I’ve been using XAMPP on Windows for years without major issues, but I’m ready for a more modern setup.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
Nginx instead of Apache
Latest MariaDB
PHP-FPM instead of the default Apache PHP handler
No Docker, Vagrant, or virtualization involved—just native Windows
Frequent PHP updates (XAMPP still doesn’t have 8.3 
)
My main machine is on Windows, and for macOS I already use a Docker setup, but Docker is painfully slow for me on Windows. Even simple Composer installs time out and lag my whole system.
Would love any suggestions for a lightweight and up-to-date alternative!
I’ve been in your shoes, having used XAMPP for years, and switching to Laragon was honestly a breath of fresh air. Laragon supports Nginx out of the box and lets you toggle PHP versions effortlessly, including PHP 8.3-which you mentioned is missing in XAMPP. The best part? It’s native on Windows, so no Docker or virtualization slowing you down. Setting up PHP-FPM is straightforward too, making it a solid, fast alternative that respects your requirements.
Building on what Akansha said, Laragon really nails the easy setup and speed. Another option you might want to explore is Devilbox. Although it’s known for Docker, some folks have managed to run it natively on Windows, and it’s incredibly modular—giving you fine-grained control over Nginx, MariaDB, and PHP-FPM. If native Devilbox feels like too much hassle, Laragon remains a great pick, especially for staying on top of frequent PHP updates without sacrificing performance or simplicity.
Adding to both of your points, if you’re someone who likes full control and doesn’t mind a bit of manual work, going the fully DIY route might be worth it. I manually installed Nginx, MariaDB, and PHP on Windows, then configured PHP-FPM myself.
It took a little extra time to get the services running smoothly, but the payoff is massive speed and zero overhead from Docker or other virtualization layers. Plus, you get the latest PHP versions and can tune everything exactly how you want it—perfect if you want to dodge the bloat but keep PHP-FPM and Nginx running cleanly on your system.