Want to build a WordPress website on your computer without paying for web hosting?

One of the easiest ways to do this is to install WordPress locally on your computer. A local WordPress installation allows you to create and test a website without publishing it to the internet.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to install WordPress locally with DevKinsta, a free local WordPress development environment from Kinsta.

You’ll learn how to download and install DevKinsta, create a new WordPress website, access the WordPress dashboard, install themes and plugins, manage your database, test emails, enable HTTPS, clone websites, and move a local WordPress website to Kinsta.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a fully functional WordPress website running on your own computer.

What Is DevKinsta?

DevKinsta is a free local development suite designed specifically for WordPress.

It allows you to create and run WordPress websites directly on your computer without purchasing web hosting or registering a domain name.

DevKinsta uses technologies such as Docker, Nginx, PHP, and MySQL to provide the components required to run WordPress locally.

It also includes several useful tools for WordPress development, including database management, email testing, HTTPS, debugging, website cloning, and integration with Kinsta hosting.

Why Use DevKinsta for WordPress?

There are several reasons you might want to run WordPress locally.

With DevKinsta, you can:

• Install WordPress without purchasing hosting.
• Build a website privately on your computer.
• Learn WordPress for free.
• Test WordPress themes and plugins.
• Develop custom WordPress themes.
• Test updates before applying them to a live website.
• Experiment with PHP versions.
• Work on websites without making them publicly accessible.
• Create copies of existing WordPress websites.
• Import Kinsta websites into your local environment.
• Push local changes to a Kinsta staging environment.

For beginners, DevKinsta provides an easy way to learn WordPress. For developers, it provides a convenient environment for building and testing websites.

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DevKinsta vs. WordPress Hosting

Before installing DevKinsta, it’s important to understand the difference between a local WordPress website and a live WordPress website.

A website hosted on a web server is publicly accessible through a domain name.

A website created with DevKinsta runs on your own computer.

Feature	DevKinsta	Web Hosting
Runs on your computer	Yes	No
Requires hosting	No	Yes
Requires a domain	No	Usually
Publicly accessible	No	Yes
Good for development	Yes	Yes
Good for testing	Excellent	More risky
Suitable for production	No	Yes
Hosting cost	Free	Usually paid

DevKinsta should therefore be viewed as a local development environment, not as a replacement for production hosting.

You can build your website locally and then move it to a hosting server when you’re ready to publish it.

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What You Need to Install WordPress With DevKinsta

Before starting, make sure you have a computer running a supported operating system.

DevKinsta supports:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux

DevKinsta uses Docker to run the services required by WordPress. If Docker isn’t already installed, the DevKinsta installation process can guide you through installing it.

You should also have sufficient free disk space because WordPress files, images, plugins, themes, databases, and Docker containers all require storage.

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How to Install WordPress Locally With DevKinsta

The process can be summarized in the following steps:

1. Download DevKinsta.
2. Install DevKinsta.
3. Install or configure Docker.
4. Launch DevKinsta.
5. Create a new WordPress site.
6. Configure the WordPress administrator account.
7. Open the local website.
8. Log in to WordPress.
9. Install your theme and plugins.
10. Start building your website.

Let’s go through each step.

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Step 1: Download DevKinsta

The first step is to download DevKinsta from the official Kinsta website.

Download DevKinsta

Download the version appropriate for your operating system.

DevKinsta is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Is DevKinsta Free?

Yes.

DevKinsta is free to download and use. You don’t need to purchase a Kinsta hosting plan simply to create a local WordPress website with DevKinsta.

This makes it a useful option if you’re learning WordPress or experimenting with website development.

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Step 2: Install DevKinsta

After downloading the installer, open it and follow the installation instructions.

Double click the DevKinsta.exe you had downloaded.

During installation, DevKinsta may ask you to install Docker.

What Is Docker?

Docker provides isolated containers that DevKinsta uses to run the services required by your WordPress website.

Instead of manually configuring a web server, PHP, and MySQL, DevKinsta uses Docker to create the necessary environment for you.

This is one reason DevKinsta can be much easier for beginners than manually configuring a WordPress development environment.

Double click Docker Desktop Installer you had downloaded.

