Laravel Herd vs Upsun: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Laravel Herd and Upsun comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Laravel Herd is our overall pick for developer tools workflows. Pick Upsun if you need DevOps.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Laravel Herd
One-click, zero-dependency PHP and Laravel development environment for Windows and macOS.
Best for you if:
- • You need developer tools features specifically
- • Native, fast Laravel and PHP development environment.
- • Includes essential tools like PHP, Nginx, Composer, and Laravel installer.
Upsun
Instantly clone production environments for faster, more reliable application development and deployment.
Best for you if:
- • You need DevOps features specifically
- • Instantly clones production environments with live data for every Git branch.
- • Automates deployment, testing, and collaboration with production-perfect preview environments.
| At a Glance |  Laravel Herd |  Upsun |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | DevOps |
Rating | - | - |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Laravel Herd or Upsun?
Choose Laravel Herd if
One-click, zero-dependency PHP and Laravel development environment for Windows and macOS.
- Extremely fast due to native binaries (no containers/VMs)
- Easy one-click setup for Laravel development
- Comprehensive suite of included development tools
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose Upsun if
Instantly clone production environments for faster, more reliable application development and deployment.
- Significantly reduces deployment time and risk by testing with real production data.
- Enhances collaboration by providing isolated, shareable preview environments.
- Offers strong security and compliance features, including SOC 2 and PCI DSS.
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
| Feature | Laravel Herd | Upsun |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Developer ToolsIDE & Code Editors | DevOpsCloud & Infrastructure |
In-Depth Analysis
Laravel Herd
One-click, zero-dependency PHP and Laravel development environment for Windows and macOS.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast due to native binaries (no containers/VMs)
- +Easy one-click setup for Laravel development
- +Comprehensive suite of included development tools
- +Seamless PHP version management
- +Powerful debugging features in Pro version
Weaknesses
- -Advanced features like debugging and service management are Pro-only
- -Specific to Laravel and PHP development, not a general-purpose environment
Key features
Value 85/100. The Free tier for Laravel Herd is incredibly generous, offering a robust development environment with essential tools at no cost.
Watch out: Pro tier pricing is not public
Upsun
Instantly clone production environments for faster, more reliable application development and deployment.
Strengths
- +Significantly reduces deployment time and risk by testing with real production data.
- +Enhances collaboration by providing isolated, shareable preview environments.
- +Offers strong security and compliance features, including SOC 2 and PCI DSS.
- +Provides granular resource control and cost optimization with intelligent autoscaling.
- +Supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, ensuring flexibility.
Weaknesses
- -Requires some knowledge of DevOps concepts and YAML syntax for initial setup.
- -The extensive feature set might have a learning curve for new users unfamiliar with PaaS solutions.
Key features
Value 65/100. Upsun's pricing model is modular and can become expensive quickly, especially for larger teams or those requiring high availability.
Watch out: Support tiers are percentage-based
Pricing: Laravel Herd vs Upsun
| Plan | Laravel Herd | Upsun |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | €0 to begin Free Trial |
| Tier 2 | Contact us Pro | €9.00/project/month Project Fee |
| Tier 3 | N/A | €10.00/user/month User License |
| Tier 4 | N/A | +€9.00/user/month Advanced User Management |
| Tier 5 | N/A | +10% global spend Standard Support |
| Tier 6 | N/A | +15% global spend Advanced Support |
| Tier 7 | N/A | +19% global spend Premium Support |
| Tier 8 | N/A | +20% project value 99.9% Uptime SLA |
| Tier 9 | N/A | +45% project value 99.99% Uptime SLA |
| Tier 10 | N/A | +45% project value HIPAA |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Laravel Herd pricing and Upsun pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Laravel Herd
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has ratings yet.
Too early to call on ratings — compare on features and pricing.
Value user reviews?
Neither has ratings yet.
Too early to call — neither has ratings yet.
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Laravel Herd is a developer tools tool. Upsun is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Laravel Herd
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Upsun
- Better fit for DevOps
The Bottom Line
Laravel Herd is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laravel Herd or Upsun better?
Laravel Herd is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Laravel Herd and Upsun used for?
Laravel Herd: One-click, zero-dependency PHP and Laravel development environment for Windows and macOS.. Upsun: Instantly clone production environments for faster, more reliable application development and deployment..
What does Laravel Herd cost vs Upsun?
Laravel Herd is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Upsun is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.