Quick Overview
- 1#1: ngrok - Securely exposes local servers and applications to the internet via secure, inspectable tunnels with features like HTTP authentication and request replay.
- 2#2: Cloudflare Tunnel - Provides zero-trust secure tunnels to expose private services to the internet without opening firewall ports or public IPs.
- 3#3: Pinggy - Creates instant public URLs and TCP tunnels for local ports using SSH without any installation or account required.
- 4#4: LocalXpose - Exposes any TCP/UDP service on localhost to the internet with customizable domains, authentication, and traffic recording.
- 5#5: portmap.io - Offers reliable static TCP and UDP port forwarding to make local services accessible over the internet.
- 6#6: Packetriot - Delivers secure tunnels for remote access, IoT devices, and websites with HTTP/HTTPS, TCP, and UDP support.
- 7#7: PageKite - Zero-configuration sharing of any local HTTP/HTTPS/TCP service via custom domains over secure tunnels.
- 8#8: Localtunnel - Quickly generates public subdomains to expose local web servers without complex setup.
- 9#9: zrok - Open-source platform for secure, private sharing of services and resources via fast tunnels.
- 10#10: Tunnelmole - Free and unlimited tunneling service to expose local ports to the internet with custom subdomains.
We ranked tools by evaluating security robustness, protocol support (TCP, UDP, HTTP/HTTPS), setup complexity, and value, ensuring the list reflects the most reliable and versatile options for diverse needs.
Comparison Table
Port mapping software streamlines connecting local services to external networks, and this comparison table evaluates top tools including ngrok, Cloudflare Tunnel, Pinggy, LocalXpose, and portmap.io. It examines features, ease of use, and practical applications to help readers identify the ideal solution for their specific needs, whether for development, testing, or project sharing.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ngrok Securely exposes local servers and applications to the internet via secure, inspectable tunnels with features like HTTP authentication and request replay. | specialized | 9.8/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 2 | Cloudflare Tunnel Provides zero-trust secure tunnels to expose private services to the internet without opening firewall ports or public IPs. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 3 | Pinggy Creates instant public URLs and TCP tunnels for local ports using SSH without any installation or account required. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 4 | LocalXpose Exposes any TCP/UDP service on localhost to the internet with customizable domains, authentication, and traffic recording. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | portmap.io Offers reliable static TCP and UDP port forwarding to make local services accessible over the internet. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | Packetriot Delivers secure tunnels for remote access, IoT devices, and websites with HTTP/HTTPS, TCP, and UDP support. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 7 | PageKite Zero-configuration sharing of any local HTTP/HTTPS/TCP service via custom domains over secure tunnels. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 8 | Localtunnel Quickly generates public subdomains to expose local web servers without complex setup. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 9 | zrok Open-source platform for secure, private sharing of services and resources via fast tunnels. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Tunnelmole Free and unlimited tunneling service to expose local ports to the internet with custom subdomains. | other | 7.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 |
Securely exposes local servers and applications to the internet via secure, inspectable tunnels with features like HTTP authentication and request replay.
Provides zero-trust secure tunnels to expose private services to the internet without opening firewall ports or public IPs.
Creates instant public URLs and TCP tunnels for local ports using SSH without any installation or account required.
Exposes any TCP/UDP service on localhost to the internet with customizable domains, authentication, and traffic recording.
Offers reliable static TCP and UDP port forwarding to make local services accessible over the internet.
Delivers secure tunnels for remote access, IoT devices, and websites with HTTP/HTTPS, TCP, and UDP support.
Zero-configuration sharing of any local HTTP/HTTPS/TCP service via custom domains over secure tunnels.
Quickly generates public subdomains to expose local web servers without complex setup.
Open-source platform for secure, private sharing of services and resources via fast tunnels.
Free and unlimited tunneling service to expose local ports to the internet with custom subdomains.
ngrok
specializedSecurely exposes local servers and applications to the internet via secure, inspectable tunnels with features like HTTP authentication and request replay.