Follow the prompts provided by the installer and allow the required permissions when requested.

The installation may take a few minutes because Docker and other required components may need to be downloaded.

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Step 3: Launch DevKinsta

Once the installation is complete, launch DevKinsta.

The application will initialize its local development environment.

After initialization, you’ll see the DevKinsta dashboard.

If you haven’t created a website yet, the dashboard will provide an option to create one.

DevKinsta supports several methods of creating a website, including creating a new WordPress installation and importing an existing website.

For this tutorial, we’ll create a brand-new WordPress website.

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Step 4: Create a New WordPress Site

Click New WordPress site.

DevKinsta will ask you to enter some basic information about your website.

You’ll typically need to specify:

• Website name
• WordPress administrator username
• WordPress administrator password

For example:

Website name: My WordPress Website

Username: admin

Password: Use a strong password

Choose a website name that makes it easy to identify your project.

For example, if you’re building a website for a restaurant, you could use:

My Restaurant Website

If you’re developing a blog, you might use:

My Personal Blog

After entering the required information, start the site creation process.

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Step 5: Wait for DevKinsta to Install WordPress

DevKinsta will now create your local WordPress environment.

You don’t need to manually install:

• Nginx
• PHP
• MySQL
• WordPress

DevKinsta handles the configuration for you.

Once the installation is complete, your new website will appear in the DevKinsta dashboard.

The exact installation time depends on your computer and environment.

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Step 6: Allow Local Configuration Changes

During the site creation process, DevKinsta may ask for permission to modify your computer’s hosts file.

This is normal.

The hosts file allows your computer to associate your local WordPress domain with your own computer.

For example, instead of accessing the website using a complicated IP address, DevKinsta can provide a convenient local domain.

You may need to enter your computer password or approve a permissions dialog.

Once the required changes are approved, DevKinsta can complete the local website configuration.

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Step 7: Open Your Local WordPress Website

After DevKinsta finishes creating the site, select the website from the dashboard.

You should see information about your website, along with options for opening the site and accessing the WordPress administration area.

Click Open site.

Your browser will open the local WordPress website.

Congratulations!

You now have a WordPress website running on your computer.

The website isn’t publicly available on the internet. It’s running inside your local development environment.

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Step 8: Log In to the WordPress Dashboard

To manage your website, open the WordPress administration area.

From DevKinsta, select the option to access WP Admin.

Enter the WordPress username and password you created during the installation.

You’ll now see the familiar WordPress dashboard.

From here, you can:

• Create posts.
• Create pages.
• Install themes.
• Install plugins.
• Configure WordPress.
• Create menus.
• Upload images.
• Customize your website.
• Add users.

At this point, your local WordPress installation works much like a normal WordPress website.

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Step 9: Install a WordPress Theme

The next step is to choose a design for your website.

From the WordPress dashboard, go to:

Appearance → Themes

Then click Add New Theme.

You can search for a free theme or upload a theme you’ve obtained elsewhere.

Because the website is running locally, you can experiment with different themes without affecting a live website.

For example, you could:

1. Install a theme.
2. Customize it.
3. Test the layout.
4. Decide that you don’t like it.
5. Replace it with another theme.

This makes a local WordPress installation particularly useful when designing a new website.

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Step 10: Install WordPress Plugins

Plugins extend the functionality of WordPress.

To install one, go to:

Plugins → Add New Plugin

You can search for the plugin you want and install it.

A local WordPress website is an excellent environment for testing plugins.

For example, you could test:

• SEO plugins
• Contact form plugins
• Security plugins
• Backup plugins
• Page builders
• E-commerce plugins
• Performance plugins
• Custom plugins

If a plugin causes a problem, you can troubleshoot it locally before installing it on a production website.

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Step 11: Access Your WordPress Files

DevKinsta stores your local WordPress website files on your computer.

You can open the site’s directory from DevKinsta and work with the WordPress files directly.

A typical WordPress installation contains directories such as:

wp-admin
wp-content
wp-includes

The wp-content directory is particularly important.

It contains your:

• Plugins
• Themes
• Uploaded media

If you’re developing a custom theme, you can open the theme directory in a code editor such as Visual Studio Code.

