Google Cloud Platform Emulator

Run Google Cloud locally in one Docker container

LocalCloud provides 27 available Google Cloud services. Use the host CLI to start a loopback-bound runtime and export its actual SDK endpoint settings.

Start with the CLI View all 27 service guides Compare with Google emulators LocalStack for Google Cloud?

Available services

Databases, messaging, storage, analytics, security, and compute in one container.

Data-volume runtime

One CLI lifecycle with persistent data and dynamically resolved loopback ports.

License

Review before use

The proprietary license governs use; technical tiers do not grant legal permission.

GCP local development is fragmented

Individual emulator processes have separate startup, port, and environment contracts. LocalCloud provides one managed lifecycle for bounded workflows across its registry, while each service page records evidence and limitations.

Per-service

Compatibility

Every published workflow includes a support level and explicit local-emulation limits.

One CLI

Managed lifecycle

The CLI selects durable storage and loopback ports, starts or reuses a compatible runtime, and exports its actual endpoint map.

The Solution

One runtime, one console, one handoff

LocalCloud wraps official, custom, and third-party emulators behind a managed local runtime. The host CLI selects its Docker data volume, exports actual environment values, and opens the built-in console.

Before relying on a local workflow, review the documented compatibility and limitations for the services your application uses.

Registry-backed service catalog

Browse 27 service guides with connection details, default enablement, supported workflows, and known limitations.

SDK-shaped local workflows

Export local endpoint values with localcloud env. Client and operation support varies by service; validate the production path against real Google Cloud.

Built-in web console

The console URL is returned by the CLI and may use a dynamically remapped loopback port. Use it to inspect service health and bounded local data workflows.

What you can run locally

Each available service lists its documented local workflows. Planned additions are labeled separately.

Service	Availability	LocalCloud
Cloud Storage	Available	2 documented workflows
Pub/Sub	Available	3 documented workflows
Firestore	Available	2 documented workflows
Bigtable	Available	7 documented workflows
Spanner	Available	0 documented workflows
BigQuery	Available	8 documented workflows
Google Sheets	Available	2 documented workflows
Secret Manager	Available	2 documented workflows
Cloud Tasks	Available	2 documented workflows
Cloud Scheduler	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Functions (2nd Gen)	Available	1 documented workflows
AlloyDB	Available	1 documented workflows
Dataproc	Available	2 documented workflows
Cloud IAM	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Resource Manager	Available	1 documented workflows
Service Usage	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Billing	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Logging	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Monitoring	Available	1 documented workflows
GKE	Available	1 documented workflows
Compute Engine	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Run	Available	1 documented workflows
Memorystore (Redis/Valkey)	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud Workflows	Available	2 documented workflows
Vertex AI	Available	1 documented workflows
Cloud KMS	Available	2 documented workflows
Cloud SQL	Available	2 documented workflows

Databases

Databases services

Transactional, document, wide-column, relational, and cache workflows.

Firestore — Document CRUD and query workflows through the local Firestore emulator. Enable it explicitly before use.
Bigtable — Wide-column data, administration, persistence, and query workflows.
Spanner — Spanner data and administration workflows over gRPC and REST.
AlloyDB — AlloyDB cluster and instance control-plane workflows.
Memorystore (Redis/Valkey) — Valkey-backed RESP data workflows.
Cloud SQL — Local control-plane and MySQL data-plane workflows.

Messaging & Workflow

Messaging & Workflow services

Events, jobs, scheduling, and orchestration.

Pub/Sub — Topic, subscription, publish, pull, and acknowledgement workflows.
Google Sheets — Read-only stored spreadsheet values selected by exact A1 range and project scope.
Cloud Tasks — Queue and task lifecycle workflows.
Cloud Scheduler — Schedule and job lifecycle workflows.
Cloud Workflows — Workflow deployment and execution workflows.

Compute & Runtime

Compute & Runtime services

Function, container, cluster, VM, and AI control-plane workflows.

