No. 6 of 51 ·Development Environment Managers

DDEV

Windows · Mac · Linux

Freedom report

Three barsScore 6.5

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely3 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

DDEV is ranked #6 of 51 in development environment managers on Freedom251. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. There is a free plan.

DDEV plans and pricing

All plans

DDEV Free Free and open source · Apache 2.0 license ddev.com · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on development environment managers

Free plan: Yes
Desktop platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Local Kubernetes: No
Compose workflows: Yes
IDE integration: Yes
Resource controls: Yes

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The record

Purpose: DDEV is a local development environment for web developers that launches Docker based environments for PHP and Node.js.
Project setup: Projects can be started in seconds, customized, shared, and extended.
Supported stack: The stack includes PHP, Node.js, MySQL, PostgreSQL, nginx, Apache, Redis, and Mailpit.
Project presets: Presets are available for Laravel, WordPress, Drupal, TYPO3, Backdrop, Magento, Craft CMS, and more.
Domains and HTTPS: Its included router handles custom domain names and HTTPS automatically.
Extensibility: Users can add add-ons, run lifecycle hook scripts, and provide their own Dockerfiles.
Supported platforms: DDEV is supported and tested on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Hosting integrations: Provider recipes and integrations include Acquia, Git, Lagoon, local files, Pantheon, Upsun, and rsync.
Deployment limit: DDEV focuses on local development and does not provide capabilities for deploying code.
Security note: The documentation says public hosting with DDEV is experimental and that no security team backs that approach.
Support: The project points users to documentation, GitHub issues, Discord, and contact options for support.
Audience: DDEV describes itself as made for people who make websites and says it handles Docker so teams can focus on their work.
Governance and funding: DDEV is an open-source project governed through the DDEV Foundation and funded by recurring sponsorships.
History: DDEV originated at Drud around 2016, and the company shut down in 2021 after losing venture funding.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Development Environment Managers in 2026#6 of 51
Best Container Development Environments in 2026#6 of 39
Best Development Environment Management Tools in 2026#5 of 26

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Sources

ddev.com· checked 2 Oct 2026
docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/providers/· checked 2 Oct 2026
docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/topics/· checked 2 Oct 2026
docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/topics/hosting/· checked 2 Oct 2026
ddev.com/download/· checked 2 Oct 2026
ddev.com/about/· checked 2 Oct 2026