What Is EnvKit?
EnvKit is a desktop application currently in beta that packages a complete local PHP development stack into a single control panel for Windows and macOS. Rather than manually installing and wiring together a web server, PHP, and multiple databases, EnvKit manages all of that behind one app and handles per-site configuration automatically.
The maintainers position it as a modern alternative to Laragon and XAMPP, and it can import existing Laragon projects without modification.
What's Included
EnvKit ships with everything a typical Laravel project needs out of the box:
- Web servers: Nginx or Apache, configurable per site
- PHP: versions 7.4 through the latest, isolated per project, with on-demand Xdebug support
- Databases: MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis
- Admin UIs: phpMyAdmin, pgweb, and mongo-express
- Email: Mailpit for local mail catching
- Node.js: dev servers for React, Next.js, and other frameworks with hot reload
- HTTPS: trusted
.testdomains via a locally trusted certificate authority
For Laravel specifically, EnvKit adds Laravel Reverb for WebSockets, cron job management, and live inspection of dumps, queries, and job queues.
AI Integration via MCP
EnvKit includes a built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server. This means an AI assistant in your editor can read the stack state and run diagnostics without you switching to the EnvKit app. The maintainers pitch this as automatic troubleshooting of common configuration problems — a practical addition as AI-assisted development becomes more common in everyday workflows.
How EnvKit Compares to Laravel Herd
EnvKit covers similar ground to Laravel Herd, the local environment built by Beyond Code in partnership with Laravel. The key differences:
| Feature | EnvKit | Laravel Herd | |---|---|---| | Price | Free | Free tier + $99/yr Pro | | Databases bundled | MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis | Pro tier only | | Mail / log tools | Included free | Pro tier only | | Web server choice | Nginx or Apache | Nginx | | Native app | Electron | Native | | Apple Silicon support | macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon) | Intel + Apple Silicon | | Maturity | Beta | Established |
Herd runs as a native app rather than Electron and is an established product. EnvKit is still in beta but offers its full feature set at no cost.
Getting Started
macOS (macOS 12 Monterey or later, Apple Silicon)
Run the install script to download the latest signed build and place EnvKit.app in your Applications folder:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Env-Kit/envkit-releases/main/install.sh | bash
Windows (Windows 10 or 11)
Download the EnvKit-Setup-*.exe installer from the releases page on GitHub and run it. Both platforms support automatic updates.
Pricing and Licensing
EnvKit is free to use with no account or sign-up required. It is not open source — the application is proprietary and released under an all-rights-reserved license. The latest release at the time of writing is v0.31.0-beta.39, published on July 2, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- EnvKit is a free, all-in-one local Laravel development stack for Windows and macOS
- Bundles Nginx/Apache, PHP 7.4+, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Mailpit, and Node.js
- Includes Laravel-specific features: Reverb, queue inspection, dump viewer, and cron management
- Built-in MCP server enables AI-assisted diagnostics from your editor
- Currently in beta; proprietary license, not open source
- A viable free alternative to Laragon, XAMPP, and parts of Laravel Herd Pro
Source: EnvKit: A Local Development Stack for Laravel on Windows and macOS — Laravel News
