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Free & open source · Windows, macOS and Linux

The free Laravel Herd alternative

Herd Pro's services. None of the invoice.

Flock is a free, open source alternative to Laravel Herd. Same native speed, same .test domains with trusted HTTPS, and the databases, mail catcher, dumps and Xdebug that Herd sells as Pro, included for everyone.

Download Flock Flock vs Laravel Herd

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

Why people switch

Where Herd gets in the way.

Databases behind a paywall

In Herd, PostgreSQL, MySQL and Redis need a Pro license. Flock installs them, and Valkey, Meilisearch, Typesense and RustFS, in one click.

A license per seat

Herd Pro is $99 a year per developer. Flock has no paid tier, no account and no license key, for a solo project or a team of fifty.

No FrankenPHP

Herd runs nginx and PHP-FPM. Flock can put any site on FrankenPHP, with Laravel Octane's worker mode, and back with one switch.

What changes

Moving from Herd to Flock.

The 8 things you gain. Everything else works the way you're used to.

  • Price Free core, services need Pro ($99/yr) Free, open source, no account
  • Platforms macOS and Windows, no Linux yet macOS, Windows and Linux, native apps
  • Databases Pro only PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB
  • Cache, search, storage Pro only Valkey, Meilisearch, Typesense, RustFS
  • Mail catcher Pro only An inbox per app, HTML preview
  • Dumps and logs Pro only, in Insights Per-request timeline and Laravel log
  • Xdebug Bundled, set up in php.ini; auto in Pro Turns on when you set a breakpoint
  • FrankenPHP and Octane nginx with PHP-FPM Per site, with Octane worker mode

See all 18 rows, and where Herd still shines

Switching

Four steps, about five minutes.

  1. 01

    Quit Herd

    Choose Quit from Herd's menu so ports 80 and 443 are free. Your projects stay where they are.

  2. 02

    Install Flock

    Run the installer for macOS, Windows or Linux. It sets up the daemon, .test DNS and trusted HTTPS.

  3. 03

    Park the same folder

    Park the folder Herd served, often ~/Herd, and every project in it is back on its .test domain.

    flock park ~/Herd
  4. 04

    Bring your databases

    Install the database you used, create the database, and import a dump. The usual clients are on your PATH.

    flock services install mysql 8.4

FAQ

Before you leave Herd.

Flock is open source and free, and every feature is in the free app. There is no Pro tier, no account and no license key.

No. Flock serves the same public/index.php and the same .test domains. Update DB_ settings in .env if your database port or user differs.

No. Flock keeps project settings in .flockrc and .nvmrc, which you commit, so the whole team gets the same PHP and Node versions.

Join the flock.

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

Download Flock Star on GitHub