ngrok alternatives and localhost tunnels compared
Every tool on this page gives a server on your machine a public URL. They differ in what the free plan allows, whether the URL stays the same, and whether you can see the requests. Here is how Expose compares with ngrok, Cloudflare Tunnel, localtunnel, Tailscale Funnel, Pinggy and LocalXpose, and when each of them is the better choice.
Expose
A single binary for macOS, Linux and Windows. The free plan has random URLs, a time limit per connection and no warning page. Pro is $79 a year per user with reserved subdomains, your own domain and servers on five continents. A dashboard on localhost:4040 shows and replays every request, and an MCP server lets coding agents read them.
curl -fsSL https://expose.dev/install.sh | sh
irm https://expose.dev/install.ps1 | iex
ngrok
The best-known tunnel, with an API gateway for production traffic. The free plan has usage limits and a warning page, and the pay-as-you-go plan bills for usage.
Expose vs ngrokCloudflare Tunnel
Free Quick Tunnels with a random trycloudflare.com URL and no account. A stable hostname needs a named tunnel and a domain on Cloudflare. No request inspector.
Expose vs Cloudflare Tunnellocaltunnel
Free and open source (MIT), installed from npm. You can ask for a subdomain but may not get it. No request dashboard.
Expose vs localtunnelTailscale Funnel
Available on all Tailscale plans, including the free one. URLs are on your tailnet's ts.net name, on ports 443, 8443 and 10000. Needs Tailscale set up first. No request inspector.
Expose vs Tailscale FunnelPinggy
Tunnels over a plain SSH command, with nothing to install. The free plan has a 60 minute timeout and random subdomains. HTTP, TCP, UDP and TLS tunnels, with request inspection and replay.
Expose vs PinggyLocalXpose
A free plan with two HTTP tunnels, time limits and an interstitial warning page. Pro is $8 a month billed yearly, with TCP, UDP and TLS tunnels and custom domains. Has a request inspector.
Expose vs LocalXposeDetails about the other tools are from their own websites on November 11, 2026; each comparison links its source.
How to choose
You test webhooks
Pick a tool with a request inspector and replay, and a URL that stays the same so you configure the provider once. Expose, ngrok, Pinggy and LocalXpose have an inspector. Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale Funnel and localtunnel don't.
You share work with clients
Pick a tool without a warning page in front of your site and with a URL you can choose. Expose has no warning page on any plan.
You work with a coding agent
Pick a tool your agent can read. Expose has an MCP server, so Claude Code, Codex or ChatGPT can see the requests that reached your tunnel.
You need UDP or a private network
Expose shares HTTP sites and TCP ports. For UDP look at Pinggy or LocalXpose, and for access inside a team VPN look at Tailscale.