Local WordPress Development Tools Compared: What Each Costs
Nine ways to run WordPress on your own computer, compared using each tool's own docs, read on October 30, 2026. Local and WordPress Studio are desktop apps with nothing else to install; DevKinsta, DDEV, Lando and wp-env run on Docker, and VVV needs Vagrant. I have not used these tools for this list, so it ranks on what the docs say, and where a doc is silent the entry says so.
Alston AntonyUpdated
How I choose
Products are ranked by the criteria below, in this order of importance. Commission rate is not a criterion. I earn commission on some links and mark them. Every price carries the date I checked it and a link to the page it came from.
- How much you install first. Whether the tool is a desktop app on its own, an app that needs Docker, a command-line tool on Docker, or a Vagrant virtual machine, as each tool's docs describe it.
- Multisite documented. Whether the tool's own docs say it can create a WordPress multisite network. A blank means the docs I read do not say, not that the tool cannot.
- Push to a host documented. Whether the docs describe pushing a local site to a host, and which hosts they name.
- Systems supported. Which of macOS, Windows and Linux the docs say it runs on.
- Cost. The price as the vendor words it, including any paid tier. This is weighed last so a low price cannot outrank the other criteria.
Quick picks
- Top pickLocal · best for a desktop app with nothing else to install and push and pull to Flywheel or WP Engine
- No. 2WordPress Studio · best for a free desktop app from Automattic with no external dependencies
- No. 3DevKinsta · best for sites that will be hosted on Kinsta, with multisite and push to Kinsta staging
At a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Pricing | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local | A desktop app with nothing else to install and push and pull to Flywheel or WP Engine | Free. The features page says: It's free and always will be. A paid tier is not described with a price on that page. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitLocal |
| 2 | WordPress Studio | A free desktop app from Automattic with no external dependencies | Free. The page says: a free and open source app. Studio Sync is available for WordPress.com sites on paid plans and for Pressable sites with Jetpack enabled. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitWordPress Studio |
| 3 | DevKinsta | Sites that will be hosted on Kinsta, with multisite and push to Kinsta staging | Free. The page says: DevKinsta is free forever. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitDevKinsta |
| 4 | DDEV | Command-line users who want a Docker-based setup with pull and push to listed hosts | Free. The page describes DDEV as free to use, modify and pass on to others, under the Apache 2.0 license. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitDDEV |
| 5 | MAMP and MAMP PRO | A desktop server environment on macOS or Windows, with a paid version that transfers sites to a host | MAMP is free of charge. MAMP PRO on macOS: 99 euros, a lifetime licence with 1 year of updates included and an annual renewal for updates after that; the purchase FAQ says MAMP PRO updates cost 99 euros per year. Prices exclude VAT. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitMAMP and MAMP PRO |
| 6 | XAMPP | A plain Apache, PHP and MySQL installer on Windows when you do not need push to a host | Free. The page calls it a completely free, easy to install Apache distribution. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitXAMPP |
| 7 | Lando | Command-line users who already run Docker and want a per-project configuration | Free. The page says: Lando is free and open source. Donations go through GitHub Sponsors and no paid plan is listed. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitLando |
| 8 | wp-env | Developers who work on plugins or themes and are comfortable with Node and Docker | Price not stated in the docs. It is an npm package, and Docker is required by default. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | Visitwp-env |
| 9 | VVV (Varying Vagrant Vagrants) | People following an existing VVV workflow who accept a Vagrant virtual machine | Free. The page describes VVV as an open source local development environment under the MIT License. A price is not stated. (checked Oct 30, 2026) | VisitVVV (Varying Vagrant Vagrants) |
Comparison
| Tool | Systems | Setup | Cost | Multisite | Push to a host | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | macOS, Windows, Linux | Desktop app | Free (paid tier not priced on the page) | Yes, subdomain and subdirectory | Flywheel or WP Engine | Oct 30, 2026 |
| WordPress Studio | macOS, Windows, Linux | Desktop app or CLI, no external dependencies | Free (Sync needs a paid WordPress.com plan or Pressable) | Not stated | Studio Sync, to WordPress.com or Pressable | Oct 30, 2026 |
| DevKinsta | macOS, Windows, Ubuntu | App on Docker | Free | Yes | Kinsta staging | Oct 30, 2026 |
| DDEV | macOS, Windows, Linux | Command line on Docker | Free (Apache 2.0) | Not stated for WordPress | Pantheon, Upsun, Lagoon, Acquia, Git, rsync | Oct 30, 2026 |
| MAMP and MAMP PRO | macOS, Windows | Desktop installer | MAMP free; MAMP PRO 99 euros, ex VAT (macOS) | Not stated | MAMP PRO only | Oct 30, 2026 |
| XAMPP | Windows download shown | Installer | Free | Not stated | Not stated | Oct 30, 2026 |
| Lando | macOS, Windows (WSL2), Linux | Command line on Docker | Free | Not stated | Not stated for WordPress | Oct 30, 2026 |
| wp-env | Not stated (Docker on Windows, macOS, Linux) | Command line, Node and Docker | Not stated (npm package) | Setting listed | Not stated | Oct 30, 2026 |
| VVV | Not stated | Vagrant and a virtual machine | Free (MIT License) | Yes, both types | Not stated | Oct 30, 2026 |
1. Local
Best for: A desktop app with nothing else to install and push and pull to Flywheel or WP Engine
Local calls itself Local by WP Engine and is only available as a desktop application. The features page lists subdomain and subdirectory multisite and says sites can be pushed and pulled to Flywheel or WP Engine.
