Ngrok

Secure introspectable tunnels to localhost

★★★★☆ 4.4/5
FactScore™ 49.2
VS

OrbStack

Fast, light, simple Docker & Linux on macOS

★★★★★ 5.0/5
FactScore™ 42.3

Updated February 2026

Ngrok OrbStack
Rating 4.4★ 5.0★
Reviews 12 6
Pros 9 12
FactScore™ 49.2 42.3

FactScore™ Comparison

FactScore™ weighs both quality (rating) and popularity (reviews) for a fairer ranking than stars alone.

👑
49.2
Ngrok FactScore™
★ Ngrok wins on FactScore™
42.3
OrbStack FactScore™

Pros & Cons

Only in Ngrok — Pros

Development tool Local environment sharing Easy to use Webhook debugging Developer-friendly Excellent documentation Reliable Secure tunnels

Both tools — Pros

Fast performance

Only in OrbStack — Pros

Docker alternative Lightweight MacOS compatibility Performance improvement over Docker Desktop VM support Compatibility with existing workflows Container management IPv6 support Network exposure Simple interface Stability

Only in Ngrok — Cons

Confusing pricing policy Subscription cancellation issues Banning policy Expensive custom domain

Both tools — Cons

Only in OrbStack — Cons

Compatibility testing required New platform

Details

Ngrok OrbStack
Categories Command line tools, Security software Virtual office platforms, Command line tools, Cloud Computing Platforms
Platforms Web Web
Became Popular April 13, 2015 September 22, 2023
Website ngrok.com orbstack.dev

Who Should Pick Which?

Choose Ngrok if...

  • Development tool
  • Local environment sharing
  • Easy to use

Choose OrbStack if...

  • Docker alternative
  • Lightweight
  • MacOS compatibility

With a FactScore™ of 49.2 vs 42.3, Ngrok leads in community reception. Ngrok uniquely offers Development tool and Local environment sharing, while OrbStack stands out for Docker alternative and Lightweight.

3

What Users Say

Ngrok

B
Brandon Jun 16, 2022
★★★★★

My whole team uses ngrok on a regular basis. I find it indispensable to share demos running from an individual's workstation, debugging webhooks locally, and locally debugging parts of distributed ...

I
Iscu Apr 14, 2022
★★★★★

There's not enough that I can say about it... And that speaks volumes. Compared to what you had back in the day (early 2000's), this is Sci-Fi... =]

H
Hussachai Aug 5, 2024
★★★★★

Highly reliable, and this product makes development easy.

OrbStack

J
Javier Mar 17, 2025
★★★★★

Tinybird Local needs a Docker runtime. We use Orbstack, and it's great.

C
Can Nov 27, 2023
★★★★★

It just makes working with containers like a breeze. This shows the value of ye old UNIX philosophy: do one thing good. And plus, OrbStack just keeps getting better!

I
Ivan Jan 13, 2025
★★★★★

OrbStack is a promising alternative, especially for macOS users who need lightweight container and VM management. However, its adoption depends on your specific needs, compatibility with existing w...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Ngrok or OrbStack?

Based on FactScore™, Ngrok leads with a score of 49.2 vs 42.3. Ngrok has a higher rating of 4.4★ compared to 5.0★.

What are the pros of Ngrok compared to OrbStack?

Ngrok uniquely offers: Development tool, Local environment sharing, Easy to use, Webhook debugging, Developer-friendly.

What are the pros of OrbStack compared to Ngrok?

OrbStack uniquely offers: Docker alternative, Lightweight, MacOS compatibility, Performance improvement over Docker Desktop, VM support.

Is Ngrok better rated than OrbStack?

Ngrok is rated 4.4★ from 12 reviews. OrbStack is rated 5.0★ from 6 reviews.

What is the FactScore™ of Ngrok and OrbStack?

FactScore™ weighs rating and review volume together. Ngrok scores 49.2 and OrbStack scores 42.3.

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