Local

Free#28 of 40 in Container Development EnvironmentsDevelopment Environment Management Tools

Free desktop application for local WordPress development

6.0/10★★★☆☆Editor score

Visit Local

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Free local WordPress development
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Facts checked
  22 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • One-click WordPress setup with PHP, MySQL, NGINX, and Apache
  • Includes WP-CLI, Xdebug, SSL, cloning, Blueprints, and Live Links
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with deployment connections

• Where it doesn't

  • Its scope is centered on WordPress rather than general container workflows
  • Deployment connections focus on WP Engine and Flywheel
  • Cloud Backups are provided through Google Drive and Dropbox

Our verdict on Local

Local is a free desktop application for building, testing, and previewing WordPress sites on a developer’s computer. It is aimed at individual developers, freelancers, agencies, and WordPress teams working on themes, plugins, client sites, and multisite projects. Automatic WordPress installation reduces the initial setup work, while local PHP, MySQL, NGINX, and Apache environments support common WordPress development configurations. Local supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it suitable for teams working across major desktop platforms.

The Free plan includes the complete product offering described by the vendor: automatic WordPress installation, local PHP, MySQL, NGINX, and Apache environments, SSL certificates, WP-CLI and site shell access, Live Links, and Cloud Backups. The workflow also includes hot-swapping PHP versions and web servers, site import and export, cloning, and Blueprints for repeatable site creation. Developers can connect Local to Visual Studio Code or PhpStorm, use Xdebug for debugging, and save backups to Google Drive or Dropbox. These capabilities give the product meaningful depth for WordPress-focused work without introducing a paid tier structure.

Local’s main trade-off is its narrow focus. It is well suited to WordPress projects that need local environments, debugging, sharing, reusable configurations, and connections to WP Engine or Flywheel. Local Connect supports deployment to those two platforms, while Live Links supports sharing local sites during development. Teams seeking a WordPress-specific desktop workflow should find the feature set well aligned with that work. Teams looking for a broader container development environment, including general-purpose application stacks or more varied deployment targets, should choose a product designed beyond WordPress.

Local pricing

All 1 Local plans and prices →

Local fact sheet

Local integrations

Local lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• Flywheel
• WP Engine
• Google Drive
• Dropbox

Alternatives to Local

• Docker DesktopA broad desktop container workspace with Docker Engine, Compose, Kubernetes, and team plans.8.6
• Orca DesktopA free, open-source workspace for containers, Compose, Kubernetes, images, and hosts.—
• Podman DesktopA free, cross-platform desktop workspace for Podman-centered container and Kubernetes development.—

See all Local alternatives →

Also listed in

• Development Environment Management Tools

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