--- {"title": "DevWebUI vs Foreman in 2026: Pricing and Setup", "description": "DevWebUI and Foreman compared on what each does, licence and price, how each is installed, and what to check before you pick one.", "url": "https://saydeploy.com/devwebui-vs-foreman/", "date": "2026-10-12"} --- DevWebUI and Foreman compared on what each does, licence and price, how each is installed, and what to check before you pick one. DevWebUI starts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard [^1]. Foreman's sources here give its install command and licence only: gem install foreman [^2], under the MIT license [^2]. | Option | Price | Licence | Install | |---|---|---|---| | Foreman | Not published | MIT license [^2] | gem install foreman [^2] | | DevWebUI | Free, core features need no account [^1] | MIT License [^1] | devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, or bun install then bun run dev [^1] | ## The short answer DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [^1]. The sources given here say little about what Foreman does day to day. On needs, Foreman's sources cover how it is installed [^2] and its licence [^2]. DevWebUI's sources cover a dashboard for starting and watching local servers [^1], a small file in each repo that lists the servers to run [^1] and a way for AI assistants to control your dev servers through 43 tools [^1]. ## What Foreman is built for The facts available for Foreman are few, so this section stays short. Foreman is installed with the gem command, and its page shows "$ gem install foreman" [^2]. It is licensed under the MIT license [^2]. The sources here do not describe what Foreman does when running, how it is configured or which systems it supports. Check Foreman's own pages for those points before you decide. ## What DevWebUI is built for 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 [^1]. One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and processes changed in the GUI are written back to that file [^1]. When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask [^1]. Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor [^1]. A setting in the repo file can start the project's Docker services first, wait for their ports and set connection settings for your servers [^1]. You can also set threshold alert rules and see a history of the alerts that fired [^1]. AI assistants can control your dev servers through 43 tools, using the same background service as the dashboard [^1]. ## Pricing and fees Foreman's sources here state no price. They give its licence: it is licensed under the MIT license [^2]. Whether any paid option exists is not published in these sources. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^1]. It is open source under the MIT License [^1]. No paid tier price is stated in its sources. ## Setting it up and daily use Foreman is installed with gem install foreman [^2]. The sources here say nothing more about its setup or routine use. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases [^1]. On any operating system, you run bun install and then bun run dev [^1]. There is a prebuilt Windows x64 app, other systems run it from source with Bun, and the tray app is Windows-only for now [^1]. On Windows, a tray icon runs the background service and has Open, Restart and Quit options [^1]. Daily, you control servers from the dashboard [^1] or from a devwebui command-line tool that works without the dashboard [^1]. If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch loads your projects but starts nothing automatically [^1]. ## Things to check before you choose Ask what each tool does day to day, since Foreman's facts here do not say. Read its own pages. Check your operating system. DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and other systems run it from source with Bun [^1]. Check your tooling. Foreman installs through the gem command [^2], and DevWebUI needs Bun when run from source [^1]. Check what data leaves your machine. DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^1]. Check Foreman's pages for its data handling. Check access control if others can reach the tool. DevWebUI can require a credential on its API routes, with a few listed exceptions, and browsers get a key by typing a 6-digit pairing code [^1]. ## How to choose If you want an MIT licensed tool installed with the gem command, Foreman's page says that [^2] [^2]. If you want to start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard with status, CPU, memory and logs, DevWebUI's claims describe that [^1]. If you want a small file in your repo that lists the servers to run [^1], with Docker services started first [^1], DevWebUI's claims describe that. If you want an AI assistant to control your dev servers, DevWebUI's claims describe 43 tools for that [^1]. If you want a free tool with no account for core features, DevWebUI's claims say that [^1]. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Foreman free and open source? Foreman's page says it is licensed under the MIT license [^2]. The sources here state no price for it, so any price is not published here. Check Foreman's own pages if you need more detail on costs or support options before relying on it. ### Is DevWebUI free and open source? DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^1]. It is open source under the MIT License [^1]. The sources here do not state any paid tier, so the only price they give is free. Check the project's own pages for future plans. ### How do you install Foreman and DevWebUI? Foreman is installed with the gem command, shown as gem install foreman [^2]. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, and on any OS you run bun install and then bun run dev [^1]. Other systems run DevWebUI from source with Bun [^1]. ### Can DevWebUI work with AI assistants? DevWebUI lets AI assistants control your dev servers through 43 tools, using the same background service as the dashboard [^1]. The sources here say nothing about AI assistant support in Foreman, so check its own pages if that matters to you before you choose between the two tools. ### Does DevWebUI send any data about the machine? DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^1]. Its sources here say nothing further about data collection. For Foreman, the facts here do not cover data handling, so check its own pages before relying on either tool in a sensitive setting. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [^1] - [Visit DevWebUI](/go/devwebui-vs-foreman) ## Sources [^1]: DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/devwebui-vs-foreman) [^2]: Foreman, github.com/ddollar/foreman, read 2026-10-07 (https://github.com/ddollar/foreman)