Locahl
Get Locahl
v2.4Drag-and-drop ordering · IPv6 validation

Stop fighting /etc/hosts

The modern cross-platform hosts file manager for Windows, macOS & Linux. Edit entries, switch environments, flush DNS — without the terminal tax.

Get Locahl — €9.99Try demo
★★★★★ 4.9 · average rating·one-time · updates included·Windows · macOS · Linux
before · terminal⏱ ~4 min
Terminal — hosts
● live
~/etc $
after · locahl⏱ 6 s
Locahl — staging
● v2.4.0
devstagingprodstaging · active
127.0.0.1localhost# system
127.0.0.1app.staging.local# acme
0.0.0.0ads.tracking.example# blocked
10.0.0.4db.staging.local# db
192.168.1.10elasticsearch.local# search
2001:db8::1ipv6.dev.local# v6
+ 342 more entries
unsaved changes
01what is locahl

A visual desktop app for your hosts file— across every machine you own.

Edit entries, switch between environments, and keep everything organized — with automatic backups, IPv6 validation and DNS flushing built in. No more sudo nano /etc/hosts.

02the friction

Why /etc/hosts slows people down

These are the little traps that make a simple edit feel like a mini-incident.

! EACCES
"Permission denied"

The classic. Everything is correct, except the part where you needed sudo.

! ENOCACHE
"Why isn't it working?!"

You debug. You double-check. Then you remember DNS cache exists.

! EFINDLINE
300 lines, 1 entry

You know it’s in there somewhere. The file disagrees.

03try it now

A live demo, right in your browser.

Play with a simulated version of Locahl. Add, toggle and apply entries — just like the real app, without installing a thing.

No real changes to your hosts file. Fake data only.
Locahl — demo
v2.4 · demo
Locahl
⌘K
· 6 entries
StatusIPDomainCommentActions
127.0.0.1
app.dev.acme.local
Next.js front-end
127.0.0.1
api.dev.acme.local
Node backend
127.0.0.1
admin.dev.acme.local
Back-office
192.168.1.42
minio.dev.acme.local
Local S3 storage
127.0.0.1
mail.dev.acme.local
MailHog
127.0.0.1
ws.dev.acme.local
WebSockets
In sync
·Acme · dev · 4/6 active·Backup · just now
Like it? Get the full app.Get Locahl — $9.99
04core workflow

Editing hosts in the terminal, no thanks.

sudo, small tasks that love interrupting your day. Locahl keeps changes simple and predictable.

./without-locahl.sh
Command memorization

Remembering the right command, the right path, and the right permissions, every time.

DNS cache gotchas

Changes look correct, results look wrong… until you flush DNS.

Hidden syntax mistakes

A single typo can cause issues with no clear explanation.

Lost configurations

Without backups, one wrong edit can undo a carefully tuned setup.

Slow searching

Scrolling through long files to find one line you swear you added.

Onboarding friction

New teammates spend time aligning environments before they can start building.

./with-locahl.app
Create and maintain entries, comfortably

Manage hosts entries in a clean interface, with comments that keep context close to the line.

✓ 127.0.0.1 api.staging.local # acme
✓ 127.0.0.1 db.staging.local
· 0.0.0.0 ads.tracker.dev
Switch environments with one click

Move between dev/staging/prod setups without hand-editing or toggling blocks of lines.

devstagingprod·⌘ 2 to switch
Reorder by drag & drop

Keep entries tidy the way you want, no manual line surgery.

⋮⋮ 127.0.0.1 api.local
⋮⋮ 127.0.0.1 db.local ← dragging
⋮⋮ 10.0.0.4 cache.local
Instant Search & Smart Filtering

Find any domain or IP instantly, even in large hosts files. Filters keep everything readable.

⌕api.staging.local1 of 47
Quick File Access & Refresh

Refresh to pick up external changes, or open the file location directly from the app.

⟳ Refresh↗ Open file location/etc/hosts
Validation and safeguards

Built-in checks help prevent malformed entries before they become production-grade headaches.

✓ 2001:db8::1 ipv6.local // valid IPv6
✗ 999.0.0.1 broken.local // invalid IP
Automatic Backups Before Apply

A backup is created before every apply, so rollback is always available.

● hosts.2026-05-17_14-22.bak · 2 min ago
● hosts.2026-05-17_09-08.bak · 5 h ago
● hosts.2026-05-16_18-50.bak · 1 d ago
05who it's for

Built for the way you work

Whether you work solo or lead a team, Locahl fits the way you build.

Locahl — switch d'environnement
● staging · active
devstagingprod3 environments
10.0.0.4app.staging.local# acme
10.0.0.5api.staging.local# acme
10.0.0.6db.staging.local# acme
01
The Freelancer

Switch between client setups quickly, without turning hosts edits into a recurring chore.

Per-client environment in one tap.12+ clients
02
The Tech Lead

Onboard faster: import a shared configuration and start working with fewer “it works on my machine” moments.

Shared JSON across the team.3 → 30 min
03
The QA / Tester

Test local/staging/prod safely, with a clear view of what’s active at any time.

Active environment, always visible.Zero ambiguity
06under the hood

Built for real work.

Designed for engineers who value reliability and clarity, not surprises.