Zero-configuration secure tunnels exposing any local port to a public URL
ngrok is a leading port mapping tool that creates secure public tunnels to local services, allowing developers to expose localhost servers, APIs, or TCP ports to the internet instantly without router configuration. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and TLS tunnels with features like custom domains, authentication, and traffic inspection. Widely used for webhook testing, demos, and remote debugging, ngrok simplifies secure ingress for development workflows.
Pros
- Instant setup with a single command
- Secure tunnels with built-in auth and inspection
- Generous free tier and scalable paid options
Cons
- Free tier has temporary URLs and bandwidth limits
- Relies on ngrok infrastructure for uptime
- Advanced features require paid subscription
Best For
Developers and teams needing quick, secure exposure of local services for testing, demos, and webhook integration.
Pricing
Free plan with limits; Pro at $20/user/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
Cloudflare Tunnel
enterpriseProvides zero-trust secure tunnels to expose private services to the internet without opening firewall ports or public IPs.
Outbound-only secure tunnels with integrated Zero Trust authentication and Cloudflare's edge network for global low-latency access
Cloudflare Tunnel (cloudflared) is a secure, outbound-only tunneling solution that exposes local services to the internet via Cloudflare's global edge network without requiring open inbound firewall ports. It proxies HTTP/HTTPS traffic for free, with TCP/UDP support available through paid Spectrum plans. Ideal for development, self-hosting, and production environments, it integrates seamlessly with Cloudflare's DNS, WAF, and Zero Trust features for enhanced security and performance.
Pros
- Zero Trust security with end-to-end encryption and access policies
- Global CDN acceleration, DDoS protection, and automatic scaling
- Free unlimited HTTP/HTTPS tunnels with simple daemon-based setup
Cons
- Requires Cloudflare account and domain for full functionality
- TCP/UDP port mapping limited to paid Enterprise Spectrum plans
- Dependent on Cloudflare's uptime and ecosystem lock-in
Best For
Teams and self-hosters seeking secure, production-grade exposure of web services behind strict firewalls.
Pricing
Free for HTTP/HTTPS tunnels; TCP/UDP via Spectrum requires Enterprise plans (custom pricing, typically $3,000+/month minimum).
Pinggy
specializedCreates instant public URLs and TCP tunnels for local ports using SSH without any installation or account required.
Public SSH server enabling reverse tunnels from any machine with SSH, no app download required
Pinggy (pinggy.io) is a lightweight port mapping tool that uses SSH-based reverse tunnels to expose local services to public URLs without requiring software installation or account signup. It supports HTTP, TCP, and UDP forwarding via a single command, ideal for quick demos, webhook testing, and sharing local apps securely. Advanced options include custom subdomains, authentication, and session recording on paid plans, with a web console for management.
Pros
- One-command setup via standard SSH with no client install
- Generous free tier including persistent URLs and basic auth
- Supports TCP/UDP/HTTP with headers, inspect, and recording
Cons
- Free plan limits to 1 concurrent tunnel and 60-min sessions
- Fewer integrations and enterprise features than ngrok or Cloudflare Tunnel
- Dashboard is basic compared to full-featured competitors
Best For
Developers and testers needing instant, zero-config port forwarding for temporary local server exposure.
Pricing
Free plan (1 tunnel, 60-min sessions); Starter $5/mo (unlimited tunnels, custom domains); Pro $20/mo (advanced features like recording and teams).
LocalXpose
specializedExposes any TCP/UDP service on localhost to the internet with customizable domains, authentication, and traffic recording.
Built-in HTML Inspector for real-time request/response modification and debugging
LocalXpose is a secure tunneling and port mapping tool that exposes local servers, applications, and services to the internet via public URLs without requiring router configuration or firewall changes. It supports HTTP/HTTPS, TCP, TLS, and UDP protocols, enabling developers to share localhost environments for testing, demos, or remote access. Key capabilities include custom subdomains, authentication, request inspection, and persistent tunnels for reliable connectivity.
