy them to a server.

Localtunnel stands out by offering an extremely simple and quick way to expose localhost servers without the need for advanced networking knowledge or setup, making it ideal for rapid prototyping and testing.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

1. 01

   Limited control over subdomain names

   Subdomains are auto-generated, which can make sharing and remembering URLs cumbersome.

2. 02

   Performance issues under heavy load

   Tunneling through localtunnel may introduce latency and bandwidth limitations when handling large volumes of traffic.

3. 03

   Security concerns with public tunnels

   Publicly exposed URLs can be guessed, leading to potential unauthorized access to development environments.

4. 04

   Dependence on external service availability

   Localtunnel relies on its own servers which may experience downtime or rate limiting, affecting the reliability of your local server exposure.

What it does well

• Expose local servers to the internet easily.

• No need for complex network configurations.

• Useful for testing and sharing applications in development.

Pricing

Free tier

YesOpen source — free to use

Paid from

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise plan

No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page.