If you’re new to Apache, then let me tell you right away that XAMPP isn’t the only name in town for all-in-one server packages that give you the power to create your LAMP stack – and it’s certainly not the best, either.
PHP development can be overwhelming if you are new to the language.
Still, fortunately, there are plenty of XAMPP alternatives that can simplify your experience and help you avoid some of the most common frustrations associated with developing PHP applications on your local machine.
We’ve assembled the 13 best XAMPP alternatives, so you don’t have to do the legwork yourself!
1. MAMP
MAMP is one of the best Xampp alternatives that has many loyal users but isn’t as powerful as some competitors.
Notably, it doesn’t include a MySQL database program, and those looking for an all-in-one solution may want to look elsewhere.
It also isn’t free: you have to pay $39 for a single user license with support for up to 5 websites and 10 databases—and that’s just for one year; after that, you’ll have to pay another $39 if you want to use it again.
If paying is no issue and you don’t need support on your installation, MAMP is still a great option.
2. WAMP
One of your best xampp alternatives is a software package called WAMP, which stands for Windows, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
As an open-source tool that you can download and install on your computer, WAMP lets you easily create websites and quickly learn how to set up databases.
Depending on which package you choose and how old your PC is, several steps are involved in setting up WAMP.
For example, if you have an older PC running Windows XP or Vista, it’s best to download and install Apache 2.2 first (you can find a link to do so here). Once that’s done, download MySQL 5.1 (also linked here) and PHP 5.3 (here’s where you’ll find it).
Then follow these simple instructions: Launch your web browser and type localhost into its address bar after installing all three programs.
If everything has been installed correctly, you should see a page titled It Works! Congratulations—you now know how to start using WAMP!
3. AMPPS
Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. An AMPPS server is an excellent option for those looking for a free version of Apache, MySQL, and PHP that they can install on their server.
AMPPS servers are popular with developers who want to start with PHP development but don’t have a hosting plan.
Most AMPPS servers offer similar features as shared hosting plans from companies like HostGator or DreamHost without requiring you to pay a monthly fee.
If you don’t have your server, many hosts offer great packages for $5-10 per month that let you test out how effective an AMPPS setup will be for your needs.
4. Aptana Cloud
Unlike other options in our list, Aptana Cloud is a complete IDE with support for several programming languages.
It has all your standard amenities, including testing frameworks, version control systems, and deployment tools; however, unlike many alternatives on our list, it isn’t free.
Despite its name, you don’t need Aptana Studio installed on your computer—Aptana Cloud is just an extension.
With limited support, prices start at $49 per month; more expensive plans come with phone and chat support and more system resources.
Aptana Cloud could be an excellent place to start if you want to build cloud-based applications but are unsure where to begin.
5. EasyPHP
EasyPHP is a free web development toolkit. It includes a web server, database connectivity, Perl scripting, and many more features.
EasyPHP is based on Linux but can also be used as an OS-like environment on other platforms such as Windows or Mac OS X. With EasyPHP.
You can develop PHP web applications without worrying about Linux or Apache configuration details, making them the best xampp alternatives.
However, keep in mind that EasyPHP does not include any support for databases or server-side programming languages such as Java.
For these reasons, if you are looking for the best xampp alternatives, then EasyPHP may not be your best choice.
The product was last updated on 2009-05-20 and will run fine under XP/Vista/7/8/10 systems.
Its current version is 1.0, and its last update was 5 years ago (2009). The installation package has a size of 1001Kb.
This program is available to users with the operating system Windows 2000 and former versions, and you can get it only in English.
6. NGINX
Nginx is an open-source, high-performance web server used by tech companies, including Pinterest, Airbnb, Cloudflare, and Zendesk.
It has been called the new Apache for its ability to scale more efficiently than other web servers, and many developers prefer it because it’s easy to deploy. Nginx also integrates with many programming languages via FastCGI.
7. Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu Server is a version of Ubuntu that’s ready to run right out of the box. Unlike other operating systems, Ubuntu isn’t meant to be installed on your computer and left alone.
Instead, it was designed to be a server, meaning it’s ready for someone who knows how servers work—and how they’re different from your home computer—to set up and use immediately.
It’s also one of the best xampp alternatives options around. If you have an old computer in a closet, there’s no reason not to turn it into a web server, and all you need is a good Internet connection and Ubuntu Server.
Once it’s running, you can access files stored on its hard drive through any device connected to your network or the Internet.