Pros
- Cross-platform CLI support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Robust protocol support including TCP/UDP and WebSockets
- Generous free tier with essential tunneling features
Cons
- Limited concurrent tunnels and bandwidth on free plan
- Advanced features like custom domains require paid subscription
- Occasional dependency on service uptime for tunnel stability
Best For
Developers and QA teams needing quick, secure exposure of local services for remote testing and client demos.
Pricing
Free plan with basic tunnels; Pro at $9/month (unlimited tunnels, custom domains); Enterprise custom pricing.
portmap.io
specializedOffers reliable static TCP and UDP port forwarding to make local services accessible over the internet.
UDP hole punching technology for automatic NAT traversal without port forwarding
Portmap.io is a port forwarding service that uses UDP hole punching to expose local TCP/UDP services to the internet without requiring router port forwarding or public IP addresses. It offers lightweight client applications for Windows, Linux, and macOS, enabling quick tunnel setup via command-line or web dashboard management. The service supports persistent tunnels ideal for remote access, gaming servers, or IoT devices behind NAT firewalls.
Pros
- No router configuration or static IP required
- Cross-platform clients with simple setup
- Reliable UDP hole punching for NAT traversal
Cons
- Relies on third-party servers (privacy/single point of failure)
- Free tier limited to 1 tunnel and 100MB/month bandwidth
- Not open-source, potential security concerns
Best For
Developers, gamers, and hobbyists needing quick, temporary exposure of local services behind strict NAT without hardware changes.
Pricing
Free: 1 TCP/UDP tunnel, 100MB/month; Tunnel plan €2.50/month (10 tunnels, 1GB); higher tiers up to €25/month for unlimited.
Packetriot
enterpriseDelivers secure tunnels for remote access, IoT devices, and websites with HTTP/HTTPS, TCP, and UDP support.
Native client support for embedded systems like Raspberry Pi, enabling seamless port mapping for IoT deployments.
Packetriot is a secure port mapping and tunneling solution that allows users to expose local services, ports, and devices to the internet without router configuration or static IPs. It supports TCP, UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, and more through lightweight client apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and other embedded systems. Primarily aimed at developers, IoT projects, and remote access, it offers persistent tunnels with automatic reconnection and features like custom domains on paid plans.
Pros
- Simple zero-config setup via CLI or GUI apps across multiple platforms
- Strong support for IoT and embedded devices like Raspberry Pi
- Persistent tunnels with auto-reconnect and multi-protocol forwarding (TCP/UDP/HTTP/SSH)
Cons
- Free tier limited to 1 tunnel and 1GB/month bandwidth
- Relies on Packetriot's cloud infrastructure, introducing potential downtime
- Advanced team features and custom domains require paid plans starting at $5/month
Best For
Developers, IoT makers, and small teams needing quick, secure exposure of local ports for testing or remote access.
Pricing
Free plan (1 tunnel, 1GB/mo); Tunnel plan $5/mo (unlimited tunnels, custom domains); Team $25/mo (10 users, SSO); Enterprise custom.
PageKite
specializedZero-configuration sharing of any local HTTP/HTTPS/TCP service via custom domains over secure tunnels.
Automatic HTTPS provisioning with custom domains via reverse tunnels, no port forwarding required
PageKite is a tunneling service that enables users to expose local servers and ports to the public internet without port forwarding or a static IP address. It uses reverse SSH tunnels to relay traffic through PageKite's servers, supporting HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, and generic TCP protocols. This makes it particularly useful for developers sharing web apps, APIs, or remote access during testing and demos.
Pros
- Secure reverse tunneling works behind any NAT/firewall
- Automatic HTTPS with free SSL certificates and custom domains on paid plans
- Open-source client with support for multiple protocols including HTTP, SSH, and TCP
Cons
- Relies on PageKite's relay servers, limiting full self-hosting without setup
- Free tier restricted to one tunnel and pagekite.me subdomain
- Primarily command-line based, with limited GUI options
Best For
Developers and testers needing quick, secure exposure of local web services or ports to the internet without router changes.