Pricing: Free. The features page says: It's free and always will be. A paid tier is not described with a price on that page.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Desktop app only, so there is no Docker or command line to set up first
- Multisite is listed, both subdomain and subdirectory
- Push and pull to Flywheel or WP Engine is listed
- Installers listed for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Windows and two Linux families
Cons
- The features page gives no price for a paid tier, so what a paid plan adds and costs is not stated there
- Push and pull is described for two hosts, both on the WP Engine side; other hosts are not named
- The docs list at least 4GB of RAM and 1.5GB of disk space
2. WordPress Studio
Best for: A free desktop app from Automattic with no external dependencies
WordPress Studio is made by Automattic and runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. The GitHub README says it requires no external dependencies, and the docs describe Studio Sync and temporary preview sites on a WordPress.com domain.
Pricing: Free. The page says: a free and open source app. Studio Sync is available for WordPress.com sites on paid plans and for Pressable sites with Jetpack enabled.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Free and open source, as the page words it
- The README says it requires no external dependencies
- Runs on macOS 13 or newer, 64-bit Windows and 64-bit Debian-based Linux, per the docs
- Preview sites are hosted on a temporary WordPress.com domain
Cons
- Multisite is not stated on the product page, the docs overview or the GitHub README
- Studio Sync needs a paid WordPress.com plan or a Pressable site; which paid plans include it is not stated on the pages I read
- Pushing to hosts other than WordPress.com and Pressable is not described
3. DevKinsta
Best for: Sites that will be hosted on Kinsta, with multisite and push to Kinsta staging
DevKinsta is made by Kinsta and runs as an app on Docker. The page says it can create a single or multisite WordPress site and push changes to Kinsta with a single click.
Pricing: Free. The page says: DevKinsta is free forever.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Multisite is listed
- The page says changes can be pushed to Kinsta with a single click
- Free, with no paid tier mentioned on the page
- Available for macOS, Windows and Ubuntu
Cons
- It is powered by Docker, so Docker Desktop or Docker Engine has to be installed if the app prompts for it
- The docs say you can only push to a Standard or Premium staging environment, not directly to a live site
- Push is described for Kinsta only
4. DDEV
Best for: Command-line users who want a Docker-based setup with pull and push to listed hosts
DDEV is a command-line tool maintained by the DDEV Foundation that runs projects on Docker. Its providers doc says ddev pull downloads and ddev push uploads the database and the user-generated files.
Pricing: Free. The page describes DDEV as free to use, modify and pass on to others, under the Apache 2.0 license.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- The providers doc names Pantheon, Upsun, Lagoon and Acquia, plus Git, local files and rsync
- Described as supported and rigorously tested on macOS, Windows and Linux
- Free and open source under Apache 2.0
Cons
- Needs Docker, and on Windows WSL2 first or Docker Desktop or Rancher Desktop, per the install docs
- Multisite is not stated for WordPress; the multisite section I found covers Drupal only
- WP Engine is not among the providers named in the doc I read
5. MAMP and MAMP PRO
Best for: A desktop server environment on macOS or Windows, with a paid version that transfers sites to a host
MAMP GmbH makes a free MAMP and a paid MAMP PRO for macOS and Windows. The MAMP PRO docs describe built-in functionality to transfer a site to a remote hosting provider.
Pricing: MAMP is free of charge. MAMP PRO on macOS: 99 euros, a lifetime licence with 1 year of updates included and an annual renewal for updates after that; the purchase FAQ says MAMP PRO updates cost 99 euros per year. Prices exclude VAT.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- The free MAMP is described as free of charge
- MAMP PRO lists a transfer feature to publish sites on live servers or import them from one
- MAMP PRO offers a 14-day trial, per the store page
Cons
- The Windows store shows MAMP PRO 5 at 99 euros and an update at 59 euros, which differs from the macOS 99 euros per year for updates; Windows renewal terms are not stated
- Multisite is not stated in the docs I read for either edition
- Transfer to a host is described for MAMP PRO only; for the free MAMP it is not stated
6. XAMPP
Best for: A plain Apache, PHP and MySQL installer on Windows when you do not need push to a host
XAMPP is made by Apache Friends, described as a non-profit project. The download page offers a Windows installer; Linux and macOS downloads were not shown on it as served to a Windows browser.