Cloud Functions (2nd Gen) — Second-generation function control-plane workflows.
GKE — Pro cluster workflows with opt-in k3d runtime integration.
Compute Engine — Pro instance lifecycle and control-plane workflows.
Cloud Run — Pro service and revision workflows with host-runtime integration.
Vertex AI — Pro generative AI and embedding API workflows.

Security

Security services

Secret, identity, and cryptographic API workflows.

Secret Manager — Secret and version lifecycle workflows for local development.
Cloud IAM — IAM policy API workflows for local development.
Cloud KMS — Pro key-management and cryptographic workflows.

Operations

Operations services

Projects, service usage, billing metadata, logs, and metrics.

Cloud Resource Manager — Project lifecycle workflows for local development.
Service Usage — Service enablement and metadata workflows.
Cloud Billing — Billing-account, budget, and cost metadata workflows.
Cloud Logging — Log ingestion, listing, metrics, and sink workflows.
Cloud Monitoring — Time-series, metric-descriptor, alerting, and dashboard workflows.

Storage

Storage services

Buckets, objects, and local file workflows.

Cloud Storage — Bucket and object lifecycle workflows for local SDK and API development.

Analytics

Analytics services

Local data processing, warehouse, and query workflows.

BigQuery — Dataset, table, query, scripting, and API workflows.
Dataproc — Cluster and job workflows with optional local runtime execution.

Built for how GCP teams actually work

Local development

Run bounded workflows on loopback endpoints. Runtime telemetry and other outbound features exist; review privacy controls before relying on offline operation.

Internal automation

The Public Preview License permits individuals and organizations, including for-profit companies, to use LocalCloud in ongoing internal automation and team CI.

BigQuery pipeline testing

Exercise 10 documented DuckDB-backed BigQuery workflows locally, including datasets, tables, queries, scripting, and API profiles.

Repeatable team setup

The CLI can standardize local startup for individual and organization projects within the Public Preview License's non-production boundary.

Terraform validation

Use the documented endpoint-only or transparent-network workflow for qualified resources, then validate against real Google Cloud before production.

Outbound-aware operation

Core local workflows may continue after the image is present, but telemetry, update checks, licensing, IAM, and configured scheduler targets can make outbound requests.

The setup difference

Google's individual emulators

# Pub/Sub
gcloud components install pubsub-emulator
gcloud beta emulators pubsub start --host-port=localhost:24082

# Firestore
gcloud beta emulators firestore start --host-port=localhost:24083

# Spanner
gcloud components install spanner-emulator
gcloud emulators spanner start --host-port=localhost:24085

# These are separate emulator processes.
# This comparison does not claim an exhaustive vendor count.

LocalCloud

curl -fsSL https://local.cloud/install.sh | sh
localcloud doctor
localcloud start
eval "$(localcloud env)"
localcloud console

# Use the URLs and endpoint values returned by the CLI.

Frequently asked questions

What is a GCP emulator?

A GCP emulator implements bounded local workflows for selected Google Cloud APIs. It is not production Google Cloud, so review each service limitation and validate against real Google Cloud before deployment.

Can I use Google Cloud SDKs?

Use the client libraries listed for each documented service workflow after exporting the actual local endpoints with localcloud env. Compatibility varies by service and client profile.

Which services are included?

LocalCloud currently provides 27 available services. Firestore is available but disabled by default, and Google Sheets provides a limited read-only values facade.

Is LocalCloud free?

The proprietary Public Preview License permits individuals and organizations, including for-profit companies, to use LocalCloud free of charge for non-production development, testing, CI, evaluation, and internal pilots.

Can I use LocalCloud in CI?

Yes. The Public Preview License permits non-production internal CI for individuals and organizations, including for-profit companies. Exact runner networking and service-container behavior must still be tested.

Start developing against GCP locally

Use the CLI to start bounded local workflows, then review service evidence and the governing proprietary license.

Read the docs Explore services