[ wordpress.org ] has launched a new local website builder right in the browser. You can access it by heading to [ my.wordpress.net ] to start building a website or simply try out the ecosystem before fully committing, all without signing up for WordPress, buying a domain, or choosing a hosting plan.
Quick History #
For over 20 years, WordPress was famous for its “5-Minute Install.” In 2003, this was revolutionary because other systems took hours. However, by modern standards, those five minutes were often preceded by an hour of technical hurdles.
Hello World! #
Before [ my.wordpress.net ], users had 3 main options to build or test the WordPress site-building tool:
- [ localwp ]:
- Automatically sets up WordPress with a local server and provides users with many tools and features like SSH access, WP-CLI, PHP environments, Live Links, account management, backups, etc…
- Login is optional for local development, making it great for beginners because it requires no manual server setup.
- Local Server Stacks:
- Users have to install [ XAMP ], [ MAMP ], [ WampServer ], or another preferred stack based on their operating system (OS). All these stacks come with their own learning curves and configurations.
- Download WordPress from [ wordpress.org ].
- Run the famous “5-Minute Install.”
- [ wordpress.com ]:
- Create a free account.
- Pick a custom domain or use a site address provided by WordPress based on the site name.
- Access the dashboard after the setup process to start viewing and building the website.
That is a lot of steps for any of these options just to see a “Hello World!” post running in your browser!
What does this new in-browser builder offer? #
The Faster Route: No signup, no login, no credit card, no setup, and no hosting. Just head to [ my.wordpress.net ] and try it for free.
Instant Workspace: A private environment that starts with 100MB of local storage.
Pre-Loaded Tools: It comes with an AI Assistant, a personal RSS reader, and CRM software pre-installed for testing.
Full Site Editing (FSE): Uses the latest WordPress 7.0 interface, featuring the “Always-iframed” editor for a more stable and accurate design experience.
Who is This For? #
While these sites are private and local (meaning they aren’t “live” on the web yet), they serve specific purposes:
For Beginners: The fastest way for new users to try out and learn about WordPress before fully committing to the ecosystem.
For Developers: A rapid way to test a new plugin or a specific theme snippet.
For Content Creators: A private space for journaling, drafting, or researching to see how content is presented before moving it to a public host.
Downsides #
Stored in Cache: Your work is stored in your browser’s temporary storage. If you clear your browser cache without clicking Export, your work is gone.
Not Public: You cannot send a link to other people to view the live site.
Resource Heavy: Powered by WordPress Playground, it inherits all the traits of that technology. Since it runs a virtual server in your browser tab, plugins take longer to install at runtime, and low-memory devices may experience slowdowns.
Limited Storage: Usually capped at around 100MB for local files.