Struggling to install WordPress locally? You’re far from being alone. Many developers find setting up a local WordPress environment frustrating and time-consuming. The good news is that you can streamline this process and focus on what you do best – developing for WordPress.
We’ve curated a list of the top 5 tools for local WordPress hosting. These are tried and tested solutions that simplify your workflow, saving you hours of setup time and potential headaches.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Why create a local WordPress development setup?
Before diving into the tools, let’s explore why you might need a local WordPress development environment.
Safety is the primary benefit that comes to mind. With a local setup, you can safely pull a live website to your computer to test new features or build from scratch without risking your production site.
A local environment gives you the freedom to customize every detail of your WordPress installation. You can experiment and push boundaries without fear of breaking something crucial on a live site.
Speed is another significant advantage. Working within your computer’s familiar environment means quicker access to files and faster development overall. This efficiency can dramatically improve your workflow and productivity.
In essence, a local WordPress setup provides a secure sandbox for innovation, a customizable workspace for precision, and a speedy environment for efficient development.
What’s the best setup for local WordPress development?
When it comes to running WordPress sites locally, you have plenty of options at your disposal – much like many aspects of WordPress itself.
While traditional tools like XAMPP and MAMP remain popular, newer solutions such as Local for WordPress offer many more benefits, including seamless local to live migrations, among others. If you’re seeking the closest emulation of a live web server, more powerful setups that operate within a virtual machine on your computer are available.
It’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best setup ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences. However, regardless of which tool you choose, ensure it allows for effortless creation and management of multiple WordPress instances.
With that in mind, let’s explore the top local WordPress development tools:
XAMPP: A Reliable Choice for Local WordPress Development
XAMPP, powered by Apache, is a comprehensive package that bundles PHP, MariaDB (formerly MySQL), and Perl. It’s a popular choice among web developers of all skill levels, particularly for WordPress local development.
Key Features:
- Straightforward setup: Simply download and install the application.
- User-friendly GUI dashboard: Easily start and stop services as needed.
- Quick launch: Rapidly activate required services for running websites.
Pros:
- Simple installation and setup process.
- Intuitive interface with one-click service activation.
- Suitable for both beginners and experienced developers.
- Convenient for quick theme or plugin testing.
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
Cons:
- Limited flexibility for mimicking real-world server setups.
- Bundled MySQL database prone to errors and crashes.
While XAMPP offers simplicity and ease of use, it may fall short when testing in scenarios that closely resemble actual hosting environments. Its standardized stack configuration limits the ability to replicate diverse server setups.
Verdict: XAMPP is an excellent tool for beginners focused on learning WordPress development without diving deep into server technicalities. Its user-friendly nature makes it a solid choice for those prioritizing simplicity in their local development environment.
MAMP: A Versatile Solution for Local WordPress Development
MAMP offers both free and premium versions for WordPress local development, providing a range of features to suit different needs.
Free Version:
- Apache-powered stack similar to XAMPP.
- Enhanced features for a smoother experience.
- Suitable for building and testing WordPress sites.
Premium Version (MAMP Pro):
- Choice between Apache and Nginx servers.
- Multiple host setup capabilities.
- Customizable development environment.
- Ability to match production server configurations.
- Cloud storage for enhanced portability.
- Convenient WordPress site backup feature.
Key Advantages:
- Easy installation and setup.
- Multiple virtual hosts with custom configurations.
- Cloud functionality for backup and storage.
- Mobile viewer app for iOS and Android, improving mobile testing accuracy.
Considerations:
- Advanced features are premium, but valuable for serious developers.
- Pro features cater to technically savvy developers familiar with WordPress server setups.
Verdict: MAMP is an excellent choice for those looking to upgrade from simpler solutions like XAMPP. It’s particularly suitable for developers aiming to create a local environment that closely mirrors their target hosting setup. While the free version offers solid functionality, the Pro version provides advanced features that can significantly enhance your WordPress development workflow.
Instant WP: Portable WordPress Development
InstantWP offers a unique approach to local WordPress development, standing out with its portability feature.
Key Features:
- Complete portability: Run the entire setup from a USB stick.
- Work on WordPress projects from any computer.
- Simple setup process.
Ideal Use Cases:
- Educational settings.
- Hobby developers.
- Beginners in WordPress development.
- Exploring WordPress features on-the-go.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use.
- Highly portable solution.
- Perfect for learning and educational purposes.
- Only plug-and-play local setup option available.
Cons:
- Not optimal for commercial projects.
- Limited use in real-world development environments outside of educational contexts.
Verdict: InstantWP shines as a simple, portable solution for WordPress development. Its plug-and-play nature makes it an excellent choice if you’re just getting started with WordPress development. It’s definitely not be the go-to for professional projects, but it offers unmatched convenience for hobbyists. If you value mobility and simplicity in your WordPress development setup, InstantWP is worth considering.
WampServer: Windows-Specific Local WordPress Development
WampServer is a Windows-exclusive solution for local WordPress development, offering a comprehensive package of web development tools.
