EnvKit vs XAMPP
XAMPP has been the default first local server for two decades, and it still works. Its newest Windows download ships PHP 8.2, and it still asks you to edit httpd-vhosts.conf and the hosts file by hand, run one PHP version for every project, and skip HTTPS. EnvKit does all of that automatically, runs PHP 7.4 through 8.5, and adds the services modern projects expect.
| Feature | EnvKit | XAMPP |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, macOS | Win / macOS / Linux |
| Price / license | Free | Free |
| Web server | nginx + Apache | Apache |
| Multiple PHP versions | Yes | No |
| Per-site PHP isolation | Yes | No |
| Auto .test domains | Yes | No |
| Trusted local HTTPS | Yes | manual |
| MySQL / MariaDB | Yes | Yes |
| PostgreSQL | Yes | No |
| Redis | Yes | No |
| MongoDB | Yes | No |
| DB web admin UIs (Postgres/Mongo) | Yes | No |
| Mail catcher (Mailpit) | Yes | Mercury |
| Node.js | Yes | No |
| Next / React / Angular / Node / Vite / Express sites | Yes | No |
| Laravel Reverb (WebSockets) | Yes | No |
| Debug window: live dump() / dd() stream | Yes | No |
| SQL + N+1 / slow-query, mail, jobs & HTTP capture | Yes | No |
| Symfony debug support (dump / queries / mail) | Yes | No |
| In-app Tinker REPL | Yes | No |
| Cron jobs / scheduled tasks | Yes | No |
| nvm + per-project .nvmrc | Yes | No |
| Python | Yes | No |
| Composer / Laravel scaffolding | Yes | No |
| Built-in Git panel (stage / commit / branches) | Yes | No |
| Light / dark UI | Yes | No |
| Multi-language UI (+ RTL) | Yes | No |
| Import from Laragon | Yes | No |
| Import from Laravel Herd | Yes | No |
| AI control via MCP | Yes | No |
| Diagnose & self-heal services | Yes | No |
| Auto-update | Yes | No |
XAMPP details checked on against XAMPP downloads. Prices and plans change; the linked pages are the authority.
What you gain over XAMPP
Every PHP version, isolated per site
Run PHP 7.4 for a legacy app and 8.5 for a new one at the same time. XAMPP bundles one PHP per download and switching means reinstalling.
Automatic .test hosts with trusted HTTPS
Add a folder and it is live at https://name.test with a trusted certificate. No vhost files, no hosts-file edits, no browser warnings.
PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB and Mailpit
The databases and mail catcher modern frameworks expect, each with a web admin UI, instead of MySQL alone.
Node, Python and Composer tooling
Node dev servers on .test hosts, Python, Composer, Git and the Laravel installer are managed in the app and synced to your PATH.
Self-healing and AI control
When Apache will not start because Skype took port 80, EnvKit tells you and fixes it. Or ask your AI assistant to do it through MCP.
Where XAMPP still fits better
iXAMPP runs on Linux
EnvKit ships for Windows and macOS only. Linux users should stay on XAMPP or a native stack for now.
iXAMPP is the older, simpler bundle
If you only need Apache, one PHP and MySQL for a course or a quick test, XAMPP is smaller and has no learning curve. EnvKit manages more, which is more to understand.
iApache is not the default
EnvKit starts with nginx and offers Apache as an installable option. Both serve PHP through FastCGI.
Moving from XAMPP
Copy your htdocs projects into the EnvKit projects folder, or add them in place from the Sites page. Export your MySQL databases from phpMyAdmin and import them into EnvKit with the bundled phpMyAdmin.
irm https://envkit.net/install.ps1 | iexFree, no account, no card. Windows 10/11 and macOS (Apple Silicon).
Questions people ask
- Can EnvKit use my existing htdocs folder?
- Yes. Add any folder as a site and EnvKit serves it from where it is. Moving it into the projects folder is optional.
- Does EnvKit include phpMyAdmin?
- Yes, phpMyAdmin is bundled and served at phpmyadmin.test, along with pgAdmin and mongo-express for the other engines.
- Is EnvKit free?
- Yes. It is free to download from GitHub with no signup and no paid tier.