Testing Webhooks with LocalTunnel

Webhook testing is one of the most common use cases for LocalTunnel. When building applications that integrate with third-party services, you need a way to receive webhook notifications during development.

The Problem

Most webhook providers require a publicly accessible URL to send notifications. During local development, your server typically runs on localhost, which isn't accessible from the internet.

The Solution: LocalTunnel

LocalTunnel solves this by creating a secure tunnel from a public URL to your local development server.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Start your local server:

node server.js  # Running on port 3000

1. Create a tunnel:

lt --port 3000 --subdomain myapp

1. Configure your webhook URL: Use https://myapp.loca.lt/webhook as your webhook endpoint.

Popular Services

GitHub Webhooks

Perfect for testing CI/CD pipelines and repository events.

Stripe Webhooks

Test payment processing and subscription events locally.

PayPal IPN

Validate instant payment notifications during development.

Pro Tips

• Use custom subdomains for consistent URLs
• Always validate webhook signatures
• Log all incoming webhook data for debugging
• Use tools like ngrok for production-like testing

LocalTunnel makes webhook development a breeze!