You can then modify your PHP, CSS, JavaScript, and other theme files and immediately test the changes in your local browser.

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Step 12: Manage the WordPress Database

WordPress stores much of its information in a MySQL database.

The database contains information such as:

• Posts
• Pages
• Users
• Comments
• Settings
• Plugin data
• Theme configuration

DevKinsta includes a database management interface based on Adminer.

This allows you to inspect and manage your local WordPress database without having to install a separate database-management application.

Database access is especially useful for WordPress developers who need to troubleshoot database-related problems.

However, be careful when modifying database records manually.

Always create a backup before making major database changes.

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Step 13: Enable HTTPS for Local WordPress

Modern websites commonly use HTTPS, and you may want to test your local website with HTTPS enabled.

DevKinsta provides an option to enable HTTPS for local websites.

The application creates a certificate for the local environment.

Depending on your operating system and browser, you may need to trust the local certificate.

Once HTTPS is enabled, you can test your WordPress website using a secure local connection.

This can be useful when testing plugins or functionality that requires HTTPS.

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Step 14: Test WordPress Emails With DevKinsta

Email testing can be difficult on a local WordPress installation.

For example, you might install a contact form and want to check whether it generates the expected email.

DevKinsta provides a local email testing environment.

Instead of accidentally sending test messages to real email addresses, you can inspect the emails generated by your local website.

This is useful for testing:

• Contact forms
• Password reset emails
• User registration emails
• WooCommerce notifications
• Other WordPress-generated messages

For developers, this can save a lot of time during testing.

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Step 15: Enable WordPress Debugging

If you’re developing a WordPress theme or plugin, debugging is extremely important.

DevKinsta allows you to enable WordPress debugging.

When debugging is enabled, WordPress can display or log information about PHP errors, warnings, and other problems.

For example, suppose you modify a theme and accidentally introduce a PHP error.

Debugging can help you identify what went wrong.

A typical development workflow is:

Develop → Enable debugging → Fix errors → Test → Disable unnecessary debugging information before production

You should avoid exposing detailed PHP errors to normal visitors on a live website.

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Step 16: Test Different PHP Versions

WordPress runs on PHP, and compatibility between PHP versions, themes, and plugins can sometimes cause problems.

DevKinsta allows you to work with different PHP versions.

This is useful when maintaining an older WordPress website or checking whether a website is compatible with a newer PHP version.

For example, before changing the PHP version on a production website, you could:

1. Create a local copy.
2. Change the PHP version.
3. Test WordPress.
4. Test your plugins.
5. Test your theme.
6. Look for errors.
7. Fix compatibility problems.

This is much safer than making the change directly on a live website.

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Step 17: Clone a WordPress Website

DevKinsta also allows you to clone local WordPress websites.

Suppose you’ve created a development website with your preferred:

• Theme
• Plugins
• Settings
• Sample content

Instead of setting everything up again, you can clone the website.

Open the site’s menu in DevKinsta and choose the option to clone the site.

Give the new website a name and start the cloning process.

DevKinsta will create a new local website based on the existing installation.

This feature is particularly useful for developers and agencies that regularly create WordPress websites.

You could maintain a basic WordPress starter site and clone it whenever you begin a new project.

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Step 18: Import an Existing Kinsta WordPress Website

One of DevKinsta’s most useful features is its integration with Kinsta hosting.

If you already have a WordPress website hosted on Kinsta, you can import it into DevKinsta for local development.

Choose Import from Kinsta when creating a website.

After signing into your Kinsta account, select the website and environment you want to import.

This allows you to work on a local copy of an existing website without making changes directly to the production website.

For example:

Live website → Local DevKinsta copy → Make changes → Test

This is a safer workflow for website development.

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Step 19: Import a WordPress Backup

You can also create a DevKinsta website from an existing WordPress backup.

This can be useful if your website isn’t hosted on Kinsta.

A backup generally needs to contain the WordPress website files and database.

DevKinsta can then create a local environment from the backup.

This provides a convenient way to troubleshoot an existing WordPress website.

For example, if a live website has a plugin conflict, you could create a local copy and investigate the problem without experimenting directly on the production website.

