MAMP is like a mini local hosting environment. It gives you a complete server stack you can set up quickly on your machine - ideal for testing and developing without uploading to a remote server. It runs on macOS and Windows and lets you run Apache or Nginx together with a database (MySQL or MariaDB) and server-side languages such as PHP, Perl or Python.

That makes MAMP a popular choice among developers working with WordPress, Drupal or custom projects. You get a local mirror of a live setup: start the server with a click, choose a PHP version, and start coding - no hassle, just productive development.

The free version covers many use cases, while MAMP PRO adds features like multiple virtual hosts, mail server support and finer configuration options. Either way, MAMP helps you focus on building rather than installing.