MAMP review
A free local PHP and WordPress environment with core server and runtime controls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MAMP is a free desktop local server environment for developers working with PHP, WordPress, and local websites. It runs on macOS and Windows and bundles Apache or Nginx with PHP and MySQL. The product is designed for running and testing websites locally without changing existing server configurations, making it a practical fit for basic local development rather than teams seeking a broader environment-management platform.
Its core controls cover the main tasks involved in a local PHP workflow. Developers can start and stop web and database services, choose Apache or Nginx for a project, select from available PHP versions, and serve HTML and PHP files from a configurable document root. The published MAMP Free plan includes Apache and Nginx, PHP, MySQL, and a local desktop server environment. WordPress development and testing are also supported, giving the product a clear use case for building and checking WordPress sites on a local machine.
MAMP’s main trade-off is scope. It focuses on the local desktop server environment, with limited verified environment-management breadth and integrations. That makes it well suited to developers who need a free way to run PHP, MySQL, Apache or Nginx, and WordPress locally across macOS or Windows. It is less suitable for buyers looking for wider platform integrations or a more expansive environment-management toolset. MAMP is open source, and MAMP GmbH is based in Wörth am Rhein, Germany. MAMP PRO is a separate paid product rather than a MAMP plan.
MAMP pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free on macOS and Windows
- Supports Apache or Nginx, PHP, and MySQL
- Includes PHP version and document root controls
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on local desktop development
- Environment-management breadth is limited
- Integrations are limited
MAMP fact sheet, pricing and score →
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