The Ultimate Sandbox: The Best Way to Run WordPress Locally
Ever wished you had a private, safe space to mess around with your website? Maybe you want to try out a new theme, test a scary-looking plugin update, or build an entirely new site without the whole world watching (or judging your half-finished homepage).
That magical place exists, and it’s called running WordPress locally.
Running a website “locally” simply means setting it up on your personal computer instead of a web server on the internet. It turns your laptop into a self-contained, private web host. And trust me, for any WordPress user, this is an essential skill!
Why Bother? The Local Advantage
If your site is already live, why create a copy on your computer?
100% Risk-Free Testing: If you break it, who cares? You can delete the local copy and start over. No fear when installing that sketchy plugin or tweaking code.
Blazing Fast Speed: Since the site files are sitting right on your hard drive, your development speed is incredible. No waiting for uploads or server lag.
Offline Development: Need to build a site on a plane, a train, or in a basement with terrible Wi-Fi? No problem! Your site is fully functional without an internet connection.
Save Money: You don’t need to pay for a hosting plan while you are in the initial building phase.
The Best Ways to Go Local
You need three things to run WordPress: a web server (like Apache), a database (like MySQL), and PHP. Luckily, several user-friendly tools bundle all this up into one easy installer.
Forget wrestling with command lines and confusing server configurations. Here are the three best, most beginner-friendly methods:
1. Local by Flywheel
If you’re a beginner and using a Mac or Windows PC, Local is the hands-down easiest choice. It was built specifically for WordPress developers and is incredibly intuitive.
How it Works: Download the app, click “Create a New Site,” choose your environment settings (PHP version, etc.), and Local handles everything else. It even gives you a handy one-click button to install WordPress right away.
Killer Feature: It includes something called “Live Links.” This lets you create a temporary public URL so you can show a client or colleague your local site without having to upload it anywhere.
Best For: Everyone, but especially new developers, designers, and freelancers who need a fast, simple workflow.
2. XAMPP/MAMP
XAMPP (for Windows, Mac, and Linux) and MAMP (for Mac, though a Windows version exists) are the old guard. They are general-purpose “server stacks” that let you run a local web server for any kind of site, not just WordPress.
How it Works: You install the stack, manually create a new database via a tool called phpMyAdmin, and then manually drop the WordPress files into the correct folder. It takes a few more steps than Local.
Killer Feature: They give you full control over your PHP and server settings, which is great if you are an advanced user or need to mirror a specific server environment.
Best For: Users who want deeper technical control, people using Linux, or those who are already familiar with database tools like phpMyAdmin.
3. DesktopServer
DesktopServer is another great WordPress-focused tool, sitting somewhere between Local and XAMPP in terms of ease of use.
How it Works: Like Local, it automates much of the setup process. It’s known for being very fast at creating new sites.
Killer Feature: It has a unique feature called “Blueprint” that lets you save a pre-configured version of WordPress (with your favorite themes and plugins installed) and deploy it instantly for every new project.
Best For: Users who build many sites (like agencies) and need a streamlined, repeatable process for setup.
Your Simple 3-Step Local Strategy
Ready to dive in? Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll do using the recommended Local by Flywheel tool:
Download and Install: Go to the Local by Flywheel website and download the free version for your operating system.
Create a New Site: Open the app and click the big plus button. You’ll be prompted to name your site, set a username, and password.
Start Developing: Click “Start Site.” Local will boot up your server, and you can access your brand-new, private WordPress admin by clicking the “Admin” button.
That’s it! Now go ahead and experiment you literally have nothing to lose!
