Helm is a powerful and intuitive hosts file manager designed for developers, system administrators, and power users on macOS. It simplifies the process of editing, organizing, and switching between different hosts configurations, replacing the need for manual command-line editing.
Whether you need to manage complex server mappings for development, switch environments between staging and production, or subscribe to shared team configurations, Helm offers a clean, native interface to streamline your workflow.
Key Features:
• Modular Organization: Split your hosts entries into separate files or groups (e.g., "Dev", "Staging", "Production"). Enable or disable them individually or in combination to instantly switch environments.
• Smart Conflict Detection: Automatically identifies strict conflicts where the same domain is mapped to different IP addresses across active files. Helm intelligently handles IPv4 and IPv6 dual-stack configurations to prevent false positives.
• Remote Synchronization: Subscribe to remote hosts files via URL (e.g., team configs or blocklists). Helm automatically keeps them in sync with configurable update intervals (1h, 12h, 24h).
• Integrated Network Diagnostics: Troubleshoot DNS issues without leaving the app. The built-in Diagnostics Panel lets you run `ping`, `dig`, and `nslookup` commands, and verify specific lines with visual feedback.
• Robust Editor: Edit your hosts files with confidence using syntax highlighting and line numbers.
• Safety & History: All changes are backed up. Access the history of your hosts file snapshots and restore to any previous version if needed.
• System Integration: Automatically flushes the system DNS cache when changes are applied, ensuring your new settings take effect immediately.
This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
Launched!
MaltbyEarl
Update 4/12/17: I did find it in the status bar and it works fine. Beats having to open the termianal and sudo nano all the time. Changed from one to four stars.Original 4/11/17 Well, I bought it. When I launch it, it creates a process thread that takes up memory. But that is about all I can say about it as it doesn’t show up in Finder at all (not app switching, dock, force quit, nowhere). Guess I will go back to the old way of modifing the hosts file.
Developer Response
It is opened in the status bar, If you are finished editing, you can quit with the Command + Q
Great, simple tool
Azathfeld
Does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it with minimal fuss. Sometimes the UI is mildly counterintuitive, but it fills its niche and just works.
no remote hosts file support
qepyekofi
only for local files. I was looking for a Gas Mask replacement that supports combined local and remote URL’s for hosts file creation. This ain’t it.
Developer Response
Now supported.
i love it
lvlmd
the best app for edit host file. simple and very useful. thanks
• Network Diagnostics Panel: Added a dedicated panel to run `ping`, `dig`, and `nslookup` commands directly within the app.
• Verify Connectivity: You can now quickly verify the connectivity and DNS resolution of selected hosts lines with instant visual feedback.
• Remote Hosts Sync: Full support for subscribing to public/private remote hosts files with automatic background synchronization.
• Smart Conflict Detection 2.0: Enhanced detection logic that correctly handles concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 mappings for the same domain while alerting you to genuine conflicts.
• Large File Editing: Optimized for performance, allowing you to edit multi-megabyte hosts files smoothly without lag.
• Performance Improvements: Moved heavy file operations and network requests to background threads for a responsive, stutter-free experience.
Version 3.2.0
The developer, 金标 李, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
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Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
