Laradock vs XAMPP / MAMP

What is XAMPP / MAMP?

XAMPP and MAMP are free, all-in-one installer packages that put Apache, MySQL (or MariaDB), and PHP directly onto your Windows, macOS, or Linux machine. They have been the default way millions of developers got a local PHP environment running since the early 2000s: download one installer, click through a control panel, and your server is running, no command line and no Docker required.

This page compares that classic native approach to Laradock, which delivers the same one-download simplicity but runs everything in isolated Docker containers instead of installing software directly on your machine.

XAMPP, MAMP and WAMP served a whole generation of PHP developers: one installer, Apache + MySQL + PHP, done. Laradock keeps that "download and go" simplicity but swaps global installs for disposable containers. This page compares them honestly, and ends with a 10-minute migration guide.

TL;DR: pick XAMPP/MAMP only if Docker is not an option on your machine. Otherwise Laradock gives you the same convenience with per-project versions, a production-like stack, and a host machine that stays clean.

How XAMPP works

One installer puts Apache, MySQL and PHP directly on your OS. Projects live in htdocs/, services start from the control panel, databases are managed in phpMyAdmin at localhost/phpmyadmin. It works, and it is genuinely beginner-friendly.

The costs show up over time: one global PHP version for every project (switching means reinstalling), config drift between teammates' machines, no isolation (one broken MySQL config affects everything), an environment that looks nothing like your Linux server, and an uninstall that never quite cleans up.

The same thing with Laradock

cd my-project
git clone https://github.com/laradock/laradock.git
cd laradock && cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d nginx mysql phpmyadmin

• Your app: http://localhost
• phpMyAdmin: http://localhost:8081 (host mysql, user default, password secret)
• Prefer Apache like XAMPP? docker compose up -d apache2 mysql phpmyadmin. That is the entire difference.

Everything runs in containers: each project can have its own PHP (5.6 to 8.5) and its own database, teammates get an identical stack from the same files, and docker compose down leaves your machine exactly as it was.

Side by side

	XAMPP / MAMP	Laradock
Install	Desktop installer (global Apache/MySQL/PHP)	Nothing (git clone; only Docker itself)
Start	Control panel buttons	docker compose up -d nginx mysql
PHP versions	One global (reinstall to switch)	5.6 to 8.5, per project, via .env
Isolation between projects	None	Full (containers per project)
Services beyond LAMP	No (Apache + MySQL only)	100+ (Redis, Postgres, queues, search, mail, LLMs, ...)
Matches your Linux server	No (native Windows/macOS)	Yes (same containers)
Team consistency	Everyone configures by hand	Same files = same stack for everyone
Cleanup	Uninstaller, leftovers linger	docker compose down, zero traces
Machine footprint	Apache/MySQL/PHP installed globally	Nothing installed on the host

Choose XAMPP / MAMP if...

• Docker cannot run on your machine (old hardware, company restrictions).
• You are teaching absolute beginners where a GUI control panel lowers the barrier.
• You have a single small project and native simplicity is all you need.

Choose Laradock if...

• You have more than one project, or more than one PHP version in your life.
• You want your local environment to behave like your production server.
• You need anything beyond Apache + MySQL: Redis, Postgres, queues, search, mail catchers, each one command away.
• You want a machine you can wipe clean in one command.

Migrate from XAMPP to Laradock in about 10 minutes

1. Install Docker Desktop (Windows/macOS) or Docker Engine (Linux). The only installation in this guide.
2. Export your database in your OLD phpMyAdmin (XAMPP) as a SQL file.
3. Move your project out of htdocs/ to anywhere you like, and add Laradock next to it:

   cd my-project
   git clone https://github.com/laradock/laradock.git
   cd laradock && cp .env.example .env

4. Start your stack: docker compose up -d nginx mysql phpmyadmin (first run builds for a few minutes; afterwards it starts in seconds).
5. Import the database in the NEW phpMyAdmin at localhost:8081: create the database, import the file.
6. Update your app's config: database host becomes mysql (not localhost; containers reach each other by service name), user default, password secret (changeable in .env).
7. Retire the old habits:

In XAMPP you...	With Laradock you...
Open the control panel and press Start	docker compose up -d nginx mysql
Stop Apache/MySQL from the panel	docker compose stop
Put projects in htdocs/	Keep projects anywhere; set APP_CODE_PATH_HOST in .env
Edit php.ini	Edit php-fpm/phpX.Y.ini, rebuild once
Switch PHP by reinstalling XAMPP	Change PHP_VERSION= in .env, rebuild once
Run php / composer on your OS	docker compose exec workspace bash (Linux shell with PHP, Composer, Node, git preinstalled)
phpMyAdmin at localhost/phpmyadmin	phpMyAdmin at localhost:8081

Frequently Asked Questions

Is XAMPP free?

Yes, XAMPP (Apache Friends) is free and open-source. MAMP has a free tier with a paid MAMP PRO upgrade for more advanced features like multiple virtual hosts.

Can XAMPP run multiple PHP versions?

Not natively; XAMPP installs one global PHP version per installation. Running multiple versions side by side requires installing separate XAMPP copies or a third-party version switcher, whereas Laradock gives every project its own container with its own PHP version out of the box.

Is XAMPP good for production?

No. XAMPP is explicitly designed and documented as a local development tool; its default configuration (open MySQL root password, exposed phpMyAdmin) is not hardened for production use.

Does XAMPP support Docker?

No, XAMPP installs Apache, MySQL, and PHP directly on your operating system; it does not use containers. That is precisely the difference this page compares.

How do I move a XAMPP project to Docker?

Export your database from phpMyAdmin, move your project files out of htdocs/, and follow the step-by-step migration guide further up this page; it takes about 10 minutes.

See the full landscape, including DDEV, Sail, Herd and Lando: Laradock vs Others. For the complete setup reference, head to Getting Started.