Local review
A focused, free WordPress environment for building and previewing sites locally.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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 pros and cons
- 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
Local fact sheet, pricing and score →
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