Full IPv6 Support
2001:db8::1 v6.local
JSON Import / Export
$ locahl export --env=staging
Zero Latency
✓ runs offline · 0 ms RTT
Environment Types
5 environment presets
07productivity tools

Speed tools for daily workflows.

Everything around hosts edits is streamlined so routine tasks stay fast, safe, and predictable.

Locahl — command palette
⌘ K
⌕add a hosts entry5 actions
+Add a hosts entryN
⇄Switch to staging⌘ 2
↻Flush DNS cache⌘ ⇧ R
⤓Import from hosts text⌘ I
⏰Restore from backup…⌘ ⇧ B
↑ ↓ to navigate↵ exécuter · esc fermer
01
Command palette & shortcuts

Open actions instantly with Cmd/Ctrl+K and navigate daily tasks from the keyboard.

Cmd/Ctrl+K · N · S · /
02
Bulk import from hosts text

Paste multiple hosts lines at once and create entries in seconds instead of repetitive manual edits.

Paste block → import
03
Backup restore controls

Create backups, browse previous snapshots, and restore quickly if something breaks.

Manual + auto backups
04
DNS blocker alerts

Get warned when DNS tools may interfere, so you troubleshoot less and apply with confidence.

AdGuard · NextDNS · WARP
05
Browser cache cleanup

Configured browsers can be cleaned after apply to reduce stale resolution issues.

Chrome · Safari · Firefox · Arc
06
In-app update flow

Download, install, retry, and relaunch updates from the app without a manual install routine.

Update available → restart
08what people say

They left the terminal. No regrets.

4.9 / 5 — average rating
4h / week

“Locahl saves me 4+ hours every week. No more permission detours or manual edits. Managing 50+ local domains is finally predictable, and the ROI was immediate.”

David Chen
Senior Frontend Developer
30 min / day

“The one-click DNS flush alone justifies the price. I used to forget the cache step and lose time debugging. Now it’s one click and done. 30+ minutes saved daily.”

Marcus Johansson
Full Stack Developer
12 devs

“Our 12-person team moved to Locahl. New developers now get a working local setup in minutes instead of hours, and support requests dropped noticeably.”

James Reeves
Engineering Manager
200+ entries

“I manage 200+ entries across client projects. Instant search and automatic backups prevented more than a few mishaps. Best €9.99 I’ve spent in a while. Paid for itself in two days.”

Emma Whitford
Freelance Web Developer
1-click env

“The visual toggles are excellent. I switch between environments in one click instead of editing files for 10 minutes. The time savings add up quickly.”

Alex Tremblay
DevOps Engineer
zero data loss

“Locahl removed the stress around hosts changes. With automatic backups, I can make changes confidently, and restore instantly if needed. Six months in: zero data loss.”

Jessica Park
Lead Developer
09pricing

One payment. No subscription.

A one-time purchase including updates, DNS tools, multi-environments, and automatic backups.

Solo LicenseMOST POPULAR

Ideal for individual developers.

€9.99once · lifetime
Buy for €9.99 — instant access
Editing & management
License for 1 device
Unlimited entries
Visual enable / disable
Drag & drop ordering
Create and switch environments
Productivity
Instant search
Command palette and keyboard shortcuts
Bulk import from hosts text
Import / export JSON
Safety & reliability
Built-in DNS flush
IPv4 / IPv6 validation
Backup before every change
Restore from backups
Comfort & support
Multi-language UI (EN / FR)
Lifetime updates included
Email support
🔒 Secure checkout via Stripe↓ Windows, macOS & Linux — instant download by email
Team License

For teams that want volume pricing, grouped billing, and more responsive onboarding support.

€9.99/ seat · 3+ seats
Everything included in Solo
Volume pricing from 3 seats
Grouped billing for the team
Licenses prepared for multiple machines
Setup and onboarding help
Priority email support
10setup & account

Smooth onboarding and full control.

From first launch to long-term settings, the app keeps setup simple and account controls accessible.

01
3-step onboarding

Choose language, select browsers, validate your license email, and start in minutes.

02
Account controls

Review license type, email, masked machine identifier, and support-focused account details.

03
UI preferences

Switch light/dark appearance and choose where the add-entry panel opens.

04
In-app changelog

See what changed across versions directly from the application.

You deserve better than "sudo nano /etc/hosts"

Join the developers who stopped treating hosts edits like a mini-ritual. One purchase, a smoother workflow.

Get Locahl — €9.99View features
11faq

Everything you need to know

Still unsure? .

12from the blog

From the blog

Guides and tutorials to master your hosts file and local development workflow.

View all articles
01
DNS

macOS Tahoe Flush DNS Cache Command

Clear DNS cache on macOS Tahoe 26 with the exact Terminal command, verification steps, browser cache checks and hosts file troubleshooting.

May 26, 2026· 6 min read
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02
Chrome

Clear Chrome DNS Cache on Mac Fast

Clear Chrome DNS cache on Mac with chrome://net-internals, flush macOS DNS, restart sockets and fix stale local domains after hosts changes.

May 26, 2026· 5 min read
Read article
03
mkcert

Fix mkcert NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID

Fix NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID with mkcert on Mac by reinstalling the local CA, regenerating certificates and checking hostnames.

May 26, 2026· 5 min read
Read article