StackPilot App vs Laravel Forge
Two capable tools, opposite philosophies: one you own and run yourself, one you rent and reach through a browser.
StackPilot App is a desktop deployment platform that connects straight to your servers over SSH and keeps your credentials on your own machine, across Laravel, Node, WordPress and more. Forge runs the same kind of work as a hosted, browser-based service on its own cloud. If you would rather own your deployment workflow than rent it, StackPilot App is the Laravel Forge alternative built for that.
Not affiliated with Laravel Forge. Competitor pricing last reviewed July 2026 from the official pricing page.
You want a mature browser workflow you can reach from any device, first-party Laravel integration, and built-in sharing across a team.
You want to deploy from your own machine over direct SSH, keep server credentials off a hosted control plane, run more than just Laravel, and pay once instead of monthly.
Forge is a hosted service your servers connect through. StackPilot App is a desktop app that connects to your servers directly, so the credentials and the control stay on your machine.
Is StackPilot App a good Laravel Forge alternative?
Yes, if you want the same work done from your own machine.
StackPilot App provisions servers, deploys apps, and manages SSL, databases, backups and monitoring the way Laravel Forge does, but it runs as a desktop app over direct SSH, keeps your credentials local, and is not limited to Laravel. If you specifically want a browser dashboard with built-in team sharing, Forge stays the better fit. For most solo developers, freelancers and agencies who want to own their tooling, StackPilot App is a strong Laravel Forge alternative.
StackPilot App vs Laravel Forge, side by side
| StackPilot App | Laravel Forge | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | YesDesktop appmacOS today · Windows in public beta | PartlyBrowser (hosted SaaS) |
| Connection to your servers | YesDirect SSH from your machine | NoRouted through Forge's servers |
| Where credentials live | YesLocal only, your OS keychain | NoStored on Forge's cloud |
| Pricing model | YesOne-time licence | Partly$12 – $39 / month |
| Servers included | Partly2 – 50 per licence (tiered)Bigger fleet? Talk to us. | YesUnlimited on paid plans |
| Frameworks | YesLaravel, Symfony, WordPress, Node, Vue, Nuxt, React, Next, static… | PartlyLaravel-first; supports other PHP and static apps |
| Cloud provisioning | YesAWS, DigitalOcean, Vultr + any SSH-reachable VPS | YesMajor cloud providers |
| Zero-downtime deploys | YesAtomic releases | YesYes |
| Monitoring, backups, SSL | YesBuilt in | YesBuilt in |
| Sharing across a team | NoPer-machine, single operatorCollaboration is on the roadmap | YesTeam sharing on paid plans |
| Works offline | PartlyView cached dataSSH still needs a network | NoBrowser required |
Pricing: own it vs rent it
Both do the same job. The difference is what you're paying for. Forge is a subscription you rent for as long as you use it; StackPilot App is a licence you buy once.
StackPilot App: pay once
- Solo · 2 servers$129 once
- Pro · 5 servers$249 once
- Power · 10 servers$599 once
Larger fleets go up to 50 servers per licence. Lifetime feature updates within your major version, plus 2 years of security patches.
Laravel Forge: pay monthly
- Hobby · unlimited servers$12/mo
- Growth · unlimited servers$19/mo
- Business · unlimited servers$39/mo
Flat-rate: every paid plan includes unlimited servers and team sharing, billed monthly for as long as you use it.
Be honest about the trade-off. Forge's flat-rate plans include unlimited servers, so if you run a large fleet, Forge can cost less month to month. StackPilot App wins on ownership: you buy it once, your credentials never touch a hosted control plane, and there is no meter running. For a handful of servers, a one-time licence typically pays for itself in a bit over a year against Forge's monthly cost.
Who should choose Laravel Forge
- You want a browser workflow you can open from any device
- You're all-in on Laravel and value first-party ecosystem integration
- You need built-in sharing across a team today
- You'd rather never install a desktop app
Who should choose StackPilot App
- You want deployments to run over direct SSH from your own machine
- You don't want server credentials living in a hosted control plane
- You deploy more than Laravel: Node, Nuxt, Vue, WordPress, Symfony and more
- You'd rather buy once than pay every month
- You are a freelancer or agency managing a known set of VPS servers
Trying StackPilot App alongside Laravel Forge
You don't have to switch in one go. Run both side by side until you're confident.
- 1Add your existing server in StackPilot App with the SSH key you already use.
- 2Recreate a site or two pointing at the same directories, and run a test deploy.
- 3Repoint that repo's deploy webhook to the StackPilot App URL.
- 4Once a few deploys land cleanly, cancel the Forge subscription.
Frequently asked
Is StackPilot App a Laravel Forge alternative?
Yes. It covers the same core jobs (provisioning, deployments, SSL, databases, backups and monitoring), but as a desktop app that connects to your servers over SSH, rather than a hosted service. It also is not limited to Laravel.
Does StackPilot App support Laravel?
Yes, fully: queue workers, the scheduler, atomic zero-downtime releases and environment management. It also deploys Symfony, WordPress, Node, Nuxt, Vue and more.
Does StackPilot App store my SSH keys in the cloud?
No. StackPilot App is a desktop app. Your keys are used locally to open the SSH connection, and secrets are stored in your operating system's keychain. There is no hosted control plane holding your credentials.
Can I use StackPilot App with my existing Forge servers?
Yes. You can add a server Forge already manages and run both tools in parallel while you evaluate. Nothing needs to be torn down to try it.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on scale. Forge paid plans are flat-rate with unlimited servers, so at large fleet sizes Forge can cost less per month. StackPilot App is a one-time licence, so for a handful of servers it typically pays for itself within a year or so, with no ongoing bill after that.
Is StackPilot App only for Laravel?
No. Laravel is well supported, but StackPilot App is a multi-framework deployment platform for PHP, Node and modern frontend stacks.
See it on your own servers
StackPilot App connects to any Ubuntu or Debian VPS over SSH, from your own machine. Your credentials never leave your computer.