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Free & open source · Windows, macOS and Linux

An up-to-date AppServ alternative

AppServ stopped in 2019. PHP didn't.

Flock is a free, maintained alternative to AppServ. One installer still gets you a working PHP stack on Windows, but with PHP 8, current databases, HTTPS and updates that arrive with a click.

Download Flock Flock vs AppServ

Windows, macOS and Linux · No account, no license key

Why people switch

Where AppServ gets in the way.

PHP 7.3 forever

AppServ ships PHP 7.3, out of support since 2021. Flock offers 8.1 to 8.5, and 7.4 and 8.0 on Windows for older apps.

No more updates

AppServ's last release was in 2019. Flock updates PHP, Node and every service from a signed package list.

localhost only

Flock gives each project its own .test domain with trusted HTTPS, so cookies and redirects behave like production.

What changes

Moving from AppServ to Flock.

The 14 things you gain. Everything else works the way you're used to.

  • Platforms Windows only macOS, Windows and Linux, native apps
  • PHP versions PHP 7.3, last updated in 2019 8.1 to 8.5 side by side
  • PHP per project Not possible Pinned in .flockrc or isolated per site
  • .test domains localhost only Built-in DNS, subdomains included
  • Trusted HTTPS Supported, set up by hand Root limited to .test, no warnings
  • Databases MySQL 8.0 PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB
  • Cache, search, storage Not included Valkey, Meilisearch, Typesense, RustFS
  • Mail catcher Not included An inbox per app, HTML preview
  • Dumps and logs Not included Per-request timeline and Laravel log
  • Xdebug Install and configure yourself Turns on when you set a breakpoint
  • Node.js Not included Per project from .nvmrc
  • FrankenPHP and Octane Apache only Per site, with Octane worker mode
  • Public preview link Not included Cloudflare tunnel, one command
  • AI agentic development Not included Built-in MCP server

See all 18 rows, and where AppServ still shines

Switching

Four steps, about five minutes.

  1. 01

    Stop AppServ

    Stop the Apache and MySQL services from the AppServ menu or Windows Services.

  2. 02

    Install Flock

    Run the Windows installer. PHP 8 and Composer come with it.

  3. 03

    Park your www folder

    Park the folder AppServ served, usually C:\AppServ\www.

    flock park C:\AppServ\www
  4. 04

    Move MySQL over

    Install MySQL in Flock and import a dump of your old databases.

    flock services install mysql 8.0

FAQ

Before you leave AppServ.

Most code runs on PHP 7.4, which Flock offers on Windows, with few changes. Moving on to PHP 8 is worth it for speed and security.

No. Use any database client, or run phpMyAdmin as a normal Flock site.

Yes. Flock is open source and free for any project.

Join the flock.

Install Flock, park your code folder and open https://your-app.test.

Download Flock Star on GitHub