PortWatcher — Free Local Port Monitor for Mac
Monitor local ports in real-time, identify the exact process holding them hostage, and free them with a single click — no terminal required. PortWatcher is completely free.
What it does
PortWatcher is a free macOS menu bar utility that watches your local network ports in real time. When a port conflict blocks your development server, PortWatcher shows exactly which process is occupying the port and lets you kill it with one click. No lsof, no kill -9, no terminal context switching.
Key features
- Real-time monitoring of all active local ports
- Identify process name, PID, and user for each port
- One-click process termination
- Menu bar integration — always visible, never in the way
- Completely free — no purchase, no subscription, no ads
- Native SwiftUI, minimal resource usage
Common workflows
- Node.js developers: Kill zombie dev servers that block port 3000 without finding the PID manually
- Docker users: See which containers are binding to which ports at a glance
- Python/Django developers: Free port 8000 when a server crashes but leaves the port occupied
- General debugging: Know exactly what's running on your machine's ports at all times
Privacy and local-first design
PortWatcher reads system process information locally and never sends data anywhere. It's a read-only utility that only takes action (process termination) when you explicitly click. No telemetry, no network calls, no data collection.
FAQ
Is PortWatcher really free?
Yes. PortWatcher is completely free with no upsells, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.
Does it require admin privileges?
PortWatcher needs permission to view and terminate processes, which macOS will prompt for on first launch.
What macOS version is required?
macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later.