10 Local WordPress Development Environments You Should Consider in 2024

Top 10 Local WordPress Development Environments

1. Local by Flywheel

• Easy-to-use interface, even for beginners
• Supports both Nginx and Apache servers
• Ability to create live links for collaboration
• Completely free to use
• Easy import of existing WordPress sites

2. WampServer

• Automates the configuration process for quick setup
• Allows adding multiple releases of software
• Supports multiple PHP versions
• Includes phpMyAdmin for database management
• Free and open-source

3. XAMPP

• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl
• Easy installation and configuration
• Supports multiple PHP versions
• Includes phpMyAdmin for database management

4. MAMP

• Designed specifically for macOS
• Includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP
• User-friendly interface
• Easy setup process
• Supports multiple PHP versions

5. Vagrant

• Supports multiple virtualization providers (VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper-V)
• Provides a simple configuration file format (Vagrantfile)
• Allows sharing the same environment across different machines
• Supports multiple operating systems
• Highly customizable and extensible

6. Laragon 

• Portable and isolated development environment
• Includes Apache, Nginx, PHP, MySQL, Redis, and more
• Easy to use and configure
• Supports multiple PHP versions
• Includes a built-in database management tool

7. Laravel Valet 

• Designed for Mac minimalists
• Runs Nginx in the background without a full virtual machine
• Simple and elegant development workflow
• Perfect for small to medium-sized projects
• Supports multiple PHP versions

8. Instant WP 

• Self-contained WordPress development environment
• Includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP pre-installed
• Easy to set up and start developing
• Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Supports multiple WordPress versions

9. DevKinsta 

• Free local WordPress development platform
• Supports Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS
• One-click WordPress site creation
• Supports multiple PHP versions
• Uses Docker for fast and secure environments
• Impressive performance and security

10. Duplicator

• Free and popular WordPress plugin
• Duplicates WordPress websites to local machines or other hosts
• Creates a portable zip file of website files
• Easy to move websites to new locations or environments
• Highly-rated and trusted by the WordPress community

Conclusion