Fettler and Tinkerwell, side by side.
Tinkerwell is the tool this kind of app is measured against, and it is for PHP. Fettler is for TypeScript on Stacks. If your app is PHP, the answer is Tinkerwell.
Facts about Tinkerwell were read from its site and docs on November 11, 2026.
What it runs
| Topic | Fettler | Tinkerwell | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Different approach | TypeScript, against a booted Stacks app. | PHP only, with drivers for Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Statamic and Magento. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Language |
| Availability Tinkerwell is ahead | In development. No download yet. | Shipping today, at version 5. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Availability |
| Platforms Tinkerwell is ahead | macOS, Windows and Linux, all three planned for the first public beta. | macOS, Windows and Linux. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Platforms |
| Remote targets Tinkerwell is ahead | SSH, servers deployed with buddy deploy, Docker and Kubernetes. Coming with Pro. | Documents SSH, Docker, Kubernetes, Laravel Vapor, Laravel Cloud and Laravel Forge. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Remote targets |
Price and license
| Topic | Fettler | Tinkerwell | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard license Fettler costs less | $39. One year of updates, a perpetual fallback license, 2 devices. | $49. One year of updates, a perpetual fallback license, 2 devices. Sold through Paddle. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Standard license |
| Lifetime license Fettler costs less | $149. | $199. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Lifetime license |
Tools around the editor
| Topic | Fettler | Tinkerwell | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI The same | Bring your own API key. Coming with Pro. | Bring your own API key. | tinkerwell.app, the page for AI |
| Logs Different approach | Tails the log as lines are written. Coming. | A log viewer that refreshes by polling at an interval you choose. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Logs |
| SQL view Different approach | A SQL panel for the queries a snippet ran, in any Stacks app. Coming. | A SQL view for Laravel and WordPress projects only. | tinkerwell.app, the page for SQL view |
| MCP server Tinkerwell is ahead | None. | Yes. Its local tool does not use a project's Docker settings. | tinkerwell.app, the page for MCP server |
| Editor plugin Tinkerwell is ahead | None. | A PhpStorm plugin. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Editor plugin |
| Step debugging Tinkerwell is ahead | None. | Debugging with Xdebug. | tinkerwell.app, the page for Step debugging |
Everything in the Tinkerwell column was read from its public site and docs on November 11, 2026, and each row links the page it came from. Tinkerwell is a product of Beyond Code. Fettler is not affiliated with it.
Where Tinkerwell is ahead
- It exists today
- Tinkerwell is at version 5 and you can buy and run it now. Fettler is in development and has no download.
- The PHP ecosystem
- If your app is Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Statamic or Magento, Tinkerwell is built for it. Fettler does not run PHP.
- A PhpStorm plugin
- Tinkerwell runs code from inside PhpStorm. Fettler has no editor plugin.
- Xdebug
- Tinkerwell can step through code with Xdebug. Fettler has no step debugger.