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Lando and DevWorkspace Pro both help you run local projects, but they come at it from opposite ends. Lando is a free, open-source CLI: you define Docker services in one file, lean on recipes for Drupal, WordPress and Laravel, and pull and push to Pantheon. DevWorkspace Pro is a desktop app for all your projects. It runs them in DDEV, Sail or Docker Compose and adds AI agent sessions, GitHub and security scans.
Comparison table
| DevWorkspace Pro | Lando | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Desktop app | CLI |
| Stacks | Any folder. Extras for known stacks: Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Drupal, PHP, Node, .NET, Python, Go, Rust | Recipes: Backdrop, .NET, Drupal, Joomla, LAMP, LEMP, Laravel, MEAN, Symfony, WordPress |
| Runtimes | DDEV, Laravel Sail, Docker Compose, native tools | Docker (Docker Desktop on macOS and Windows, Docker Engine on Linux) |
| OS | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows (WSL2), Linux |
| AI agents | Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode sessions per project, resume after restart, Send issue to AI, Focus Pad MCP | Not listed |
| GitHub | Issues, Actions runs and logs, re-run jobs, Git changes and commits | Not listed |
| Files and editor | Files tab with Go to file and PHP IntelliSense | Not listed |
| Security scan | Composer, npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun and NuGet lockfiles | Not listed |
| Monitoring | Uptime monitors with email alerts, log monitoring over SSH | lando logs |
| Hosting | Remote SSH and remote logs for your server | Acquia, Pantheon, Platform.sh, Lagoon |
| Wellbeing | Eye Care, Focus Pad, Keep Awake, voice-to-text | Not listed |
| Price | $9/month, $95/year or $499 one time | Free, open source (MIT) |
"Not listed" means the feature does not appear on the official Lando pages as of the date of this page.
What you get with each
Lando runs on Docker. You describe a project's services in .lando.yml and drive them with the lando CLI. Recipes cover Backdrop, .NET, Drupal, Joomla, LAMP, LEMP, Laravel, MEAN, Symfony and WordPress, and plugins connect to Acquia, Pantheon, Platform.sh and Lagoon.
DevWorkspace Pro works with any folder. Every project gets the terminal, files, Git, GitHub and AI sessions. Projects in DDEV, Laravel Sail or Docker Compose get extra runtime controls, and you can also run projects with your own tools.
Choosing between them
Lando is the better fit if:
- You like the terminal and want each project's config in one YAML file.
- You host on Pantheon, Acquia, Platform.sh or Lagoon and want pull and push commands.
- You need services such as Solr, Varnish, Elasticsearch or MSSQL.
- You want a free, open-source tool.
DevWorkspace Pro is the better fit if:
- You want a desktop view of all your projects, with start, stop, services and logs for DDEV and Compose projects.
- You work from GitHub issues and Actions and want them next to the code.
- You run AI agents in many projects and want to resume sessions after a restart.
- Some of your projects have no Lando recipe, for example Go, Rust or a Flutter app.
- You want dependency security scans and uptime monitoring.
Where Lando comes out ahead
- Price. Lando is free and open source. DevWorkspace Pro needs a paid license.
- Config as code. One
.lando.ymldescribes the whole stack for each project. - Hosting plugins. Pantheon pull, push and Multidev switching, plus Acquia, Platform.sh and Lagoon.
- Service catalog. Built-in services include Solr, Varnish, Elasticsearch, MongoDB, MSSQL and Tomcat.
- Nonprofit stewardship. The Lando Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, runs the project.
Keeping Lando projects in DevWorkspace Pro
DevWorkspace Pro does not read .lando.yml. Your Lando projects can still live in the same workspace:
- Import the project folder.
- Pick the Other run method.
- Run
lando startand any other commands in the Terminal tab. - Use Files, Git, GitHub, AI sessions, Security and Focus Pad as you would for any project.
Moving from Lando to DDEV
Both tools run PHP projects in Docker, so the move is short.
- Save the database with
lando db-export. - In DevWorkspace Pro, click New Project, choose the framework and pick DDEV as the run method. Match the PHP version and database type.
- Import the dump with
ddev import-dbin the Terminal tab. - Add any services you need as DDEV add-ons.
Sources
- Lando home (license, nonprofit): https://lando.dev
- Lando requirements (OS, Docker): https://docs.lando.dev/getting-started/requirements.html
- Lando CLI: https://docs.lando.dev/cli/
- Lando plugins (recipes, services, hosting): https://docs.lando.dev/plugins.html
- Lando Pantheon plugin: https://docs.lando.dev/plugins/pantheon/index.html
- Lando GitHub (MIT): https://github.com/lando/lando
- DevWorkspace Pro docs: https://docs.devworkspacepro.com/getting-started
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Lando have a GUI?
Lando is a command-line tool, and its docs do not describe a GUI. DevWorkspace Pro is a desktop app, but it does not manage Lando projects directly. It manages DDEV, Laravel Sail and Docker Compose projects.
Can I keep using Lando with DevWorkspace Pro?
Yes. Import the Lando project folder, pick the Other run method and run lando commands in the Terminal tab. The project still gets files, Git, GitHub, AI sessions, security scans and Focus Pad.
How do I move from Lando to DDEV?
Export the database with lando db-export. Create a DDEV project in DevWorkspace Pro with the same framework type and PHP version, then import the dump with ddev import-db.
Is Lando free?
Yes. Lando is free and open source under the MIT license, and it is run by a nonprofit, the Lando Alliance. DevWorkspace Pro costs $9 per month, $95 per year or $499 one time.