Guide · WordPress

How to Set Up WordPress for Free on Your Own Computer (LocalWP)

You do not need a website, a domain, or any subscription to start working with WordPress. A free desktop app called LocalWP runs a complete WordPress site on your own computer. It is perfect if you are practicing your designs, building a site before paying for hosting, or just want to explore WordPress without spending anything.

By Ema Your VA · The exact setup I use for client builds

Who this is for

You want to practice WordPress designs on a real site without paying for hosting
You want to explore WordPress and its plugins without a subscription
You are building or testing a site before taking it live

Download and install LocalWP

Go to localwp.com and download the free app for your computer (Windows or Mac). LocalWP runs everything a real web host runs (WordPress, its database, the web server) right on your machine, so your site works even without internet.

Open it and press Create a new site:

LocalWP welcome screen with the Create a new site button

Choose "Create a new site"

Pick Create a new site. In my case I created a brand-new site because my existing website was not built on WordPress, so I had nothing to import. If you already have a WordPress site backup, the other options let you load it in.

LocalWP choice between creating a new site, a blueprint, or a backup

Name your site and keep the Preferred environment

Type your site name:

Keep the Preferred environment and continue. This just means LocalWP picks the standard, recommended setup for you.

LocalWP Choose your environment step with Preferred selected

Create your WordPress login

Set your WordPress username, password, and email. These are the details you will use to log in to your site's dashboard, so save them somewhere safe. Then press Add Site.

LocalWP Set up WordPress step with username, password and email fields

LocalWP adding WordPress progress screen — LocalWP installs WordPress for you. This takes a minute or two.

Open your new site

When it finishes, your site is running on your computer. Press WP Admin to open the WordPress dashboard (where you build and manage everything), or Open site to see the site itself the way a visitor would.

LocalWP site overview with the WP Admin and Open site buttons

The WordPress dashboard of the new local site — The WordPress dashboard. From here you can install themes, plugins, and start designing.

Tip: everything you do here is real WordPress. Themes, plugins, forms, designs all work exactly like on a live site. The only difference is that only you can see it, until you decide to take it live with hosting and a domain.

What's next?

Want your forms to talk to automation tools without paying for upgrades? Read my guide: How to Connect Fluent Forms to Make.com for Free
When you are ready to take your site live, that is when you will need hosting and a domain. Until then, everything stays free.

Want this set up for you?

I build websites and automations like this for businesses every week. Starter builds from $300, delivered in days, no calls needed. Tell me what you are trying to build and I will reply within 24 to 48 hours.

Tell me what to build