LocalStack
A local AWS cloud emulator so you can test infrastructure without an AWS bill.
What it is
LocalStack emulates AWS services — S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, SQS, SNS, API Gateway and many more — on your machine or in CI, so integration tests against cloud infrastructure run offline and fast. Note that it is no longer open source in practice: LocalStack wound down the free Community edition, archived the Apache-2.0 repository read-only on 23 March 2026, and now ships a single Docker image that requires an account and auth token. A non-commercial free tier remains for individual use, and open-source projects can apply for free access, but commercial use — including CI — needs a paid licence.
Best for
Where it is strong
- Integration tests against AWS services run offline in seconds at no cloud cost.
- Removes the shared-sandbox-account contention that plagues cloud teams.
- Works with Terraform and CDK, so infrastructure code is testable.
Where it falls short
- No longer open source: the Community edition is end-of-life, the repo is archived, and running it now requires an account and auth token.
- Using it in CI counts as commercial use, so the free tier does not cover the case most teams want it for.
- Emulation is not identical to AWS; some behaviours and IAM semantics differ.
- Many services are Pro-only.
Pricing
From $39 per licence/month (Base, billed annually; $45 monthly)
Free tierFree tier: Hobby tier is free but explicitly non-commercial, and LocalStack has said the Community emulator will no longer receive product updates.
What drives the bill: Plans are Hobby (free, non-commercial), Base $39 and Ultimate $89 per licence/month billed annually, then Enterprise. Commercial use needs a paid licence, and the higher tiers are what unlock advanced IAM enforcement and the wider service coverage.
Check current pricing on LocalStack’s siteFigures are indicative and were last reviewed August 2026. Vendors change pricing often; confirm before you commit.
Works with
What people who use LocalStack say
No reviews of LocalStack yet. If you have used it in anger, yours would be the first.
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