GhostlyShare for local app previews
GhostlyShare makes local apps public in one click
GhostlyShare is a small Windows tray app that finds local web apps and turns them into public links without deploys, DNS setup, or browser-tab chaos.
Product idea
A public link for the app already running on your machine
Start a dev server, a local dashboard, a webhook receiver, or a small API. GhostlyShare notices it, shows the port, and gives you a Start button. One click later you have a public URL you can open, copy, and share.
Features
Everything needed for a clean local-to-public workflow
Automatic local app discovery
GhostlyShare scans local listening ports, probes HTTP and HTTPS endpoints, reads page titles, and can recognize API surfaces through OpenAPI, Swagger, docs, and health endpoints.
Free public links, no account
No login, no account, no paid plan, and no custom domain are needed. Start the local app, press Start, and GhostlyShare creates a shareable preview link.
HTTP and WebSocket proxying
Modern apps keep working because GhostlyShare forwards normal HTTP traffic and WebSocket connections through the active public route.
Copy, open, stop, repeat
Every live app gets a compact action strip: open the public URL, copy it with confirmation, or stop the public preview when the session is over.
Calm tray-first interface
The window stays small, does not live in the taskbar, and focuses on the exact apps that can be shared right now.
Safe lifecycle behavior
When local apps close or previews need to stop, GhostlyShare reconciles state and cleans up routes instead of leaving old public links hanging around.
Flow
From localhost to public URL in three quiet steps
- 1
Run your local app
Start Vite, ASP.NET Core, a dashboard, a webhook receiver, or any local web service as usual.
- 2
Press Start in GhostlyShare
The app finds the port, prepares the secure public route, waits for the URL, and shows a Live state when it is ready.
- 3
Share the URL
Copy the link, open it in the browser, send it to a client, or use it from another device for quick testing.
Why it feels fast
The app does the boring parts before you have to think about them
GhostlyShare keeps watching local ports, remembers live previews, reconciles routes when apps appear or disappear, and gives every visible action clear feedback. The result is simple: no manual sharing commands, no copied terminal URLs, no guessing which port is safe to share.
Use cases
Built for the moments when localhost is not enough
Client and teammate previews
Send a working link before deploying a branch or publishing a temporary build.
Webhook testing
Point external services at a local receiver while keeping your development loop on your machine.
Mobile device checks
Open your local site from another phone, tablet, or test machine without joining the same network.
API demos
Expose a local API for a quick integration conversation, then stop it when the session is done.
Compared with ngrok
A simpler path when you only need to share what is running locally
If you usually reach for ngrok, GhostlyShare aims at a more direct local-preview flow: open the tray app, pick the detected service, press Start, and send the link. No terminal-first setup, no account flow, no custom domain work.
Tray-first and visual
Best when you want to see detected local apps, start sharing with one click, copy the URL, and stop the preview without leaving a small Windows window.
Free without setup friction
Great for quick previews because there is no login, no account, no subscription step, and no domain to configure before you can share.
Powerful, but more manual
Terminal-first sharing tools are excellent for advanced routing workflows. GhostlyShare focuses on the everyday preview moment where speed and simplicity matter most.
FAQ
Quick answers before you share a local app
Do I need an account to use GhostlyShare?
No. GhostlyShare is built for quick local previews without login, account creation, or a subscription step.
Do I need my own domain?
No. You can share a temporary public preview link without buying a domain, changing DNS, or publishing a test deployment.
Is GhostlyShare meant to replace ngrok?
It depends on the workflow. ngrok-style tools are powerful for advanced routing, while GhostlyShare focuses on fast Windows tray previews for local apps, APIs, webhooks, and demos.
Bottom line
GhostlyShare turns a local build into something people can actually try
It is intentionally small, direct, and practical: start the app you are building, press Start in GhostlyShare, send the link, and keep working.