diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 18ddbd1c81b..bd8048a0fb6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
   "scripts": {
     "start": "yarn start:browser",
     "start:server": "yarn workspace @actual-app/sync-server start",
+    "start:server-monitor": "yarn workspace @actual-app/sync-server start-monitor",
+    "start:server-dev": "NODE_ENV=development BROWSER_OPEN=localhost:5006 yarn npm-run-all --parallel 'start:server-monitor' 'start'",
     "start:desktop": "yarn rebuild-electron && npm-run-all --parallel 'start:desktop-*'",
     "start:desktop-node": "yarn workspace loot-core watch:node",
     "start:desktop-client": "yarn workspace @actual-app/web watch",
diff --git a/packages/desktop-client/vite.config.mts b/packages/desktop-client/vite.config.mts
index fd0b9acb1a4..69ddbb80003 100644
--- a/packages/desktop-client/vite.config.mts
+++ b/packages/desktop-client/vite.config.mts
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ export default defineConfig(async ({ mode }) => {
     ];
   }
 
+  const browserOpen = env.BROWSER_OPEN ? `//${env.BROWSER_OPEN}` : true;
+
   return {
     base: '/',
     envPrefix: 'REACT_APP_',
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ export default defineConfig(async ({ mode }) => {
         ? ['chrome', 'firefox', 'edge', 'browser', 'browserPrivate'].includes(
             env.BROWSER,
           )
-        : true,
+        : browserOpen,
       watch: {
         disableGlobbing: false,
       },
diff --git a/packages/sync-server/package.json b/packages/sync-server/package.json
index d5de6102a71..9b8f9b63e1e 100644
--- a/packages/sync-server/package.json
+++ b/packages/sync-server/package.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node app",
+    "start-monitor": "nodemon app",
     "lint": "eslint . --max-warnings 0",
     "lint:fix": "eslint . --fix",
     "build": "tsc",
@@ -57,7 +58,9 @@
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^5.51.0",
     "eslint": "^8.33.0",
     "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^4.2.1",
+    "http-proxy-middleware": "^3.0.3",
     "jest": "^29.3.1",
+    "nodemon": "^3.1.9",
     "prettier": "^2.8.3",
     "supertest": "^6.3.1",
     "typescript": "^4.9.5"
diff --git a/packages/sync-server/src/app.js b/packages/sync-server/src/app.js
index 78bde184e5f..42d333a8259 100644
--- a/packages/sync-server/src/app.js
+++ b/packages/sync-server/src/app.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import cors from 'cors';
 import express from 'express';
 import actuator from 'express-actuator';
 import rateLimit from 'express-rate-limit';
+import { createProxyMiddleware } from 'http-proxy-middleware';
 
 import * as accountApp from './app-account.js';
 import * as adminApp from './app-admin.js';
@@ -24,14 +25,17 @@ process.on('unhandledRejection', reason => {
 app.disable('x-powered-by');
 app.use(cors());
 app.set('trust proxy', config.trustedProxies);
-app.use(
-  rateLimit({
-    windowMs: 60 * 1000,
-    max: 500,
-    legacyHeaders: false,
-    standardHeaders: true,
-  }),
-);
+if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'development') {
+  app.use(
+    rateLimit({
+      windowMs: 60 * 1000,
+      max: 500,
+      legacyHeaders: false,
+      standardHeaders: true,
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
 app.use(bodyParser.json({ limit: `${config.upload.fileSizeLimitMB}mb` }));
 app.use(
   bodyParser.raw({
@@ -67,9 +71,25 @@ app.use((req, res, next) => {
   res.set('Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy', 'require-corp');
   next();
 });
-app.use(express.static(config.webRoot, { index: false }));
+if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
+  console.log(
+    'Running in development mode - Proxying frontend routes to React Dev Server',
+  );
+
+  app.use(
+    createProxyMiddleware({
+      target: 'http://localhost:3001',
+      changeOrigin: true,
