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This Post Was Composed with LocalWP (Local by WP Engine)

Why I use Local, WP Engine’s free local WordPress tool: speed, offline work, an extra staging layer, and one-click push and pull to WP Engine. Updated with what’s changed since 2020.

LocalWP

Last updated: October 15, 2026

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LocalWP, now called Local, is a tool I’d been meaning to try for a long time. It runs a full WordPress site on your own computer, then pushes it online when you’re ready. I wrote the original version of this post in it back in 2020.

Why I like it

  • Speed. Even on a fast host like WP Engine, editing a remote site depends on your connection. Local runs on your machine, so it’s instant.
  • Travel. If you’re on a weak connection or rationing cellular data, Local works almost entirely offline.
  • Another safety net. WP Engine already has staging, but a local copy is one more place to test updates before anything touches the live site.
  • WP Engine integration. Connect your WP Engine account and you can see your sites, pull one down, edit it, and push it back. It also works with Flywheel.
  • Cost. It’s free.

What’s changed since 2020

When I first wrote this, Local had a free Community version and a paid Pro version. In June 2021 WP Engine made the Pro features free for everyone, so features like Live Links (a shareable link to your local site) and Blueprints (reusable starter sites) cost nothing now.

Getting started

  1. Download Local for Mac, Windows, or Linux from localwp.com.
  2. Create a site. Local sets up the web server, PHP, and database for you.
  3. To work on a live WP Engine site, connect your account and pull it down.

The one hiccup I hit

After I pushed my local changes live the first time, the local domain (josiahcole.local) didn’t get swapped for josiahcole.com everywhere. WP Engine support fixed it quickly. If you see links pointing to a .local address after a push, run a search and replace for the old domain, or ask your host’s support to help.

I’ve only scratched the surface, but I’m pleased to find the toolset simple and powerful.

Local pairs well with WP Engine hosting. You can push and pull sites between Local and your WP Engine environments.

See WP Engine plans

FAQ

Is Local by WP Engine free?

Yes. WP Engine made all of Local’s former Pro features free in June 2021.

Can Local push to WP Engine?

Yes. Connect your WP Engine account in Local to pull sites down and push changes back.

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