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ServBay and DevWorkspace Pro sit at different layers, which is why the honest answer is often "both". ServBay is one app that installs many language versions, databases, DNS, SSL and a mail server natively on macOS or Windows. DevWorkspace Pro manages the projects themselves, on Linux too, whether they run in DDEV, Sail, Docker Compose or natively, and adds GitHub, AI sessions and security scans to each one.
Comparison table
| DevWorkspace Pro | ServBay | |
|---|---|---|
| Stacks | Any folder. Extras for known stacks: Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Drupal, PHP, Node, .NET, Python, Go, Rust | PHP, Python, Node.js, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, Rust |
| Runtimes | DDEV, Laravel Sail, Docker Compose, native tools | Installs language versions and services on your computer |
| Databases | DDEV databases, Compose services | MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Memcached, SQLite |
| OS | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows |
| AI agents | Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode sessions per project, resume after restart, Send issue to AI, Focus Pad MCP | MCP server, AI Gateway, one-click Ollama models |
| GitHub | Issues, Actions runs and logs, re-run jobs, Git changes and commits | Git built in |
| Files and editor | Files tab with Go to file and PHP IntelliSense | No built-in editor listed |
| Security scan | Composer, npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun and NuGet lockfiles | Not listed |
| Monitoring | Uptime monitors with email alerts, log monitoring over SSH | System resource monitor |
| SSL, DNS, mail | Through DDEV | Private CA, ACME certificates, local DNS, mail server |
| Wellbeing | Eye Care, Focus Pad, Keep Awake, voice-to-text | Not listed |
| Price | $9/month, $95/year or $499 one time | Free (5 sites). Pro $9.9/month or $59/year. Team $39.9/month or $399/year for 10 users |
"Not listed" means the feature does not appear on the official ServBay pages as of the date of this page.
Runtimes versus projects
ServBay is a local development environment for macOS and Windows. It installs PHP, Python, Node.js, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby and Rust, with many versions side by side. It also runs databases such as MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and MongoDB, along with local DNS, SSL certificates, a mail server and tunnels.
DevWorkspace Pro installs none of that. It works with whatever runtime a project already uses: DDEV, Laravel Sail, Docker Compose or the tools on your computer. Every project gets the terminal, files, Git, GitHub and AI sessions.
Which is right for you
ServBay is a good match if:
- You work on macOS or Windows and want native runtimes with no containers.
- You need several versions of PHP, Python, Node.js or Go side by side.
- You want SSL certificates, local DNS and a mail server from one app.
- You want an AI gateway for model providers on your machine.
DevWorkspace Pro is a good match if:
- You use Linux, or your team mixes Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Your projects already run in DDEV, Sail or Docker Compose.
- You work from GitHub issues and Actions and want them next to the code.
- You run Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode in many projects and want to resume sessions after a restart.
- You want dependency security scans and uptime monitoring.
Where ServBay wins
- Runtime coverage. ServBay installs many languages and versions. DevWorkspace Pro uses the runtimes you already have.
- Services in one place. Databases, DNS, SSL with ACME, a mail server and tunnels all come from one app.
- A free plan. ServBay is free for up to 5 sites, with a 7-day trial of Pro.
- AI gateway. One endpoint for several model providers, with virtual keys and cost tracking.
Using ServBay with DevWorkspace Pro
Think of it as a split: ServBay provides the runtimes, DevWorkspace Pro manages the projects.
- Install your PHP, Node.js or Python versions and your databases with ServBay.
- Import your project folders into DevWorkspace Pro. It detects the stack of each folder.
- Pick the native run method. The Run card runs your commands with the ServBay tools on your path.
- Use DevWorkspace Pro for GitHub, AI sessions, security scans, Focus Pad and uptime monitors.
Moving to a container runtime
If your team needs the same setup on Linux, move PHP projects to DDEV. Create a project in DevWorkspace Pro with DDEV as the run method, choose the PHP version and database type, and import your database dump with ddev import-db.
For other stacks, add a Compose file and use the Services card.
Sources
- ServBay home (languages, databases, AI, SSL, DNS, mail): https://www.servbay.com
- ServBay pricing: https://www.servbay.com/pricing
- ServBay vs Docker (Git, resource monitor): https://www.servbay.com/vs/docker
- ServBay Xdebug: https://support.servbay.com/php/modules/xdebug
- DevWorkspace Pro docs: https://docs.devworkspacepro.com/getting-started
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does ServBay run on Linux?
ServBay lists macOS 12+ and Windows 10+. Its pages do not list Linux. DevWorkspace Pro runs on macOS, Windows and Linux.
What is the main difference between ServBay and DevWorkspace Pro?
ServBay installs and manages language runtimes, databases and services on your computer. DevWorkspace Pro does not install runtimes. It manages projects that run in DDEV, Laravel Sail, Docker Compose or with your own tools, and adds GitHub, AI sessions, security scans and uptime monitoring.
Can I use ServBay and DevWorkspace Pro together?
Yes. Let ServBay provide PHP, Node, Python or Go and the databases, then import the project folders into DevWorkspace Pro and pick the native run method.
Do both have AI features?
Yes, with a different focus. ServBay has an MCP server that lets agents start services and query databases, and an AI Gateway for model providers. DevWorkspace Pro starts Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode sessions in each project, resumes them after a restart, and has a Focus Pad MCP server for a shared to-do list.