SayDeploy Plain comparisons of developer tools, AI coding tools included

Best local dev server managers for full-stack developers in 2026

Compare PM2, hotel, Docker Compose, Overmind and DevWebUI for running local dev servers, with questions to ask before you pick one.

By SayDeploy ยท

SayDeploy is published by LunarWerx, which makes some of the tools compared here.

Pick by what you run locally. Hotel starts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1] Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [2] Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications. [3] DevWebUI lets you start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. [4]

OptionWhat its source says it doesWhere it runs or what it needs
PM2Daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [5]Installed globally with npm. [5]
hotelStarts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1]Works on macOS, Linux and Windows, and requires Node. [1] [1]
Docker ComposeDefines and runs multi-container applications from a single YAML file. [3] [3]Works in production, staging, development, testing, and CI workflows. [3]
OvermindProcess manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [2]Supports Linux, *BSD, and macOS only, and requires tmux. [2] [2]
DevWebUIStart, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard with status, CPU, memory and logs. [4]Prebuilt Windows x64 app; on other systems it runs from source with Bun. [4]

What full-stack developers need from local dev server managers

A full-stack developer usually runs several things at once: a front-end dev server, an API, and often a database or other services. The daily jobs are starting that set in one step, restarting a single piece without stopping the rest, and reading the output of each piece without hunting through terminal tabs.

Ports are the next job. Two projects want the same port, or an old process is still holding it, and the developer needs to know which one.

The limits are practical. The operating system matters, because some tools run only on certain systems. Some tools need other software installed first, such as Node or tmux. Some assume containers, and some assume a Procfile. A tool that suits a Docker-based stack may be more than a developer needs for two plain Node servers, and the reverse is also true. Cost and licence matter too, since a few tools in this space have free parts and paid parts. The sections below say what each source states and nothing more.

PM2 for full-stack developers

PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [5] It can be installed globally with npm. [5] Its monitoring dashboard is web based, and monitoring starts with the command pm2 monitor. [5]

PM2 also has an AI Assistant (MCP) that connects Claude, Cursor or any MCP-compatible AI assistant to monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, exceptions, traces and alerts, secured by OAuth with a PM2.io account. [5]

On cost, the page says PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan, but PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source. [6] If you plan to use the monitoring side, check which part of PM2 you would be paying for.

hotel for full-stack developers

Hotel is a simple process manager for developers that starts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1] It works on macOS, Linux and Windows. [1]

It provides HTTPS via a local self-signed SSL certificate. [1] It supports wildcard subdomains, and it can map local domains to remote servers via proxy. [1] [1] Its page says you do not need to mess with port 80, /etc/hosts, sudo or additional software. [1]

Servers are only started when you access them. [1] Hotel requires Node to be installed. [1] It is installed with npm and started with hotel start. [1]

Docker Compose for full-stack developers

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [3] It lets you manage services, networks, and volumes in a single YAML configuration file. [3] With a single command, you create and start all the services from that file. [3]

Compose works in production, staging, development, testing, and CI workflows. [3] Compose Bridge transforms a Compose configuration file into configuration files for other platforms, such as Kubernetes. [3]

The page also lists Docker plans. Docker Personal includes 100 Docker Hub pulls per hour and 1 private Docker Hub repo, among its included usage. [7] Check which plan, if any, your usage needs.

Overmind for full-stack developers

Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [2] It starts processes in a tmux session so you can connect to any process and gain control over it. [2]

It can restart a single process on the fly, and it can let a specified process die without interrupting all the other processes. [2] [2] It can also restart specified processes automatically when they die. [2]

Overmind currently supports only Linux, *BSD, and macOS. [2] It requires tmux to be installed first. [2] By default, Overmind hands out ports starting at 5000 and moves 100 apart for each process. [2]

DevWebUI for full-stack developers

DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. It lets you start, stop and restart your local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. [4]

DevWebUI lets a repo keep a list of the servers to run, and changes made to the running processes can be saved back to that list. [4] When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask. [4] DevWebUI starts the repo's Docker stack first, waits for its ports and sets connection settings for the app to use. [4]

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [4] It is open source under the MIT License. [4] There is a prebuilt Windows x64 app; on other systems you run it from source with Bun, and the tray app is Windows-only for now. [4]

Frequently asked questions

Which local dev server manager works on Windows, macOS and Linux?

Hotel's page says it works on macOS, Linux and Windows. [1] Overmind's page says it supports Linux, *BSD, and macOS only. [2] DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and on other systems you run it from source with Bun. [4] Check the system you work on first.

Is PM2 free for local development?

PM2's page says PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan, but PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source. [6] The monitoring dashboard is web based and starts with the command pm2 monitor. [5] Check which of the two parts you would use before you decide.

What does Overmind need before it runs?

Overmind's page says it works with tmux, so you need to install tmux first. [2] It is a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [2] It currently supports only Linux, *BSD, and macOS. [2] If you do not use Procfiles or tmux, check whether that fits your workflow.

Can a local dev server manager start a Docker Compose stack?

Docker Compose itself creates and starts all the services from your configuration file with a single command. [3] DevWebUI starts the repo's Docker stack first, waits for its ports and sets connection settings for the app to use. [4] Decide whether you want the stack and your app servers started together.

Is DevWebUI free and open source?

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [4] It is open source under the MIT License. [4] DevWebUI sends anonymous usage information when checking for updates, unless you turn it off with DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1. [4] Check whether that setting suits your environment.

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [4]

Try DevWebUI

Sources

  1. hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07
  2. Overmind, github.com/DarthSim/overmind, read 2026-10-07
  3. Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07
  4. DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  5. PM2, pm2.keymetrics.io, read 2026-10-07
  6. PM2, pm2.io/pricing, read 2026-10-07
  7. Docker Compose, docker.com/pricing, read 2026-10-07

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