{"id":748923,"date":"2024-01-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/?p=748923"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:02:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:02:50","slug":"local-development-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/local-development-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Best Local Development Environments for WordPress (2026 Picks)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Are you looking for the best local development environment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A local development environment gives you the luxury to experiment, learn, and improvise without disrupting your live WordPress website.\u00a0Before you test a plugin or migrate a live site, you need a local environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, I&#8217;ll review the best local development environments so you can find the best one for your needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Local development environments let you safely test and build WordPress sites on your computer without affecting your live website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local development speeds up your workflow by eliminating the need for an internet connection and allowing instant testing of changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Essential features to prioritize: easy setup, multi-platform support, flexibility with PHP\/MySQL versions, and good community support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top free options include LocalWP (easiest for beginners), XAMPP (works on all platforms), and Docker (best for advanced users)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>LocalWP stands out as the best overall choice with its user-friendly interface, one-click WordPress installation, and compatibility with Mac, Windows, and Linux<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-what-is-a-local-development-environment\">What Is a Local Development Environment?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-reasons-to-have-a-local-development-environment\">Why Use a Local Development Environment?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-key-features-to-look-for-in-a-local-development-environment\">Key Features to Look for in a Local Development Environment<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-11-best-local-development-environments\">Our Favorite Local Development Environments<\/a><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-1-localwp\">1. LocalWP<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-2-wampserver\">2. WampServer<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-3-xampp\">3. XAMPP<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-4-mamp\">4. MAMP<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-6-docker\">5. Docker<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-7-laragon\">6. Laragon<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-9-devkinsta\">7. DevKinsta<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-faqs-about-local-development-environments\">FAQs About Local Development Environments<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-what-is-a-local-development-environment\"><h2 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What Is a Local Development Environment?<\/h2><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>A local development environment is a place where you can develop and test projects without affecting your live website. By installing a development environment on your local machine, you&#8217;re essentially recreating the conditions of a live web server, right on your laptop or desktop.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-reasons-to-have-a-local-development-environment\">Why Use a Local Development Environment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Local development environments play a key role in <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-redesign-a-wordpress-site\/\">website building<\/a>, coding, and testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main benefits of a local dev environment is that it allows you to safely test anything on your website without affecting the live content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You get to experiment and break things without affecting the live site. If something doesn\u2019t work as expected, you can fix it without any <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-errors\/\">real-world errors<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A local development environment also boosts productivity. It allows you to work without an internet connection, giving you the freedom to work on your site anytime and anywhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything is locally stored, so reading and writing data to databases, processing PHP, or any server-side task becomes quicker. So, local WordPress development leads to faster coding and testing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, a local development environment provides a safe space to experiment with coding, server management, database management, and more. Beginner developers or WordPress users can gain important skills that they can comfortably transfer when they&#8217;re ready to go live.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-key-features-to-look-for-in-a-local-development-environment\">Key Features to Look for in a Local Development Environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The perfect local development environment should be easy to use, yet powerful in functionality to cater to both beginners and seasoned developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some features to consider in your decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-easy-setup-and-usage\">Easy Setup and Usage&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You could waste a lot of time setting up complicated testing environments. The ability to get up and running quickly boosts productivity and reduces the learning curve, especially for beginners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for an environment that offers a hassle-free installation and user-friendly interface.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-multi-platform-support\">Multi-Platform Support&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-rounded local development environment should provide support for various operating systems. The software should run seamlessly across different platforms (Linux, Windows, and Mac) for maximum versatility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-flexibility\">Flexibility&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every project has unique requirements that may require a custom configuration. Environments offering flexible PHP, MySQL, and Apache\/Nginx settings are key features developers appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-integration-with-existing-developer-tools\">Integration with Existing Developer Tools&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your web development world doesn&#8217;t stop at just configuring a server. Source code text editors (like Visual Studio Code), version control systems, and <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-debugging-tools\/\">debugging tools<\/a> may be a part of your daily toolkit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An environment that integrates with your existing software development tools improves workflow and efficiency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-technical-support-and-community\">Technical Support and Community&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a solid support system in place can be a lifesaver when you run into technical snags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open-source software, for example, often has an active community base that can help you. A local development environment backed by a strong community and responsive tech support will ensure you can use it for a long time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-resource-efficiency\">Resource Efficiency&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A lean local development environment is crucial. System resource hogs can significantly slow down your machine, minimizing productivity. Ensure that the software is lightweight and operates effectively without requiring a lot of system resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-11-best-local-development-environments\">Our Favorite Local Development