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Step 20: Pull Changes From Kinsta

If your local website is connected to a Kinsta website, you can use DevKinsta’s integration features to pull information from Kinsta.

You can select an environment and choose what you want to retrieve.

Depending on the workflow, you can pull:

• Website files
• Database
• Files and database

This allows you to keep your local development environment up to date with the website hosted on Kinsta.

A useful workflow is:

Kinsta Website
      ↓
DevKinsta
      ↓
Make Changes
      ↓
Test Locally

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Step 21: Push Your Local WordPress Website to Kinsta

After making and testing your changes locally, you can push the site to a Kinsta staging environment.

This is an important distinction:

DevKinsta’s push workflow is intended for Kinsta staging environments rather than directly publishing changes to a live production environment.

A safer deployment process is:

DevKinsta
    ↓
Local Testing
    ↓
Kinsta Staging
    ↓
Staging Testing
    ↓
Production

This gives you two opportunities to identify problems before visitors see the changes.

Read Kinsta’s DevKinsta integration documentation

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How to Move a Local WordPress Website to a Live Server

One of the most common questions beginners have is:

“How do I move my local WordPress website online?”

The answer is that you need to migrate the local WordPress installation to a web hosting server.

The general migration process involves:

1. Backing up the local website.
2. Exporting the WordPress database.
3. Copying the WordPress files.
4. Creating a database on the live server.
5. Uploading the WordPress files.
6. Importing the database.
7. Updating the website URL.
8. Checking configuration settings.
9. Testing the website.
10. Pointing the domain to the new server.

If you’re using Kinsta, DevKinsta’s integration can simplify the process.

If you’re using another hosting provider, you may need to use a migration plugin or manually transfer the files and database.

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How to Develop a WordPress Website Locally Before Launching It

A local development environment is particularly useful if you’re building a brand-new website.

Here’s a workflow you can follow.

1. Create the WordPress installation

Install WordPress with DevKinsta.

2. Configure WordPress

Set your site title, permalink structure, user settings, and other basic options.

3. Install the theme

Choose and customize your WordPress theme.

4. Install essential plugins

Install only the plugins your website actually needs.

5. Create your content

Build pages such as:

• Home
• About
• Services
• Blog
• Contact
• Privacy Policy

6. Customize the design

Adjust typography, layouts, colors, menus, headers, footers, and other design elements.

7. Test the website

Check the website on different screen sizes and test all important functionality.

8. Test plugins

Make sure your plugins work correctly together.

9. Back up the site

Create a backup before migration.

10. Deploy the website

Move the finished website to your hosting provider.

This workflow allows you to build most of the website before making it publicly accessible.

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DevKinsta Tips for Beginners

If this is your first time using DevKinsta, keep the following tips in mind.

Don’t Treat Your Local Site as a Backup

A local website is not automatically a backup.

Keep copies of important files and databases.

Don’t Experiment Directly on Production

One of the biggest advantages of local development is that you can experiment safely.

Use your local site to test major changes first.

Keep Plugins Updated

Outdated plugins can cause compatibility and security problems.

Use your local environment to test updates before applying them to production.

Use a Strong WordPress Password

Even though your website is local, use a strong administrator password.

Keep Your Local Environment Organized

If you build multiple websites, give each one a clear and recognizable name.

For example:

client-company
personal-blog
restaurant-project
portfolio-website
test-site

This makes your DevKinsta dashboard much easier to manage.

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Common DevKinsta Problems and Solutions

DevKinsta Won’t Create My Website

First, make sure Docker is running.

You can also try restarting DevKinsta and creating the website again.

Check that your computer has sufficient free storage and that the application has the necessary permissions.

My Local Website Won’t Open

Check:

• DevKinsta is running.
• Docker is running.
• The site is active.
• You’re using the correct local URL.
• Your hosts file has been configured correctly.

HTTPS Shows a Warning

A local HTTPS certificate may not be trusted automatically by your operating system or browser.

Follow the certificate-trust instructions provided by DevKinsta for your operating system.

WordPress Email Isn’t Arriving

Remember that local email testing is different from production email delivery.

Check DevKinsta’s local email interface to see whether WordPress generated the message.

My Website Is Slow

Local WordPress performance depends partly on your computer and Docker environment.

