Alternative to · ngrok
ngrok tunnels die. HookSense endpoints don't.
ngrok is brilliant for ad-hoc HTTP tunneling. For webhooks specifically, it adds a recurring tax: every tunnel restart means a new URL, which means updating every provider dashboard. HookSense gives you one permanent URL and forwards to localhost via CLI.
What developers tell us about ngrok
- Tunnel restarts mean a new URL — update Stripe, GitHub, Shopify dashboards every time.
- Free tier has a 24-hour endpoint lifetime; Pro tier reserved subdomains start at $20/mo.
- ngrok shows traffic in its inspector, but no replay, no signature verification, no compare.
- Behind a corporate firewall? Tunnel setup is non-trivial.
Why teams switch
One permanent URL forever
Your /w/your-name endpoint never changes. Set it once at Stripe; never touch the dashboard again.
CLI forwards to localhost natively
`npx hooksense listen -p 3000` pipes captured webhooks to your local server. Replaces the tunnel concept entirely — no DNS, no port forwarding.
Real-time inspector + replay
ngrok's inspector shows live traffic. HookSense adds replay, search, HMAC verification, request comparison, and 30–90 days of retention.
Works behind any firewall
The CLI uses outbound WebSocket — no inbound port, no NAT punching. Corporate networks just work.
Pricing, side by side
ngrok
$8–20/mo
Hobbyist/PAYG: 3 endpoints, request quota, plus tunnel/data usage
HookSense
$0 / $19/mo
Free: 3 endpoints permanent. Hook: 15 endpoints, 5k req/day, 3 seats
How to migrate (15 minutes)
- 1Sign up free at hooksense.com — get your permanent endpoint URL.
- 2Install the CLI: `npm install -g hooksense`.
- 3Run `hooksense listen --slug your-endpoint --port 3000` (or whatever port your local dev server uses).
- 4Update your provider dashboards once — point them at your HookSense URL forever.
- 5Stop running `ngrok http 3000` before every dev session.
FAQ
Do I still need ngrok for non-webhook tunneling?
Possibly. If you tunnel SSH, generic HTTP APIs, or share a local dev server with a non-webhook audience, ngrok is still the right tool. HookSense is webhook-specific — the CLI only forwards webhook traffic to localhost.
How does latency compare?
HookSense's WebSocket forwarding is comparable to an ngrok tunnel — typically 50–100ms end-to-end including the upstream provider hop. ngrok is sometimes a few ms faster in raw HTTP terms, but you gain inspection and replay on top of forwarding.
Can the HookSense CLI run as a daemon?
Yes. Run it in the background (e.g., `nohup` on Unix, a Windows service) and it stays connected. Reconnects automatically on network blips.
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