+      ws: true,
+      logLevel: 'debug',
+    }),
+  );
+} else {
+  console.log('Running in production mode - Serving static React app');
 
-app.get('/*', (req, res) => res.sendFile(config.webRoot + '/index.html'));
+  app.use(express.static(config.webRoot, { index: false }));
+  app.get('/*', (req, res) => res.sendFile(config.webRoot + '/index.html'));
+}
 
 function parseHTTPSConfig(value) {
   if (value.startsWith('-----BEGIN')) {
diff --git a/upcoming-release-notes/4372.md b/upcoming-release-notes/4372.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fe0bd325863
--- /dev/null
+++ b/upcoming-release-notes/4372.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+category: Enhancements
+authors: [lelemm]
+---
+
+Sync server development mode with react fast refresh
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index f8fb5e7d118..0c6ecd67aee 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ __metadata:
     express-rate-limit: "npm:^6.7.0"
     express-response-size: "npm:^0.0.3"
     express-winston: "npm:^4.2.0"
+    http-proxy-middleware: "npm:^3.0.3"
     jest: "npm:^29.3.1"
     jws: "npm:^4.0.0"
     migrate: "npm:^2.0.1"
+    nodemon: "npm:^3.1.9"
     nordigen-node: "npm:^1.4.0"
     openid-client: "npm:^5.4.2"
     prettier: "npm:^2.8.3"
@@ -6363,6 +6365,15 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@types/http-proxy@npm:^1.17.15":
+  version: 1.17.16
+  resolution: "@types/http-proxy@npm:1.17.16"
+  dependencies:
+    "@types/node": "npm:*"
+  checksum: 10/a054ac8f5301acfcfdcec3a775f52dc371180bbe60037906534312f10cceb3799b4a16e46c56c22f9925d078e11dcda1723c38f1ddd124be8169a4cccca69c8c
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@types/istanbul-lib-coverage@npm:*, @types/istanbul-lib-coverage@npm:^2.0.0, @types/istanbul-lib-coverage@npm:^2.0.1":
   version: 2.0.4
   resolution: "@types/istanbul-lib-coverage@npm:2.0.4"
@@ -8935,6 +8946,25 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"chokidar@npm:^3.5.2":
+  version: 3.6.0
+  resolution: "chokidar@npm:3.6.0"
+  dependencies:
+    anymatch: "npm:~3.1.2"
+    braces: "npm:~3.0.2"
+    fsevents: "npm:~2.3.2"
+    glob-parent: "npm:~5.1.2"
+    is-binary-path: "npm:~2.1.0"
+    is-glob: "npm:~4.0.1"
+    normalize-path: "npm:~3.0.0"
+    readdirp: "npm:~3.6.0"
+  dependenciesMeta:
+    fsevents:
+      optional: true
+  checksum: 10/c327fb07704443f8d15f7b4a7ce93b2f0bc0e6cea07ec28a7570aa22cd51fcf0379df589403976ea956c369f25aa82d84561947e227cd925902e1751371658df
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "chownr@npm:^1.1.1":
   version: 1.1.4
   resolution: "chownr@npm:1.1.4"
@@ -9889,7 +9919,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"debug@npm:^4.3.7":
+"debug@npm:^4, debug@npm:^4.3.6, debug@npm:^4.3.7":
   version: 4.4.0
   resolution: "debug@npm:4.4.0"
   dependencies:
@@ -11729,7 +11759,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"eventemitter3@npm:^4.0.1":
+"eventemitter3@npm:^4.0.0, eventemitter3@npm:^4.0.1":
   version: 4.0.7
   resolution: "eventemitter3@npm:4.0.7"
   checksum: 10/8030029382404942c01d0037079f1b1bc8fed524b5849c237b80549b01e2fc49709e1d0c557fa65ca4498fc9e24cff1475ef7b855121fcc15f9d61f93e282346
@@ -12315,7 +12345,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"follow-redirects@npm:^1.15.6":
+"follow-redirects@npm:^1.0.0, follow-redirects@npm:^1.15.6":
   version: 1.15.9
   resolution: "follow-redirects@npm:1.15.9"
   peerDependenciesMeta:
@@ -13277,6 +13307,31 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"http-proxy-middleware@npm:^3.0.3":
+  version: 3.0.3
+  resolution: "http-proxy-middleware@npm:3.0.3"
+  dependencies:
+    "@types/http-proxy": "npm:^1.17.15"
+    debug: "npm:^4.3.6"
+    http-proxy: "npm:^1.18.1"
+    is-glob: "npm:^4.0.3"
+    is-plain-object: "npm:^5.0.0"
+    micromatch: "npm:^4.0.8"
+  checksum: 10/32f58c29288ca63e109909fb998bd0f6f50eb15a98dec9487eac07dfc4f09d8507dbfa00b44442d868bafa904bd633c8bbd55686bb13b4d4af4f5c5b3bbca430
