Carl Alberto

<p><strong>Uploads Relay</strong> makes local WordPress development easier and lightweight by automatically proxying missing upload files from a remote server. No need to download gigabytes of media just to work on a site locally.</p>
<h4>Features</h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>Proxy Missing Files</strong> — Automatically serve missing upload files from a remote server.</li>
<li><strong>Always Remote Mode</strong> — Rewrite all upload URLs to point to the remote server for the fastest setup.</li>
<li><strong>Optional Local Caching</strong> — Cache proxied files locally so subsequent requests are served from disk.</li>
<li><strong>Security First</strong> — Path traversal protection, host allowlisting, and file extension validation.</li>
<li><strong>Environment Guard</strong> — Only active when WordPress environment type is set to “local”.</li>
<li><strong>Zero Configuration on Remote</strong> — No changes needed on the remote/production server.</li>
</ul>
<h4>How It Works</h4>
<ol>
<li>A visitor or developer requests an upload file (e.g., an image in a post).</li>
<li>If the file does not exist locally, WordPress returns a 404.</li>
<li>The plugin intercepts the 404, fetches the file from the configured remote server, and serves it.</li>
<li>Optionally, the file is cached locally for faster subsequent loads.</li>
</ol>
<h4>Use Cases</h4>
<ul>
<li>Local development of large WordPress sites without syncing media.</li>
<li>Staging environments with partial media libraries.</li>
<li>Quick site clones for debugging or testing.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Requirements</h4>
<ul>
<li>WordPress 6.0 or higher</li>
<li>PHP 7.4 or higher</li>
<li><code>WP_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE</code> must be set to <code>local</code> (the plugin will not function in production environments)</li>
</ul>
<h4>External Service</h4>
<p>This plugin sends HTTP requests to a <strong>remote server that you configure yourself</strong> in order to fetch upload files missing from your local environment. <strong>No requests are made until you explicitly enter a remote URL and enable the proxy in Settings <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Uploads Relay.</strong> By enabling the plugin and providing a remote URL, you consent to these requests being made.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What is sent:</strong> HTTP GET requests for specific media file paths (e.g., <code>/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/photo.jpg</code>).</li>
<li><strong>When it is sent:</strong> Only when a requested upload file does not exist locally, the proxy is enabled, and the environment type is <code>local</code>.</li>
<li><strong>Where it is sent:</strong> Only to the remote server URL you have configured. This is typically your own production or staging server.</li>
<li><strong>No data is collected, stored, or transmitted</strong> to any third-party service, analytics provider, or external server other than the one you configure.</li>
<li><strong>No telemetry, tracking, or usage data</strong> is collected by this plugin.</li>
</ul>
<p>Since the remote server is your own, its terms of service and privacy policy are governed by your own hosting provider.</p>


Uploads Relay for Local Development by Carl Alberto

Proxy missing upload files from a remote server during local development. No need to download the entire uploads folder.

Greg - SiteOrigin

<p>I built this plugin to help ease the transition during a DNS changeover, but you can use it any way you please. It turns your WordPress installation into a very simple proxy server. It fetches content from another URL, caches it and displays it. Requests are cached for 24 hours.</p>
<p>Install the plugin, then head over to Settings > Simple Proxy in your WordPress admin. Enter the URL you want to proxy to and when you’re ready to go, also check the enabled checkbox.</p>
<p>You need to have <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks#Choosing_your_permalink_structure" rel="nofollow ugc">pretty permalinks</a> enabled.</p>
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Simple Proxy

Turns your WordPress installation into a simple caching proxy.

Uploads Relay for Local Development by Carl Alberto vs Simple Proxy