Pinggy vs Ngrok

Pinggy provides a simple yet powerful tunneling experience compared to other tools.

Pinggy vs

Looking for the best way to share your localhost? Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Pinggy and Ngrok’s Personal plan to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

FeaturePinggy (Pro)Ngrok (Personal)
Monthly Price 💸$3.00$10.00
HTTP(S) and TCP Tunnels 🌐Yes Yes
UDP Tunnels ⚡️Yes No
TLS Tunnels 🔒Yes No
Persistent Subdomains 🔗YesYes
Custom Domains 🌐YesLimited Only subdomains (app.example.com). No root/apex domains (example.com).
Wildcard Domains ⭐Yes No
Bandwidth (Data Transferred) 📦Unlimited Limited 5 GB per month
Request Inspection 🐞Yes Yes
Access Control 🔑Yes Password, Bearer Token, IP Whitelist Yes OIDC, SAML, Webhook Auth
IP Whitelisting 💻Yes No
Webhook Verification 🔐NoYes
Team Collaboration 👥Yes No
Remotely Manage Tunnels 🎛️Yes No
GUI App 🖥️Yes (Windows, Mac, Linux) No
CLI 💻Yes Yes
API 🔗Yes Yes
Support 💬Yes Email, Discord Yes Email

Note: This comparison is based on publicly available information as of July 2025. Please check the official websites for the latest details.


Pinggy vs Ngrok: Comparing the Best Localhost Tunneling Tools

When it comes to exposing localhost services to the internet, both Pinggy and Ngrok are popular choices. Here’s a practical comparison based on the features outlined above, with real-world examples and references to Pinggy’s documentation.

Pricing

Pinggy’s Pro plan is significantly more affordable at $3/month compared to Ngrok’s Personal plan at $10/month. For example, if you run a development server daily for client demos, Pinggy’s lower cost can save you over $80 per year. See Pinggy pricing.

Protocol Support

Pinggy supports HTTP(S), TCP, UDP, and TLS tunnels. For instance, if you’re testing a multiplayer game server that uses UDP, Pinggy enables you to expose it with a simple command:

./pinggy -p 443 -R0:localhost:8000 udp@a.pinggy.io

Learn more about UDP tunnels

Ngrok covers HTTP(S) and TCP, but lacks UDP and TLS support (in personal plan). If your workflow involves protocols beyond HTTP, Pinggy is more versatile. For secure connections, Pinggy’s TLS tunnels let you expose HTTPS endpoints directly:

ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:8000 TOKEN+tls@a.pinggy.io

See TLS tunnel docs

Domains and Subdomains

Both tools offer persistent subdomains, but Pinggy allows custom domains (including root/apex domains) and wildcard domains. For example, you can expose your app on example.com or *.dev.example.com with Pinggy.

Custom domain setup

Ngrok’s custom domain support is limited to subdomains, which can be restrictive for certain use cases.

Bandwidth

Pinggy offers unlimited bandwidth, while Ngrok caps usage at 5 GB/month. If you’re transferring large files or streaming video from your local server, Pinggy won’t throttle or disconnect you. Bandwidth details

Access Control and Security

Pinggy provides password, bearer token, and IP whitelisting for access control. For example, to restrict access to your tunnel by IP:

ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:8000 -t a.pinggy.io w:21.14.5.30/32

IP whitelisting docs

Ngrok supports OIDC, SAML, and webhook authentication. Depending on your security requirements, you may prefer one approach over the other. Pinggy’s IP whitelisting is especially useful for restricting access during development.

Collaboration and Management

Pinggy includes team collaboration features and remote tunnel management, which are missing from Ngrok’s Personal plan. For example, you can invite teammates to manage tunnels or access shared endpoints:

Team collaboration docs

You can also manage tunnels on remote devices, useful for IoT or remote deployments:

Remote device management

Tooling

Pinggy offers a GUI app for Windows, Mac, and Linux, in addition to CLI and API access. If you prefer graphical interfaces, you can download the Pinggy app and manage tunnels visually:

Pinggy App

Ngrok provides CLI and API, but no GUI app.

Support

Pinggy provides support via email and Discord, while Ngrok offers email support. For quick troubleshooting or community help, Pinggy’s Discord is a valuable resource:

Get help

Final Thoughts

Both Pinggy and Ngrok are solid tunneling solutions. If you need UDP/TLS support, unlimited bandwidth, advanced domain options, or team features, Pinggy is worth considering. For example, exposing a UDP game server, securing endpoints with TLS, or collaborating with teammates is straightforward with Pinggy. Ngrok remains reliable, especially if you require enterprise authentication methods. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific development needs and workflow.