Host locally running app on the internet (free) without any web server

http://localhost:3000 to Public URL

Lets talk about free tunneling solution, to host your local web applications over the cloud and access the app from the publicly accessible web url. No server is required.

1. Ngrok

Authorization — User is required to sign up in order to generate auth token.

Support(HTTP / HTTPS, SSH) — Supports all 3 protocols.

Usage — Usage is through ngrok executable (or through node js based library).

Free Or Paid — Offers both free and paid version. Free version has limited but rich functionalities.

Subdomain Support — Subdomains are supported in the paid version.

How to setup Ngrok in your system

1. Visit https://dashboard.ngrok.com/signup
2. Download and install Ngrok. Ref:- https://dashboard.ngrok.com/get-started/setup
3. Get Authtoken visit https://dashboard.ngrok.com/get-started/your-authtoken
4. Add Authtokn in your system by command

./ngrok authtoken 1UawrhXGOPp53533ftC_49AXASfWj5vwmoshrbwpFB8M9

5. Run the command ./ngrok http YOUR_APP_PORT

Example:- ./ngrok http 3000

You will get public url something like this http://d4f9-47-31-222-247.ngrok.io/

2. Localtunnel

Authorization — No auth token is required. You can simply install the node package and start using it.

Support(HTTP / HTTPS, SSH) — Supports http/https.

Usage — Can be simply used through nodejs executable.

Free vs Paid — Is Free.

Subdomain Support — Free version supports subdomain too. If available it starts subdomain with the given value.

How to setup Localtunnel in your system

1. Install localtunnel by NPM (npm install -g localtunnel ) add sudo if you are linux user sudo npm install -g localtunnel
2. Run lt --port YOUR_APP_POST

Example :- lt --port 3000

your url is: https://tidy-catfish-70.loca.lt

3. localhost.run

Authorization — No download or signup

Support(HTTP / HTTPS, SSH) — Supports http/https.

Usage — Show clients work running on your computer.

Free vs Paid — Forever free tier(Only paid for custom subdomain)

Subdomain Support — yes but paid for custom subdomain

How to setup localhost.run in your system

1. No download or signup
2. Run below command

ssh -R 80:localhost:YOUR_APP_PORT ssh.localhost.run
Example:- 
ssh -R 80:localhost:3000 ssh.localhost.run

Your Public URL :- https://ef3d1418fa2ef3.localhost.run

Thanks for Reading and Happy Coding !!

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