Try closing unnecessary applications and make sure your computer has sufficient RAM and disk space.

Large WordPress websites with thousands of images, plugins, or database records may require more resources.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of DevKinsta

Advantages

Free: You can use DevKinsta without purchasing web hosting.

WordPress-focused: The environment is designed specifically around WordPress.

Easy setup: You don’t have to manually configure every component.

Useful development tools: Database management, email testing, debugging, HTTPS, and other tools are included.

Safe testing: You can experiment without affecting a live website.

Kinsta integration: Kinsta users can move websites between local and staging environments.

Disadvantages

Not a production server: You can’t use DevKinsta as your public hosting environment.

Uses computer resources: Docker and local WordPress installations consume RAM, CPU, and disk space.

Local only: Other people can’t normally access your website over the internet.

Some production features differ: CDN behavior, DNS, server-level caching, email delivery, and other hosting features may behave differently from a live server.

For these reasons, local development should be considered one part of your overall WordPress workflow.

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Frequently Asked Questions About DevKinsta

Can I install WordPress locally for free?

Yes.

DevKinsta allows you to create a local WordPress website without purchasing hosting.

Is DevKinsta really free?

Yes. DevKinsta is available as a free local WordPress development tool.

You don’t need a paid Kinsta hosting plan simply to use DevKinsta locally.

Do I need a domain name?

No.

Your local WordPress website uses a local domain configured by DevKinsta.

You can purchase and connect a domain later when you move the website to a live server.

Do I need web hosting?

No.

A local WordPress website runs on your own computer.

You only need web hosting when you want to make the website publicly accessible.

Can I use DevKinsta without a Kinsta account?

Yes.

DevKinsta can be used as a standalone local WordPress development environment.

A Kinsta account is useful when you want to use the integration features with Kinsta-hosted websites.

Can I use DevKinsta on Windows?

Yes.

DevKinsta supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Can I use DevKinsta to learn WordPress?

Yes.

In fact, a local WordPress installation is an excellent way to learn.

You can experiment with themes, plugins, menus, widgets, pages, settings, and custom code without worrying about breaking a public website.

Can I move my local website to Kinsta?

Yes.

DevKinsta provides integration with Kinsta that allows you to import Kinsta websites into your local environment and push changes to Kinsta staging.

Can I move my DevKinsta website to another hosting company?

Yes.

A WordPress website isn’t permanently tied to DevKinsta.

You can migrate the WordPress files and database to another hosting provider using that provider’s migration tools, a WordPress migration plugin, or a manual migration process.

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DevKinsta vs. XAMPP vs. Local

If you’re researching different ways to run WordPress locally, you may also encounter XAMPP and LocalWP.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	DevKinsta	XAMPP	LocalWP
Designed specifically for WordPress	Yes	No	Yes
Beginner-friendly	Yes	Moderate	Yes
Uses Docker	Yes	No	Yes
WordPress setup automation	Yes	More manual	Yes
Database management	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local email testing	Yes	Requires setup	Yes
Kinsta integration	Yes	No	No
Good for learning server technology	Moderate	Excellent	Moderate
Good for WordPress development	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

The best option depends on your needs.

If you want to learn how web servers work at a lower level, XAMPP can be a useful learning tool.

If you want a WordPress-focused development environment with Kinsta integration, DevKinsta is an attractive option.

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Final Thoughts: Is DevKinsta Worth Using?

If you’re looking for a convenient way to install WordPress locally on your computer, DevKinsta is a strong option.

It removes much of the manual configuration involved in setting up a WordPress development environment and provides tools specifically designed for WordPress.

You can use it to build websites, experiment with themes and plugins, develop custom code, test updates, manage databases, test emails, and troubleshoot problems.

The biggest advantage is the ability to work without putting your live website at risk.

A simple workflow is:

Install DevKinsta → Create WordPress site → Build → Test → Back up → Move to staging → Publish

If you’re a beginner, DevKinsta gives you a safe environment in which to learn WordPress.

If you’re an experienced WordPress developer, it can become part of a more professional local-to-staging development workflow.

Most importantly, you don’t need to spend money on hosting just to start learning and building your WordPress website.