There are several local development environments that you can use to develop WordPress sites locally. Here are the top five, in no particular order:
Local by Flywheel
Local by Flywheel is a local development environment specifically designed for WordPress. It is known for its easy-to-use interface and powerful features, such as one-click WordPress installation, site cloning, and local staging environments. It’s popular among WordPress developers because it makes it easy to create and manage WordPress sites locally, and it is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, Local by Flywheel is a great choice for developing locally.
Available on: Mac, Windows and Linux (Debian based)
XAMPP
XAMPP is a free, open-source local development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. It is a popular choice among developers because it is easy to install and includes all the necessary tools for running PHP-based web applications, such as WordPress. XAMPP is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it is a good choice for developers who want a simple, all-in-one solution for developing web applications locally.
Available on: Mac, Windows and Linux
MAMP
MAMP is a local development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, and is available for both Mac and Windows. It is a popular choice among developers because it is easy to install and use, and it includes everything you need to run PHP-based web applications, such as WordPress. MAMP also has a pro version that includes additional features such as support for multiple PHP versions and a customizable startup script.
Available on: Mac and Windows
WAMP
WAMP is a local development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, and is available for Windows. It is a popular choice among developers because it is easy to install and use, and it includes everything you need to run PHP-based web applications, such as WordPress. WAMP is a good choice for developers who want a simple, all-in-one solution for developing web applications locally on a Windows machine.
Available on: Windows
Ampps
AMPPS is a local development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl, and Python. It is a popular choice among developers because it is easy to install and use, and it includes all the necessary tools for running PHP-based web applications, such as WordPress. AMPPS is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it is a good choice for developers who want a full-featured local development environment that includes support for multiple programming languages.
Available on: Mac and Windows
Laragon
Laragon is a local development environment for Windows that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and other tools for web development. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to use, and it includes features like one-click installation of popular web applications, support for multiple PHP versions, and a customizable startup script. Laragon is often used for developing WordPress sites locally, as well as other web applications.
Available on: Windows
LAMP
This is a local development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, and is available for Linux. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a simple, all-in-one solution that is specific to Linux.
Available on: Linux
Ultimately, the best local development environment for you will depend on your needs and preferences.