Expose local app to internet instantly with GhostlyBridge Tunnel

Making a local app reachable from the internet is simple in concept but involves several obstacles in practice. Most developers hit these four problems before they can share anything.

• Router configuration is required to forward traffic to the right machine.
• Firewall rules often need manual changes for the specific port the app runs on.
• Port forwarding requires manual router configuration and is error-prone.
• Third-party tools often require account creation, configuration files, or paid plans.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel removes all four steps. You get a public URL through an outbound tunnel without router changes, account creation, or extra setup.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel is built for speed. From opening the app to having a working public URL, the whole process takes under 30 seconds.

If you want the full product overview beyond tunnels, open the GhostlyBridge desktop app guide.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel uses an outbound connection from your PC to create a public route to your local app. You do not need to open inbound ports.

• GhostlyBridge opens an outbound connection from your PC to a tunnel endpoint.
• The tunnel endpoint receives incoming requests and forwards them through the tunnel to your machine.
• Your local app responds as normal and the reply travels back through the same tunnel.

Your local app is accessed through a public tunnel endpoint instead of direct network configuration. That means you can share it without handling port forwarding yourself.

Follow these steps to get a public URL for any local app running on your PC. The workflow works for any port and any type of web application.

1. Start your local app and confirm it is running, for example on 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. Choose Local App as the connection type, enter a name, your local URL, and the port.
5. Choose Public with instant random URL and save. GhostlyBridge creates the tunnel automatically.
6. Copy the public URL and share it. Anyone can now reach your local app from anywhere.

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

GhostlyBridge Tunnel fits naturally into developer workflows where a quick public URL solves the problem without any deployment work.

• Share localhost with a client or teammate before deployment without pushing code anywhere.
• Run a live client demo directly from your machine with a public URL you can send in seconds.
• Test webhooks from Stripe, GitHub, or Shopify that need a public callback URL to deliver events.
• Preview a site or app before deployment so feedback can happen earlier in the workflow.
• Debug on mobile devices by opening the same public URL on a phone or tablet connected from another network.

Most tools that expose local apps to the internet start with a CLI install, account signup, auth token, or config step before anything works. GhostlyBridge skips all of that.

• No account. Open GhostlyBridge and start the tunnel immediately without registration.
• No CLI. Add a connection inside the desktop app without touching a terminal.
• No config files. There is nothing to write, paste, or keep in sync.
• No setup. It is built into the desktop app, so there is no separate install, PATH setup, or command to remember.

If you already have GhostlyBridge installed for other features, exposing a local app is just one more thing it handles without any extra setup.

GhostlyBridge Tunnel is built for quick sharing and testing, not for permanent public-facing deployments.

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