Can EnvKit create a WordPress site from scratch?

Yes. New project, New WordPress site: it downloads WordPress, creates the database and writes wp-config.php. It can also run the installer so /wp-admin works immediately.

Does EnvKit use .local domains like Local?

EnvKit uses .test hosts, which are reserved for local testing, each with a trusted HTTPS certificate.

Yes. Free to download from GitHub with no signup and no paid tier.

Comparison

EnvKit vs Local

Local is a free, friendly WordPress tool with push and pull to WP Engine and Flywheel hosting. It is built for WordPress only and runs a separate MySQL instance for each site. EnvKit creates WordPress sites in one click too, and runs them on one shared stack next to your Laravel, plain PHP and Node projects.

Feature comparison between EnvKit and Local
Feature	EnvKit	Local
Platform	Windows, macOS	Win / macOS / Linux
Price / license	Free	Free
Built for	PHP, Laravel, WordPress, Node	WordPress
One-click WordPress	Yes	Yes
Database server	Shared, versions side by side	One MySQL per site
Mailpit	Yes	Yes
Xdebug	Yes	Yes
Site blueprints	Yes	Yes
Public share URL	Yes	Yes
Push / pull to hosting	No	WP Engine / Flywheel

Local details checked on 18 September 2026 against Local features, Local system requirements and Local router mode (a MySQL per site). Prices and plans change; the linked pages are the authority.

What you gain over Local

Every kind of project in one place
WordPress, Laravel, Symfony, plain PHP and Node dev servers each get a trusted https://name.test host, served by one nginx or Apache.
One set of services for all sites
Local starts a MySQL instance for each site. EnvKit sites share one MySQL or MariaDB server, so ten sites do not mean ten database processes. Need an older version for one project? Run it side by side.
WordPress in one click, admin ready
Pick a folder, and EnvKit downloads WordPress, creates the database, writes wp-config.php and can finish the install so /wp-admin logs straight in.
Databases and tools beyond WordPress
PostgreSQL, Redis and MongoDB with their admin UIs, Composer, Node with nvm, cron jobs and an MCP server for AI assistants.

Where Local still fits better

iLocal deploys to WP Engine and Flywheel
If you host there, Local Connect pushes and pulls sites in a click. EnvKit has no hosting integration.
iLocal runs on Linux
EnvKit ships for Windows 10/11 and Apple Silicon Macs only.
iLocal has WordPress-only extras
Cloud backups to Google Drive or Dropbox, an image optimizer and a link checker are built for WordPress workflows. EnvKit backs sites up to local zip files.

Moving from Local

Export the site from Local, unzip it into a folder and add that folder from the Sites page. Import the SQL file into the bundled MySQL, then point wp-config.php at it. Blueprints let you save the result for the next project.

Download for Windows Read the docs

Or install from the terminal

> irm https://envkit.net/install.ps1 | iex

Free, no account, no card. Windows 10/11 and macOS (Apple Silicon).

Questions people ask

Can EnvKit create a WordPress site from scratch?: Yes. New project, New WordPress site: it downloads WordPress, creates the database and writes wp-config.php. It can also run the installer so /wp-admin works immediately.
Does EnvKit use .local domains like Local?: EnvKit uses .test hosts, which are reserved for local testing, each with a trusted HTTPS certificate.
Is EnvKit free?: Yes. Free to download from GitHub with no signup and no paid tier.