Key Features:
- Apache2 web server.
- PHP engine.
- MariaDB and MySQL databases.
- PhpMyAdmin and other web tools.
- Convenient single interface for managing multiple tools.
Ideal Use Cases:
- Windows-based developers.
- Those familiar with XAMPP or MAMP seeking a Windows-specific alternative.
- Developers needing a full stack of web development tools.
Pros:
- Tailored for Windows operating systems
- All-in-one package with essential web development tools
- User-friendly interface for managing services
- Regular updates to keep components current
- Active community support
Cons:
- Limited to Windows platforms
- May require some technical knowledge for advanced configurations
- Potential conflicts with other installed software using the same ports
Verdict: WampServer is an excellent choice for Windows users looking for a robust local WordPress development environment. It offers a comprehensive set of tools in a single package, so both beginners and experienced developers will find it appealing. While its Windows-only nature limits cross-platform use, it excels in providing a streamlined, all-in-one solution for Windows-based WordPress development. If you’re a Windows user and prefer an integrated approach to local development, WampServer is definitely worth considering.
Varying Vagrants Vagrant (VVV)
VVV WordPress is a WordPress-centric development box that runs on Vagrant, an application that allows you to run multiple virtual boxes on any computer. With VVV, you can set up as many boxes as needed and configure them according to the specific requirements of your projects.
There are numerous prebuilt Vagrant boxes available, and “Varying Vagrants Vagrant” is one tailored for WordPress development. VVV bundles everything you need for WordPress development.
VVV Pros:
- It has a modern configuration that aligns with contemporary WordPress development standards, even receiving official endorsement from WordPress.
- It is optimized for WordPress and bundles additional utilities to extend your development power.
- Helps you learn the command line and general console commands.
- Enhances your technical expertise with consistent use.
VVV Cons:
- Has a steeper learning curve. It is a command-line-based tool that requires a higher level of technical knowledge.
- Setup can be challenging, although you can find many step-by-step tutorials online.
- Understanding the entire stack can be confusing, especially for those from a primarily GUI-based background.
Varying Vagrants Vagrant (VVV): Powerful local WordPress setup for experienced developers
VVV is a powerful development environment designed for WordPress and built on Vagrant – a tool that enables you to run multiple virtual machines on your computer. With VVV, you can easily set up and configure as many development boxes as needed to meet the specific requirements of your projects.
There are a myriad prebuilt Vagrant boxes available, and Varying Vagrants Vagrant is one tailored for WordPress development. VVV bundles everything you need for WordPress development in one box
VVV Advantages:
- VVV follows contemporary WordPress development standards and has received official endorsement from the WordPress.org.
- Tailored for WordPress, with additional utilities that enhance your development skills.
- Using VVV helps you gain proficiency in command-line usage and general console commands, helping to build your technical expertise through regular practice.
VVV Disadvantages:
- As a command-line-based tool, VVV has a steeper learning curve and demands a higher level of technical knowledge, which may be challenging for beginners.
- While there are many step-by-step tutorials available online, setting up VVV can still be complex.
- Understanding the entire stack may be confusing, especially for those who are more accustomed to graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Verdict: While VVV offers a robust and modern environment for WordPress development, it requires a commitment to learning and adapting to its command-line interface.
Local
Local (formerly Local by Flywheel) is a powerful local server for WordPress that makes it a breeze to spin up WordPress instances on your computer and smoothly migrate your website to a live host. Local is a Docker build that is optimized for WordPress development.
With Local, you can set up fully functional WordPress sites with a few clicks via the sleek graphical user interface. You can customize your server environment just the way you want, from the PHP version, server type, and version, as well as database versions and make.
Local’s true edge over other containerized desktop setups is its features that integrate with live production environments, including:
- The ‘Local Connect’ feature allows you to pull and push live sites hosted on Flywheel or WP Engine to your local setup or launch on production.
- The ‘Live Links’ feature allows sharing temporary URLs for online viewing of the website’s status in development, such as when collaborating or sharing progress with a client.
- ‘Hot swap environments’ enable swapping between different setup configurations. It’s useful for gauging the best configuration for performance.
- ‘Mailcather’ allows you to set up and test email configurations.
Local Pros
- Very easy to install and set up. Local easily appeals to both novices and seasoned developers.
- Comes with an intuitive and sleek graphical user interface for managing environment setups.
- Has a host of additional features that make for powerful and fast development, testing, and deployment.
- It is free for all its great features.
Local Cons
- As the most feature-packed of all bundled stacks, Local’s many features can be overwhelming, especially for novice developers.
Conclusion
There are plenty of local WordPress development tools, as revealed in this post. Apache-powered stacks such as XAMPP and MAMP have stood the test of time. Still, newer alternatives like VVV and Local offer more power and features, especially for configuring testing environments that mimic live hosting.
Whatever setup makes your WordPress development life easier is what you should go for, but trying different tools is a good learning experience to solidify your development chops.