Environments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You might be wondering\u2014what are the best options available for me? I&#8217;ve extensively researched and reviewed a wide variety of providers, narrowing down the list for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>LocalWP<\/strong>: Best overall choice with beginner-friendly interface, one-click WordPress setup, and free cloud backups (Mac, Windows, Linux)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>WampServer<\/strong>: All-in-one Apache, PHP, and MySQL package ideal for Windows users who want flexibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>XAMPP<\/strong>: Cross-platform solution compatible with any operating system, great community support, completely free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MAMP<\/strong>: Simple and fast environment designed for Mac users; includes mobile app for testing on iOS devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Docker<\/strong>: Container-based platform perfect for advanced developers who need scalability and multiple tech stacks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Laragon<\/strong>: Lightning-fast Windows tool that uses less than 4MB of RAM with one-click WordPress installation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>DevKinsta<\/strong>: Seamlessly integrates with Kinsta hosting for easy local development and deployment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-1-localwp\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/localwp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">LocalWP<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/localwp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/LocalWP-Website.png\" alt=\"LocalWP website\" class=\"wp-image-643730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/LocalWP-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/LocalWP-Website-50x25.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever needed an efficient, powerful, and simple-to-use local development environment? <a href=\"https:\/\/localwp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">LocalWP<\/a> might be the solution you&#8217;re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LocalWP is designed to make it easy and fast to set up your first local WordPress site. It doesn&#8217;t matter if you&#8217;re a beginner, LocalWP&#8217;s user-friendly interface leaves no room for confusion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you&#8217;re creating a new site, you can use the preferred setup or select a completely custom configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Custom-Environment.png\" alt=\"LocalWP custom local development environment\" class=\"wp-image-748930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Custom-Environment.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Custom-Environment-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily specify the site as a <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-multisite\/\">multisite network<\/a>. After customizing your login credentials, you&#8217;ll have a new local environment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-WordPress-Setup.png\" alt=\"LocalWP WordPress login information\" class=\"wp-image-748929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-WordPress-Setup.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-WordPress-Setup-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>LocalWP allows you to easily switch between Nginx and Apache. You can clone local sites,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/cloud-wordpress-backup\/\">back them up to the cloud<\/a>, and sign into your admin dashboards with one click. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You also have the opportunity to create custom setup configurations and save them as blueprints for future projects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Dashboard.png\" alt=\"LocalWP dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-748931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Dashboard.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/LocalWP-Dashboard-50x37.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Beginner-friendly interface<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatic WordPress installations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MailHog integration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One-click admin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Live links to send local sites to clients<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud backups to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-google-drive\/\">Google Drive<\/a>&nbsp;or <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-dropbox\/\">Dropbox<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Image optimizer add-on<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hot-swap PHP or MySQL versions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PHP, NGINX, and MySQL logs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SSH and WP-CLI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sometimes slower compared to other environments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heavy in size, might require considerable disk space<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Completely free<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-localwp\">Why we chose LocalWP<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We chose Local by Flywheel for its user-friendly features and compatibility with various operating systems. It offers one of the fastest ways to get a local WordPress site up and running. Plus, it&#8217;s free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-2-wampserver\">2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wampserver.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">WampServer<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wampserver.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wamp-Server.png\" alt=\"WampServer website\" class=\"wp-image-748932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wamp-Server.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Wamp-Server-50x22.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Second on our list is the well-known <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wampserver.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">WampServer<\/a>, or WAMP. This local development environment is a bundle of Apache web servers, PHP, and MySQL. It&#8217;s built for Windows operating systems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WAMP&#8217;s setup wizard allows you to choose the exact version of PHP and MySQL you want to use. This gives you a lot of flexibility to experiment with different types of environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"323\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/WAMP-select-installation-components.png\" alt=\"WAMP installation components\" class=\"wp-image-748933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/WAMP-select-installation-components.png 680w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/WAMP-select-installation-components-50x24.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While it&#8217;s an excellent choice for Windows, its platform restriction is something to consider. However, it has a strong user base and it can be helpful for PHP developers focusing on Windows-based development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to use and configure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All-in-one package (Apache, PHP, MySQL)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Different downloadable versions for 64-bit and 32-bit systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only available for Windows and Linux<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More complicated setup than LocalWP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-wampserver\">Why we chose WampServer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We chose WampServer because its all-in-one package makes it easy for Windows users to set up local sites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-3-xampp\">3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apachefriends.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">XAMPP<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apachefriends.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/XAMPP-Website.png\" alt=\"XAMPP website\" class=\"wp-image-748934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/XAMPP-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/XAMPP-Website-50x29.