# PortAura PortAura is a read-only macOS tool for inspecting listening TCP and UDP ports, the processes behind them, and their listen addresses in real time. It is designed for local development monitoring and checking whether services are limited to localhost or exposed more broadly. - Findings24: - Website: - Pricing: Freemium - Categories: Analytics & BI ## What is PortAura? PortAura is a local network port and process monitor for macOS. It automatically shows listening TCP and UDP ports together with the process name, PID, and listen address behind each listener, giving users a readable way to inspect local system state without using the command line. The app is read-only and operates in real time; scan data stays on the Mac and no account is required. PortAura also helps distinguish localhost-only services from listeners available across a LAN or on all interfaces, which is useful when checking the exposure of local development services. In addition to port inspection, PortAura recognizes common local development services such as LM Studio, Ollama, and ComfyUI and displays their running and health status. PortAura Pro adds baselines for trusted listeners, alerts and system notifications for changes, and service diagnostics with practical suggestions. ## What can PortAura do? ### Listening port discovery Automatically finds ports currently in the LISTEN state on the Mac and shows the associated process, PID, and listen address. ### Port and process identification Connects each listener to the process behind it, making local network state easier to review without running command-line tools. ### Exposure scope checks Indicates whether a listener is restricted to localhost, available on the LAN, or bound to all interfaces. ### Local development service status Recognizes services including LM Studio, Ollama, and ComfyUI, with running and health status shown at a glance. ### Menu bar monitoring Provides a menu bar status indicator that reflects the state of local services in real time. ### Pro baselines and diagnostics Lets users mark trusted listeners as a baseline, receive alerts and system notifications for changes, and view item-level explanations with practical suggestions. ## Use Cases ### Review a Mac’s active listeners Use the real-time read-only scan to see which TCP and UDP ports are listening and identify the process, PID, and address associated with each one. ### Check local service exposure Inspect whether a development service is bound only to localhost or is reachable through a LAN or all interfaces before continuing local testing. ### Monitor an AI or creative development stack Use recognized status information for services such as LM Studio, Ollama, and ComfyUI to check whether local components are running and healthy. ### Detect unexpected port changes In PortAura Pro, establish a trusted listener baseline and review alerts or system notifications when listeners are added, removed, or otherwise changed. ### Keep an eye on services from the menu bar Use the menu bar indicator for a quick status check when working across local development tools without repeatedly opening the main app. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What operating system does PortAura support? PortAura is available for macOS 14.0 and later. The downloadable build is Apple-notarized and identified on the site as PortAura 1.0.2. ### Does PortAura send scan data off the Mac? The app is described as read-only, and its scan data stays on the Mac. No account is required. ### What can the free version do? The free version provides inspection of listening ports and the processes behind them in real time. PortAura Pro adds listener baselines, change alerts, system notifications for baseline changes, and service deep diagnostics. ### How is PortAura Pro purchased and activated? Purchase is initiated inside the app through PortAura Pro…, then completed through Paddle’s secure checkout. Pro activates automatically on that Mac after payment succeeds. It is a one-time purchase with lifetime access and no subscription. ### Where are payments and refunds handled? Paddle acts as the Merchant of Record and handles payment collection, taxes, invoicing, and refunds. Refund requests should be submitted through the Paddle receipt or buyer support, subject to Paddle’s policy and applicable consumer protection law. ## Quick Facts - **Category**: Developer Tool - **Platform**: macOS 14.0 or later - **Primary workflow**: Real-time local port and process inspection - **Data handling**: Read-only; scan data stays on the Mac - **Free capability**: Inspect listening ports and associated processes - **Paid model**: PortAura Pro one-time purchase; lifetime access and no subscription