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"http-proxy@npm:^1.18.1":
+  version: 1.18.1
+  resolution: "http-proxy@npm:1.18.1"
+  dependencies:
+    eventemitter3: "npm:^4.0.0"
+    follow-redirects: "npm:^1.0.0"
+    requires-port: "npm:^1.0.0"
+  checksum: 10/2489e98aba70adbfd8b9d41ed1ff43528be4598c88616c558b109a09eaffe4bb35e551b6c75ac42ed7d948bb7530a22a2be6ef4f0cecacb5927be139f4274594
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "http2-wrapper@npm:^1.0.0-beta.5.2":
   version: 1.0.3
   resolution: "http2-wrapper@npm:1.0.3"
@@ -13423,6 +13478,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"ignore-by-default@npm:^1.0.1":
+  version: 1.0.1
+  resolution: "ignore-by-default@npm:1.0.1"
+  checksum: 10/441509147b3615e0365e407a3c18e189f78c07af08564176c680be1fabc94b6c789cad1342ad887175d4ecd5225de86f73d376cec8e06b42fd9b429505ffcf8a
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "ignore@npm:^5.1.1, ignore@npm:^5.2.0, ignore@npm:^5.3.1":
   version: 5.3.2
   resolution: "ignore@npm:5.3.2"
@@ -16864,7 +16926,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"micromatch@npm:^4.0.4, micromatch@npm:~4.0.7":
+"micromatch@npm:^4.0.4, micromatch@npm:^4.0.8, micromatch@npm:~4.0.7":
   version: 4.0.8
   resolution: "micromatch@npm:4.0.8"
   dependencies:
@@ -17420,6 +17482,26 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"nodemon@npm:^3.1.9":
+  version: 3.1.9
+  resolution: "nodemon@npm:3.1.9"
+  dependencies:
+    chokidar: "npm:^3.5.2"
+    debug: "npm:^4"
+    ignore-by-default: "npm:^1.0.1"
+    minimatch: "npm:^3.1.2"
+    pstree.remy: "npm:^1.1.8"
+    semver: "npm:^7.5.3"
+    simple-update-notifier: "npm:^2.0.0"
+    supports-color: "npm:^5.5.0"
+    touch: "npm:^3.1.0"
+    undefsafe: "npm:^2.0.5"
+  bin:
+    nodemon: bin/nodemon.js
+  checksum: 10/7c01ddfa30815f4147006f5b7c015a1f75017118cf398ee8c4ba3ac904667f4555b91cca6b7b191e0f6ccf5072727aa20224a1456d5446f3f6053e15132068a2
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "noms@npm:0.0.0":
   version: 0.0.0
   resolution: "noms@npm:0.0.0"
@@ -18542,6 +18624,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"pstree.remy@npm:^1.1.8":
+  version: 1.1.8
+  resolution: "pstree.remy@npm:1.1.8"
+  checksum: 10/ef13b1b5896b35f67dbd4fb7ba54bb2a5da1a5c317276cbad4bcad4159bf8f7b5e1748dc244bf36865f3d560d2fc952521581280a91468c9c2df166cc760c8c1
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "pump@npm:^3.0.0":
   version: 3.0.0
   resolution: "pump@npm:3.0.0"
@@ -20251,7 +20340,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"simple-update-notifier@npm:2.0.0":
+"simple-update-notifier@npm:2.0.0, simple-update-notifier@npm:^2.0.0":
   version: 2.0.0
   resolution: "simple-update-notifier@npm:2.0.0"
   dependencies:
@@ -20974,7 +21063,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"supports-color@npm:^5.3.0":
+"supports-color@npm:^5.3.0, supports-color@npm:^5.5.0":
   version: 5.5.0
   resolution: "supports-color@npm:5.5.0"
   dependencies:
@@ -21413,6 +21502,15 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"touch@npm:^3.1.0":
+  version: 3.1.1
+  resolution: "touch@npm:3.1.1"
+  bin:
+    nodetouch: bin/nodetouch.js
+  checksum: 10/853e763a1f4903302c5654ed353f84ad85baf757dac62c2d37ab67e0477cfd271e8c64771fcfad42310aff7c9d284ddb435ee5ca13ff36d0f3693fedd8e971d1
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "tough-cookie@npm:^4.0.0":
   version: 4.1.4
   resolution: "tough-cookie@npm:4.1.4"
@@ -21907,6 +22005,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"undefsafe@npm:^2.0.5":
+  version: 2.0.5
+  resolution: "undefsafe@npm:2.0.5"
+  checksum: 10/f42ab3b5770fedd4ada175fc1b2eb775b78f609156f7c389106aafd231bfc210813ee49f54483d7191d7b76e483bc7f537b5d92d19ded27156baf57592eb02cc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "underscore.string@npm:~3.3.4":
   version: 3.3.6
   resolution: "underscore.string@npm:3.3.6"