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apachefriends.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">XAMPP<\/a> stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl. It&#8217;s a popular and free open-source platform for hosting and developing websites locally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re using Linux, Windows, or macOS, you can operate XAMPP without any hassle. It supports Content Management Systems like WordPress and Joomla.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many community forums available to help you tackle any troubleshooting issues. So, if you&#8217;re a beginner or if you&#8217;ve hit a bump, you know there&#8217;s always help around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excellent community support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy-to-use control panel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No password for database admins, which could be a <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-security-plugins\/\">security risk<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More complicated setup<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-xampp\">Why we chose XAMPP<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike other options like WampServer, XAMPP is fully compatible with any operating system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-4-mamp\">4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mamp.info\/en\/mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">MAMP<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mamp.info\/en\/mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MAMP-Website.png\" alt=\"MAMP website\" class=\"wp-image-814907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MAMP-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MAMP-Website-50x26.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mamp.info\/en\/mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">MAMP<\/a>, an acronym for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, is another highly efficient local development environment. It&#8217;s mainly designed for Mac users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This suite is a simple and fast environment where you can run WordPress or other similar CMS. It includes pre-configured versions of PHP along with a standalone MySQL server, so you have all the necessary components in a single package.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/MAMP-Installation.png\" alt=\"MAMP successful installation\" class=\"wp-image-643741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/MAMP-Installation.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/MAMP-Installation-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>MAMP also has a mobile app called MAMP Viewer. It allows you to access your localhost from your iPhone or iPad and view changes directly on your mobile device.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"702\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MAMP-App.png\" alt=\"MAMP IOS app\" class=\"wp-image-748935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MAMP-App.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MAMP-App-50x42.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to install and use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports multiple PHP versions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud backups to Dropbox<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No Linux version available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some advanced features are only available with the paid version<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: There is a free version of MAMP. MAMP Pro starts at $99. This supports an unlimited number of hosts, improved WordPress support, cloud backups, and mobile testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-mamp\">Why we chose MAMP<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>MAMP gives both Mac and Windows users an ideal starting point for local development. If you&#8217;re just starting out or want a simple, quick environment for WordPress, MAMP is a wise choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-6-docker\">5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.docker.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Docker<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.docker.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"404\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Docker-Website.png\" alt=\"Docker website\" class=\"wp-image-748937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Docker-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Docker-Website-50x24.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.docker.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Docker<\/a> is an open-source platform designed for creating, deploying, and running applications. It has a container-based platform, which means you can set up multiple local WordPress sites on the same device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Docker, you&#8217;ll use the <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-use-wordpress-cli\/\">command line<\/a> to build local development environments. However, Docker uses containers instead of virtual machines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These containers are lightweight, fast, and cost-effective. You can install the stack you want to use, making it extremely flexible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resource-efficient<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Containers are scalable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use any technology stack or programming language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast deployment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CI\/CD support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many extensions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not as secure as VMs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steep learning curve<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Docker has a free plan. Its premium plans start at $11 per month. These give you features like extra daily image pulls, audit logs, unlimited teams, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-docker\">Why we chose Docker<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We chose Docker because it&#8217;s versatile, resource-efficient, and scalable. Plus, it has a highly active community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-7-laragon\">6. <a href=\"https:\/\/laragon.org\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Laragon<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/laragon.org\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Laragon-Website.png\" alt=\"Laragon website\" class=\"wp-image-748938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Laragon-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Laragon-Website-50x18.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/laragon.org\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Laragon<\/a> is a newer development environment that was created by users who didn&#8217;t enjoy using XAMPP and WampServer. It offers an easier installation process and a more user-friendly management dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If speed and simplicity are your top priorities, then Laragon could be for you. It uses less than 4MB of RAM. You can install WordPress or PHP extensions with one click.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quick installation and setup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports multiple PHP versions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pretty URLs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast and lightweight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only compatible with Windows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-laragon\">Why we chose Laragon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We chose Laragon because it checks so many boxes. It&#8217;s easy to install and use. It also performs well and doesn&#8217;t take up much space on your computer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-9-devkinsta\">7. <a href=\"https:\/\/kinsta.com\/devkinsta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">DevKinsta<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kinsta.com\/devkinsta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"503\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DevKinsta-Website.png\" alt=\"DevKinsta website\" class=\"wp-image-748940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DevKinsta-Website.