SniporaPortlivo vs LocalhostBar
LocalhostBar is a free, open-source menu bar app that lists every localhost listener, names it and stops your own processes. If seeing and stopping is all you need, it may be enough.
By Anmol Sethi · Checked
Quick answer
Pick LocalhostBar if you want free and open source and mainly need to see and stop local servers. Pick Portlivo if you also want restart, live logs, health, Docker and Homebrew services handled the right way, and a fix when a port is already in use.
At a glance
| Portlivo | LocalhostBar | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Menu bar app and window, macOS 14+ | Menu bar app, macOS 13+ |
| Price | $8.99 once for one Mac (early-bird, normally $19.99), 7-day free trial | Free, open source (MIT) |
| Shows the project | Folder, command, git branch, PID and uptime | Page title, project folder or known service |
| Stop | One click; services and containers the right way | Your own processes, with SIGTERM |
| Restart | Yes, with the same arguments and environment | Not listed |
| Logs | Live, in the inspector or a window of its own | Not listed |
| Health | HTTP status, response time and a preview | Not listed |
| Notifications | Watched ports, and Kill Holder & Retry | Not listed |
Where Portlivo pulls ahead
- Act, not just look: restart with the original arguments, tail logs, start a whole project from its folder.
- Stops services so they stay stopped:
brew servicesfor Homebrew,docker stopfor containers. - Kill Holder & Retry and watched ports, with a banner when a server stops.
- Share it: a QR code for your phone, or a public HTTPS link through cloudflared or ngrok.
Where LocalhostBar is the better pick
- You want free and open source.
- You’re on macOS 13 Ventura; Portlivo needs macOS 14.
- Seeing what’s running and stopping it is all you do.
Portlivo is free for 7 days with every feature. Then it’s $8.99 once for one Mac (early-bird, normally $19.99), or $39.99 for 3 Macs or $59.99 for 5 Macs, with free updates and no subscription.
Questions people ask
- Is Portlivo open source?
- No. It’s a paid app with a 7-day free trial, no account and no analytics in the app.
Try Portlivo free for 7 days. Every feature, no account.
Download for MacSend to my MacStill have a question?
Write to us — a real developer reads every email and replies personally.