If you’re a WordPress developer, you probably do most of your work in test environments. That way, you can tinker with your plugins, themes, and sites all you want without breaking anything for real. The only question is, which local WordPress development tools are the best fit for your needs?
Choosing a setup can get complicated, because there are a lot of options available. More importantly, your workflow will vary depending on your pick, so it’s important to know what your options are and what features they offer you.
In this article, we’re going to introduce you to five of our favorite local WordPress development tools, including:
- DesktopServer
- XAMPP
- MAMP
- Vagrant
- Local by Flywheel
| DesktopServer | XAMPP | MAMP | Vagrant | Local by Flywheel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does it use virtual machines? |  | | | |  |
| Can you set up multiple WordPress websites? | Up to three (using the free version) | (with some tinkering) | (with some tinkering) | | |
| Is it easy to use? | | Moderately difficult | Moderately difficult | Moderately difficult | |
| Does it enable you to set up different types of environments? | | | (to a degree) | | (to a degree) |
| Can you start and stop websites at will? | | | | | |
| Does it help you map domain names to local websites? | | | | | |
| Does it include a dashboard you can use? | | | | | |
| Price | Free and premium versions available | Free | Free and premium versions available | Free | Free |
1 Comment