ngrok

Ngrok is a cross-platform tool that creates secure tunnels from a public endpoint to a locally running service, enabling developers to expose a local server to the internet without deploying to a public host. It is used to share work-in-progress projects, test webhooks, and demonstrate applications running on a local machine.

Ngrok consists of a client application that runs on the local machine and a cloud service that receives requests on a public URL and forwards them to the client via a persistent tunnel. Tunnels can forward HTTP, HTTPS, or TCP traffic. When a tunnel is established, ngrok assigns a public URL (and optional subdomain or custom domain on paid plans) that proxies requests to the local port. The client also provides a web interface at http://localhost:4040 for inspecting traffic, replaying requests, and debugging.

Common use cases include testing webhooks, sharing demos or development servers with remote collaborators, and enabling remote debugging and demonstrations of locally hosted apps. Key features on paid plans may include reserved domains, password protection, IP allowlisting, and TLS termination. The free plan typically provides ephemeral URLs and limited concurrent tunnels.

Security considerations include the need to secure exposed services, avoid exposing sensitive data, and use authentication and access controls. Opening a local service to the internet introduces new attack surfaces, so users should configure appropriate protections and monitor traffic.

Ngrok supports several platforms and remains a popular option in development workflows for quickly exposing local services to external clients and testers.