No matter what kind of business you want to start, having a website is almost always part of it. And if that website needs to store information or process payments, the chances are good that it’ll live on a server somewhere—in fact, the chances are excellent that it will live on multiple servers at once.
8. Lighttpd
Lighttpd is a simple and lightweight web server that allows you to do very fast static file serving. It can also be used as a content cache, a reverse proxy, or an HTTP accelerator.
Lighttpd is not only lightning-fast but also straightforward to set up; in many cases, you only need one configuration file to work.
Lighttpd has been around for some time now, so there are plenty of good online resources, should you need them. There’s even a forum on lighttpd’s website where developers can help with any problems.
9. Laragon
This excellent application is probably one of our favorites. Laragon simplifies web server configuration and deployment through its intuitive user interface.
It offers a wide range of great features, but let’s take a look at some of its best characteristics: automatic detection for PHP versions, Apache versions, MySQL versions, and much more; native support for most typical servers, including Xampp, LAMP, MAMP, and WampServer; automatic updates using CPanel on your server; easy migration process that can migrate databases between servers with one click; supports NGINX, MongoDB, Redis Clusters and more. Also available on GitHub.
10. Winninginx
In development since 2010, Winginx is a cloud-based web hosting platform that provides predictable and affordable hosting for WordPress.
Like a managed WordPress host, Winginx eliminates the hassles of managing your server by offering secure, fast hosting and backups for one flat price.
But unlike traditionally managed hosts, Winginx can be used by any website owner—even if you have no technical skills or experience.
Developers designed it so that users with no coding experience can easily create their websites with an easy drag-and-drop interface (which makes it the best xampp alternatives).
You can run unlimited websites in PHP or NodeJS environments (like WAMP) from one account and deploy them online in less than 10 minutes.
It also includes a free SSL certificate, automatic updates, and 24/7 support. Plans start at $5 per month.
11. Abyss Web Server
If you’re looking for a solid, dependable server without much bloat and extra options (many of which you won’t even need), Abyss Web Server is about as simple.
It can be set up quickly and easily on Windows, Mac, or Linux machines without programming.
For its ease of use and unique potential applications in systems that require some serious processing power, it’s one of our favorite platforms to build an application.
And since it supports a wide range of built-in technologies—including PHP, MySQL, Python, and Ruby on Rails—it makes building your application super easy from day one.
If you want to try something new like GoLang or NodeJS, they have preinstalled frameworks too. Remember that while it’s free and open-source software, paid enterprise versions are available if you want additional features.
12. ERBuilder
One of my favorite open-source database administrators. You can use it for all your work-related development.
It offers a lot of potentials and is one of its kind among database administration tools in the developer’s community.
I recommend you try it for your database design tasks on the Windows OS system. (EasyRoute: Developing Routes).
Use ERBuilder and get it done more quickly than possible with regular MySQL Studio from Oracle.
(ER = Entity Relationship) You can also check out alternatives like HeidiSQL, Navicat Premium, or MySQL Workbench. (Do not forget about phpMyAdmin).
These are good options for developers who want an easy-to-use GUI interface to manage their databases without hassle.
They are easy to master even if you have no prior experience using these tools. If that’s not enough, look at PhpMyAdmin, another popular alternative that supports multiple platforms, including Windows and Linux operating systems.
It has been around since 2002 and has over 17 million downloads across various platforms, including Github, making it one of the most popular tools today.(ER = Entity Relationship)
13. Apache HTTP Server
Apache is an accessible, open-source web server that supports HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, and FTP. It’s also relatively easy to configure, which is one of its main benefits.
Additionally, Apache has modules that support FTP, DNS resolution, and even limited CGI (Common Gateway Interface) capabilities.
Although it isn’t as popular as other choices on our list — like Nginx or IIS — Apache has over 60 million active users worldwide, and that alone should convince you to consider it for your next project.
Plus, many guides are available online if you need help with Apache.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a simple best xampp alternatives to setting up your own Apache/MySQL/PHP environment, then one of these services may be just what you need.
They’re not as powerful as fully-featured products like XAMPP, but they should get you going.
Many developers and designers prefer to use the LAMP stack (as in Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP).
This approach allows them to develop web apps by working on their local machines without worrying about configuring servers or hosting details.
But getting up and running with LAMP can be a bit of a hassle because it requires installing multiple different pieces of software on your computer before you can start building sites.