Pricing
Free tier for one basic tunnel; paid plans start at $4/month for unlimited tunnels, custom domains, and priority support.
Localtunnel
specializedQuickly generates public subdomains to expose local web servers without complex setup.
Instant random subdomain generation via a single CLI command without any account setup
Localtunnel is a free, open-source command-line tool that exposes local web servers to the public internet by creating a temporary tunnel via a unique HTTPS URL. Users install it via npm and run a simple command like 'lt --port 3000' to instantly get a shareable link such as 'https://abc123.loca.lt' that proxies traffic to their local port. It's designed for quick, ad-hoc sharing of development servers, webhook testing, or demos without needing accounts or complex configurations.
Pros
- Dead-simple one-command setup with instant public HTTPS URLs
- Completely free with no account or signup required
- Open-source and lightweight, runs locally via Node.js
Cons
- Limited to HTTP/HTTPS tunneling (no TCP/UDP support)
- No built-in authentication, password protection, or custom domains
- Dependent on central localtunnel.me server, which can experience downtime or rate limits
Best For
Developers and testers needing a zero-config way to quickly share local web apps for demos or webhook testing.
Pricing
Free (open-source with no paid tiers or limits for basic use)
zrok
specializedOpen-source platform for secure, private sharing of services and resources via fast tunnels.
Zero-trust networking via OpenZiti, providing end-to-end encryption and policy-based access without public exposure
zrok (zrok.io) is an open-source platform built on OpenZiti that provides secure, zero-trust tunnels for exposing local services and ports to the internet. It supports HTTP, TCP, UDP, and SSH sharing via cloud-hosted or self-hosted instances, offering both ephemeral public shares and persistent reserved endpoints. Ideal for developers needing reliable port mapping without traditional VPNs or insecure exposures.
Pros
- Zero-trust security with built-in authentication and authorization
- Open-source core with self-hosting option for full control
- Persistent reservations for reliable, custom domain endpoints
Cons
- CLI-focused interface lacks polished GUI for beginners
- Advanced setup requires OpenZiti knowledge for self-hosting
- Free tier limited to public/ephemeral shares
Best For
Developers and teams requiring secure, scalable port forwarding for dev/testing environments with zero-trust principles.
Pricing
Free for open/public shares; Pro plans from $5/month for private/reserved shares; Enterprise self-hosting free/open-source.
Tunnelmole
otherFree and unlimited tunneling service to expose local ports to the internet with custom subdomains.
Accountless, forever-free tunneling with no usage limits or ads
Tunnelmole is a free, open-source port forwarding tool that creates secure TCP tunnels to expose local servers and applications to the public internet via HTTPS URLs. It operates via a simple CLI client installed through npm, allowing users to map local ports to temporary public endpoints without requiring an account. Ideal for developers testing webhooks, demos, or local services, it supports basic TCP forwarding but lacks advanced inspection or authentication features found in premium alternatives.
Pros
- Completely free with no bandwidth or time limits on basic tunnels
- Dead-simple CLI installation and usage via npm
- Open-source client with no account required
Cons
- Random subdomains only on free tier; custom ones require payment
- Lacks advanced features like request inspection, basic auth, or TCP/UDP beyond basics
- Tunnels expire on inactivity, requiring restarts for long-term use
Best For
Hobbyist developers and quick testing of local web apps where zero cost and simplicity are priorities over advanced functionality.
Pricing
Free unlimited basic tunnels; Pro plans from $5/month for reserved subdomains and priority support.
Conclusion
In the competitive landscape of port mapping software, ngrok earns the top spot, celebrated for its secure, inspectable tunnels that combine robustness with user-friendly features like HTTP authentication. Cloudflare Tunnel closely follows, shining with its zero-trust model that keeps private services accessible without firewall exposure. Pinggy rounds out the top three, impressing with its instant, account-free setup—proving there’s a strong alternative for nearly every need. Together, these tools highlight the range of options for exposing local services.
Dive into ngrok to unlock its secure, versatile tunneling capabilities and streamline how you share local applications with the world.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison