Disclosure: I build Stratos. This is an updated, AI-assisted adaptation of our original comparison, with links to the other vendors' documentation. It compares workflows rather than claiming that one tool wins every benchmark.
Choosing a local PHP environment starts with your project's requirements. Do you need Linux containers? A Laravel-focused application? A graphical server manager? Or a native Mac stack with debugging tools and a schema bridge for coding agents?
Stratos, Laravel Herd, MAMP Pro, and Docker Desktop overlap, but they solve different parts of that problem.
| Area | Stratos | Laravel Herd / Pro | MAMP / MAMP Pro | Docker Desktop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main approach | Native Swift Mac application managing local PHP and services | Native PHP/Laravel development environment with Free and Pro capabilities | Graphical local web environment; Pro adds site and server configuration workflows | Container development platform; Linux workloads run through a Linux VM on macOS |
| PHP versions | PHP 8.1–8.5, with per-site selection and simultaneous FPM pools | Version management within its PHP/Laravel workflow; check the current plan comparison | Pro supports individual site/server PHP configurations | Configure PHP images and versions in your container definitions |
| Local domains and HTTPS | Linked .test sites and trusted local HTTPS |
Integrated local site workflow | Site configuration through MAMP Pro | Configure your application, ports, certificates, and any reverse proxy |
| Database workflow | SQLite browser and MySQL basics on Free; broader integrated management and advanced tools depend on the plan | Check current database/service features and plan entitlements | Local database and website management tools | Run databases as services; select a separate client or administration interface as needed |
| Coding-agent context | Free MCP site/schema context; Pro runtime tools and execution with confirmation | Herd 2.0 advertises agent/runtime context; check current Pro entitlements | Check current vendor integrations for your workflow | Add an appropriate MCP server or integration for the containers/services you use |
| Debugging and sharing | Integrated mail, dumps, requests, Tinker, profiling, snapshots, and tunnels, with plan-specific limits | Integrated Laravel-oriented tools and services vary by plan | Tools for local website development and testing | Assemble the debugging, mail, profiling, and sharing services your project requires |
| Container and Linux-image parity | Local macOS services, not Linux container isolation | Local development stack, not a replacement for Linux container isolation | Local web environment, not a container runtime | Suitable when the workflow depends on container images and Linux services |
The table describes approaches, not universal feature parity. Vendor releases, operating-system support, and paid entitlements change; check the official pages before choosing a subscription.
Stratos is intended for PHP and Laravel developers who want local macOS services and a single application for common development tasks. You can link a project, choose its installed PHP version, use local HTTPS, and access integrated development tools.
In Stratos 1.7.1, Tools → Local AI & MCP adds a local bridge for Cursor, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Windsurf. The Free tools can inspect permitted linked-site metadata and database schema, including columns and foreign keys. They do not return database rows or passwords through the schema API.
Pro adds permitted dumps, request metadata, logs, and performance context. PHP, SQL, and Artisan execution requires confirmation in Stratos, including SQL reads. Approved actions use normal user/project permissions: this is not an operating-system sandbox. Mail and webhook context require separate app-wide permissions.
That distinction matters when choosing an agent workflow. Sharing a schema is a different decision from sharing runtime payloads or allowing execution.
See the MCP setup guide and public example configurations. Choose Herd when you want its Laravel-focused workflow and its current integrations suit your projects. Its official site describes a native PHP/Laravel stack. A comparison should evaluate its actual capabilities rather than assume it is an Electron wrapper or that every PHP-version feature requires Pro.
Choose MAMP Pro when its graphical website and server configuration workflow fits your work. MAMP's current product page describes individual server and PHP configurations; describing it as limited to one global PHP version would be misleading.
Choose Docker Desktop when your project or team depends on container definitions, Linux-specific services, or matching image-based environments. A native Mac stack does not reproduce those properties simply by running the same language version.
You can also combine approaches across projects. A container-dependent application and a small native PHP project need not use the same local environment.
Avoid choosing on an unexplained idle CPU screenshot. Compare the same application, service set, request workload, background workers, and filesystem layout. Record hardware, macOS, tool versions, power settings, and test duration.
Docker Desktop also has Resource Saver, which can stop the Linux VM after a period with no running containers. An idle setup with Resource Saver active is different from one with database and worker containers continuously running.
I am not presenting fixed CPU percentages or battery-drain figures here: results depend on workload and configuration, and this article does not include a reproducible benchmark dataset.
Stratos offers a Free edition, Pro at $39/year, Founder Lifetime at $89, and a Team plan. Check current pricing and limits for purchase terms and device allowances. For the other tools, consult their current official pricing rather than treating an old comparison's figures as permanent.
Useful references:
Start with one representative project. Verify PHP extensions, database connectivity, queues, HTTPS, and your team's expected environment before migrating the rest.