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DevKinsta-Website-50x30.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kinsta.com\/devkinsta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">DevKinsta<\/a> is a promising new player in the local development environment market. Designed for WordPress users, it aims to make the development process as simple as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With DevKinsta, you can set up a local WordPress site with Nginx, MariaDB, and other configurations with just one click. It includes a built-in database manager, SMTP server, <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-debugging\/\">WP_DEBUG<\/a> toggle, <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/clone-wordpress-site\/\">cloning features<\/a>, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re a Kinsta user, DevKinsta seamlessly integrates with your hosting service. You can build your website locally with DevKinsta, and then deploy it to your MyKinsta control panel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integration with Kinsta hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friendly interface that is easy to navigate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Debugging tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Database manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local email management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports PHP 7 and 8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Relatively new to the market with few reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Primarily targeted towards WordPress users<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-we-chose-devkinsta\">Why we chose DevKinsta:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>DevKinsta has a seamless, user-friendly setup that rivals LocalWP. Because it integrates with Kinsta&#8217;s WordPress hosting, you can develop and deploy sites easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--withicon is-style-info\">Already picked your local environment? The fastest way to get your live WordPress site onto it is with Duplicator. It packages your entire site into a single zip you can import locally in minutes. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/duplicator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Download Duplicator free \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-faqs-about-local-development-environments\">FAQs About Local Development Environments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-what-are-the-different-types-of-development-environments\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What are the different types of development environments?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>There are three main types of development environments: local, staging, and production.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the differences between them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Local environment<\/strong>: typically set up on your personal computer, making it easier to experiment without affecting the live website. Software like XAMPP, WampServer, and Docker help create local setups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Staging environment<\/strong>: a clone of your production environment. It&#8217;s used for testing purposes before you deploy changes to the production site.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Production environment<\/strong>: where your live website is accessible to the public. Any changes applied here are visible to your users.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-what-is-the-best-local-development-for-wordpress\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What is the best local development environment for WordPress?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/localwp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">LocalWP<\/a> is a top-tier local development environment due to its user-friendly interface. It has a setup process that requires minimal technical knowledge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-how-do-i-speed-up-my-local-wordpress\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How do I speed up my local WordPress?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>You can speed up your local WordPress site by switching to a better local development environment. You should also use the latest PHP version, disable unused plugins and themes, and optimize images.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-what-is-the-difference-between-instawp-and-local\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What is the difference between InstaWP and Local?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>InstaWP and Local both allow you to set up WordPress sites as test environments. However, InstaWP creates sandbox sites that are hosted on a live server, whereas Local only builds locally hosted sites. InstaWP sites also expire after 7 days.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-how-do-i-move-a-live-wordpress-site-to-localhost-207\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How do I move a live WordPress site to localhost?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The easiest way is to use Duplicator Pro. Install the plugin on your live site, run a backup to package your entire site into a single zip file, then drag and drop it into your local environment. The whole process takes about 10 minutes and doesn&#8217;t require any manual database exports or find-and-replace on URLs. For a full walkthrough, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-move-live-wordpress-site-to-localhost\/\">how to move a live WordPress site to localhost<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope this guide helped you find a local development environment for WordPress testing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you&#8217;re here, you may like these WordPress tutorials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-staging-site\/\">How to Create a WordPress Staging Site (For Safe Testing)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-amazon-s3\/\">How to Save Your WordPress Backup to Amazon S3 (AWS)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/best-plugin-to-clone-wordpress-site\/\">9 Best Plugins to Clone a WordPress Site (Expert Pick)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-move-live-wordpress-site-to-localhost\/\">How to Move a Live WordPress Site to a Local Host<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-move-a-local-wordpress-site-to-a-live-server\/\">How to Move a Local WordPress Site to a Live Server<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Do you want to quickly move your live site to a local development environment?&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\">Download Duplicator Pro<\/a>&nbsp;to back up your site and drag and drop it into a local environment for testing!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\" style=\"background-color:#fd4615\">Get Started with Duplicator<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you need a safe, independent area to test your WordPress site? We&#8217;ll recommend the best local development environments for coding, testing, and deployment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53701,"featured_media":748965,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[193],"tags":[121,62,49],"class_list":["post-748923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-showcase","tag-wordpress-development","tag-wordpress-migration","tag-wordpress-staging-site"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/748923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53701"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=748923"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/748923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1101658,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/748923\/revisions\/1101658"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/748965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=748923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=748923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=748923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}