Pricing: Free. The page calls it a completely free, easy to install Apache distribution.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Described as completely free
- The Windows download page lists Windows versions from 2008 and Vista through 11
Cons
- Linux and macOS downloads are not shown on the download page I read, only links to Linux and OS X FAQs
- Multisite and push to a host are not stated in the docs I read
- It is a general web server package, not a WordPress-specific tool
7. Lando
Best for: Command-line users who already run Docker and want a per-project configuration
Lando is maintained by the Lando Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and runs from the command line on a Docker backend. Requirements are macOS 12 or higher, Windows 10 Home or Pro 21H2 or higher with WSL2, or Linux with kernel 4.x or higher.
Pricing: Free. The page says: Lando is free and open source. Donations go through GitHub Sponsors and no paid plan is listed.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Free and open source
- Requirements are stated for macOS, Windows and Linux
Cons
- Needs a Docker engine backend and, on Windows, WSL2
- Multisite is not stated in the WordPress plugin README or the getting started page
- Push and pull for WordPress is not described in those docs, although the home page shows a lando pull command
8. wp-env
Best for: Developers who work on plugins or themes and are comfortable with Node and Docker
wp-env is part of the Gutenberg project and installs with npm. The docs say it is powered by Docker by default and list an option for a multisite installation.
Pricing: Price not stated in the docs. It is an npm package, and Docker is required by default.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- Install is a single npm command, per the docs
- The docs list a setting for a multisite installation
- Docs give Docker setup instructions for Windows, macOS and Linux, and recommend the WSL2 backend on Windows
Cons
- Command line and Node only; there is no desktop app
- Pushing a site to a host is not stated in the docs
- A named maintainer and a supported operating system list are not stated on the page I read
9. VVV (Varying Vagrant Vagrants)
Best for: People following an existing VVV workflow who accept a Vagrant virtual machine
VVV is a local development environment focused on WordPress, powered by Vagrant. The docs list subdirectory and subdomain multisite and say it requires Vagrant, git, VirtualBox and some Vagrant plugins.
Pricing: Free. The page describes VVV as an open source local development environment under the MIT License. A price is not stated.. Checked Oct 30, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Pros
- The docs show both subdirectory and subdomain multisite
- Open source under the MIT License
Cons
- Needs Vagrant, git and a virtual machine provider, and at least 4GB of RAM, per the docs
- GitHub shows the latest commit on February 23, 2026 and the latest release, v3.15.1, on May 21, 2025, while the project blog index ends at VVV 3.5.1 (October 2020)
- Pushing to a host and a supported operating system list are not stated
Following an old VVV tutorial?
Older VVV guides use .dev addresses such as local.wordpress-trunk.dev. Those no longer work the way the guides describe, and the reason is the domain, not VVV.
The .dev top-level domain is run by Google Registry, whose own page says it is on the HSTS preload list, so HTTPS is required on all connections. A local site served over plain HTTP at a .dev address is therefore refused by browsers that honor that list. The VVV 2.1.0 release post, dated November 8, 2017 in its blog index, says Google added .dev to the HTTPS preload list in Chrome and that VVV switched its default sites to .test.
Current VVV docs show default sites on .test, for example one.wordpress.test, and the troubleshooting page says: the fix is simple, switch to .test. The VVV 3.0 release post, listed on May 15, 2019, says vvv.dev was no longer added as a host. VVV 3.8 and later can also expose its dashboard at vvv.local, per its docs.
If an old tutorial gives you a .dev address, replace it with the .test version before you start.
How I checked
Every fact on this page comes from each tool's own site, its official docs or its official repository README, read on October 30, 2026. Where a doc did not answer a question, the entry says it is not stated instead of guessing.
VVV maintenance, read on GitHub October 31, 2026: 4,194 commits, the latest on February 23, 2026, and 26 releases with v3.15.1 the latest, dated May 21, 2025. The page showed no archived notice. That supports keeping it in the list, with the dates stated.
Questions
Is Local free?
Local's features page says: It's free and always will be. The same page does not give a price for a paid tier, so what a paid plan adds and what it costs is not stated there.
Do I need Docker?
It depends on the tool. Local is only available as a desktop application, and the WordPress Studio README says it requires no external dependencies. DevKinsta, DDEV, Lando and wp-env all run on Docker, and VVV needs Vagrant and a virtual machine provider.
Can I push a local site to my host?
Some docs describe it for named hosts. Local lists Flywheel and WP Engine, DevKinsta lists Kinsta staging, and DDEV's providers doc lists Pantheon, Upsun, Lagoon and Acquia. For the other tools the docs I read do not describe a push.
Why does a .dev address fail on my local site?
Google Registry's page for the .dev domain says it is on the HSTS preload list, so HTTPS is required on all connections. Use .test for local sites, as the current VVV docs say.