Instantly expose your local app to the internet with GhostlyBridge Tunnel

Making a local app accessible from the internet is simple in theory but faces several practical obstacles. Most developers encounter these four issues first.

• Router configuration is necessary to forward traffic to the correct device.
• Firewall rules often require manual adjustments for the specific port your app uses.
• Port forwarding needs manual router configuration and is prone to errors.
• Third-party tools often require account creation, configuration files, or paid subscriptions.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel eliminates all four steps. You receive a public URL via an outbound tunnel with no router changes, account creation, or extra setup.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel prioritises speed. From launching the app to a working public URL takes under 30 seconds.

If you wish to see the complete product overview beyond tunnels, open the GhostlyBridge desktop application guide.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel uses an outbound connection from your PC to create a public route to your local app, so no inbound ports need opening.

• GhostlyBridge establishes an outbound connection from your PC to a tunnel endpoint.
• The tunnel endpoint receives incoming requests and forwards them through the tunnel to your device.
• Your local app responds normally, with replies travelling back through the same tunnel.

Your local app is accessed via a public tunnel endpoint rather than direct network configuration, so you can share it without managing port forwarding.

Follow these steps to obtain a public URL for any local app running on your PC. This works for any port and web application type.

1. Start your local app and confirm it’s running, for example at http://localhost:3000.
2. Open GhostlyBridge on your Windows desktop.
3. Switch to the MyServer tab and click Add to create a new connection.
4. Select Local App as the connection type, then enter a name, your local URL, and the port.
5. Choose Public with an instant random URL and save. GhostlyBridge will create the tunnel automatically.
6. Copy the public URL and share it. Your local app is now accessible from anywhere.

The entire process usually takes under 30 seconds from opening GhostlyBridge to having a working public URL.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel integrates smoothly into developer workflows, providing a quick public URL without deployment.

• Share localhost with a client or colleague before deployment without pushing code.
• Run a live client demo directly from your machine with a public URL you can share in seconds.
• Test webhooks from Stripe, GitHub, or Shopify requiring a public callback URL to deliver events.
• Preview a site or app before deployment to gather feedback earlier in the process.
• Debug on mobile devices by opening the same public URL on a phone or tablet connected to a different network.

Most tools for exposing local apps require CLI installation, account signup, auth tokens, or configuration before use. GhostlyBridge avoids all this.

• No account needed. Open GhostlyBridge and start the tunnel immediately without registering.
• No CLI required. Add a connection within the desktop app without using a terminal.
• No configuration files needed. Nothing to write, paste, or synchronise.
• No setup needed. It’s built into the desktop app, so no separate install, PATH setup, or commands to remember.

If you already use GhostlyBridge for other features, exposing a local app is just another function with no extra setup.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel is designed for rapid sharing and testing, not for permanent public-facing use.

• The public URL is randomly generated and may change when the tunnel restarts. A stable URL with a custom domain is available as a Pro feature.
• It is not intended for production traffic or long-running services. Use it for sharing, demos, and testing.
• The tunnel runs only while GhostlyBridge is open and your PC is powered on. If your machine sleeps or shuts down, the URL ceases to work.