Does Portlivo use lsof?

It reads the same information macOS gives lsof, then adds the project, the app that started it, health and resource use. The `devports` command gives you the same list in Terminal.

Is kill -9 safe for a dev server?

It stops it at once, without letting it clean up, which can leave lock files or half-written data behind. Try plain `kill` first. Portlivo sends the plain quit signal (SIGTERM).

Compared

Portlivo vs lsof and kill

lsof and kill are free, already on your Mac and scriptable. They also answer “what’s on port 3000?” with a PID and the word node. Here’s where each one fits.

By Anmol Sethi · Checked October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Stick with lsof and kill if you free a port now and then and know which one. Pick Portlivo if you run several projects at once: it shows every server with its project folder, health and uptime, and stops, restarts or tails it in one click.

Ask AIChatGPT Claude Perplexity Google AI Grok

At a glance

	Portlivo	lsof + kill
Type	Menu bar app and window, macOS 14+	Commands built into macOS
Price	$8.99 once for one Mac (early-bird, normally $19.99), 7-day free trial	Free
Shows the project	Folder, command, git branch, PID and uptime	The command name; the folder takes a second command
Stop	One click; re-checks the PID first	`kill <PID>`, or `kill -9`
Restart	Yes, with the same arguments and environment	No
Logs and health	Live logs, HTTP status and response time	No
Port already in use	Kill Holder & Retry from the notification	Find the PID, kill it, start again by hand
Scriptable	The `devports` command and Shortcuts actions	Yes

Where Portlivo pulls ahead

Names, not PIDs. Every port shows its project folder, command and the app it came from, not just node.
Always current. It rescans every two seconds, so you see a server stop or start without running anything.
The right way to stop things. Homebrew services through brew services and containers through docker stop, so they don’t come back.
Restart, logs and health for each server, from the keyboard.

Where lsof and kill are the better pick

You only free a port once in a while and know which one.
You’re scripting, or working over SSH on a machine without a screen.
You want nothing installed at all.

The commands, step by step: how to see every dev server and how to kill the process on a port.

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

Does Portlivo use lsof?: It reads the same information macOS gives lsof, then adds the project, the app that started it, health and resource use. The devports command gives you the same list in Terminal.
Is kill -9 safe for a dev server?: It stops it at once, without letting it clean up, which can leave lock files or half-written data behind. Try plain kill first. Portlivo sends the plain quit signal (SIGTERM).

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