SayDeploy Plain comparisons of developer tools, AI coding tools included

PM2 alternatives in 2026 for local dev servers

Compare PM2 alternatives for local development: browser tools, tools that run an app's listed commands, container tools, and DevWebUI.

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

Hotel starts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1] DevWebUI says it lets developers start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard. [2] Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications (a Procfile is a text file that lists the commands an app runs) and tmux (a terminal tool that keeps several sessions open). [3] Foreman is a manager for Procfile-based applications. [4] Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications. [5]

OptionWhat it doesPlatforms or install
PM2Background process manager that helps keep applications running. [6]Installed globally with npm. [6]
HotelStarts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1]macOS, Linux, and Windows. [1]
DevWebUIStarts, stops, and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard. [2]Prebuilt Windows app for 64-bit Windows; other systems run it from source with Bun, a JavaScript runtime. [2]
OvermindProcess manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [3]Linux, *BSD, and macOS only. [3]
ForemanManager for Procfile-based applications. [4]Platforms: not published
Docker ComposeDefines and runs multi-container applications. [5]Platforms: not published

Why developers look past PM2

PM2 is a background process manager that helps manage applications and keep them running. [6] A developer comparing tools can check how each one starts, shows, and controls local servers.

PM2 can be installed globally with npm. [6] Its monitoring dashboard is web based and can be started with the pm2 monitor command. [6] PM2.io says it lets Claude, Cursor or any MCP-compatible AI assistant (MCP is a standard way for AI assistants to use other programs) connect to monitoring data such as server status, metrics, logs, exceptions, traces and alerts, secured by OAuth (a sign-in method that lets a tool use your account without your password) with a PM2.io account. [6]

PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source, and PM2 Plus does not offer a free plan. [7]

Hotel: starts local apps from your browser

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]

Hotel gives local apps secure https addresses on your own computer, using a certificate it makes itself. [1] Hotel also accepts any name in front of a project's local address. [1] Its servers are only started when they are accessed. [1]

Hotel does not require changes to the standard web port, manual host-file edits, administrator access, or additional software. [1] Hotel requires Node to be installed. [1] Hotel also provides access to local servers at localhost:2000. [1]

DevWebUI: controls local dev servers from one dashboard

DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. DevWebUI says it lets developers start, stop, and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, while showing each server's status, CPU, memory, and logs. [2]

Each repository can have a small file that lists its servers, and changes made in DevWebUI are written back to that file. [2] When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port when asked. [2]

DevWebUI says a devwebui command-line tool lets you control processes by typing commands instead of using the dashboard. [2] DevWebUI says its MCP server, a standard way for AI assistants to use other programs, has 43 tools that let AI agents control the same background program the dashboard uses. [2]

DevWebUI says it is free, and its core features need no account. [2] It is open source under the MIT License. [2] There is a prebuilt Windows app for 64-bit Windows; on other systems it runs from source with Bun, a JavaScript runtime, and its background app with a tray icon is Windows-only for now. [2]

Overmind: manages Procfile apps through tmux

Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications (apps whose commands are listed in a Procfile, a plain text file) and tmux (a terminal tool that keeps several sessions open). [3] It starts processes in a tmux session so developers can connect to any process and control it. [3]

Overmind can restart a single process on the fly. [3] It can also let a specified process die without interrupting the others, and specified processes can be restarted automatically when they die. [3] [3]

It currently supports Linux, BSD systems, and macOS, and it requires tmux to be installed first. [3] [3]

Foreman: manages Procfile-based apps

Foreman is a manager for Procfile-based applications, which are apps whose commands are listed in a Procfile, a plain text file. [4] Its aim is to spare developers from dealing with the details of how a Procfile is written. [4] It can be installed with the gem command, which installs Ruby software. [8] It is licensed under the MIT license. [8]

Check Foreman's documentation for the systems it runs on and how it handles logs and restarts.

Docker Compose: defines and runs multi-container apps

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [5] Compose lets you manage services, networks, and storage in one settings file. [5]

With a single command, Compose creates and starts all the services from the configuration file. [5] Compose works in production, staging, development, testing, and automated test and build runs. [5]

Docker Compose describes containers, so the key question is whether the local development services need to run inside containers.

How to choose among PM2 alternatives

Choose Hotel when browser access and local domains are the main reason for switching: Hotel starts apps from the browser and provides local domains. [1] Check its Node requirement if Node is not already installed. [1]

Choose DevWebUI when the main task is starting, stopping, and restarting local dev servers from one dashboard while seeing status, CPU, memory, and logs. [2] Check whether you want each repository's server list kept in a file, to control servers by typing commands, or to let AI agents use the background program behind the dashboard. [2] [2] [2]

Choose Overmind when the workflow already centers on Procfiles and tmux. [3] [3] Check the platform because Overmind currently supports Linux, BSD systems, and macOS only. [3]

Foreman is a manager for Procfile-based applications. [4] Check its documentation for the specific platform, Procfile, log, and restart behavior needed by the project.

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications, and it manages services, networks, and storage in one settings file. [5] [5] Check whether the services actually need containers before moving a local server workflow into Compose.

Frequently asked questions

Is PM2 free to use?

PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source, while PM2 Plus does not offer a free plan. [7] Check which PM2 product provides the features needed before comparing it with an alternative.

What is a PM2 alternative that works from a browser?

Hotel starts apps from a browser and provides local domains. [1] Hotel works on macOS, Linux, and Windows. [1] DevWebUI provides one dashboard for starting, stopping, and restarting local dev servers while showing status, CPU, memory, and logs. [2]

Which PM2 alternative works with tmux?

Overmind is a process manager for Procfile-based applications and tmux. [3] Overmind starts processes in a tmux session so developers can connect to any process and control it. [3] Overmind requires tmux to be installed first. [3] It supports Linux, BSD systems, and macOS. [3]

Is there a PM2 alternative that AI agents can control?

DevWebUI says its MCP server, a standard way for AI assistants to use other programs, has 43 tools that let AI agents control the same background program the dashboard uses. [2] PM2.io says it lets Claude, Cursor or any MCP-compatible AI assistant connect to monitoring data, secured by OAuth (a sign-in method that lets a tool use your account without your password) with a PM2.io account. [6]

Can Docker Compose replace PM2 for local development?

Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications. [5] Docker Compose manages services, networks, and storage in one settings file. [5] With a single command, Compose creates and starts all the services from the configuration file. [5] Check whether the local services are intended to run inside containers.

DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [2]

Try DevWebUI

Sources

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

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