How can we install SQL Server Management Studio locally?

The express version of Management Studio, since 2012 Service Pack 1, has been undoubtedly fully functional with absolutely no differences (except you can download it for free instead of finding your licensed media). I would recommend downloading the 2014 version because there is no point in using a version that will be unsupportive sooner. My philosophy is that SSMS should always be >= the highest engine version you need to manage. Anyway, I have found the link by searching - the hint to not jumping through hoops set up by Microsoft marketing or MSDN is to look for the page with ‘download’ in the URL: The next page would ask you download Then, depending on your platform, pick either the 32-bit or 64-bit version, and click Next:

Congrats!! Along with this, you even get handy tips for installation if I needed.

Since a lot of people get confused on how to install JUST SSMS with this installer, here are some other steps you should follow once you launch the extension. First, it will open the installation center. You want Installation > New SQL Server stand-alone [blah blah]...
 After clicking that link a new wizard will launch leaving the installation center open. Leave it open (see the end of this post for why). On the new screen, you may have product updates offered, which you definitely want to select if so (currently this should only happen for 2012 SP1 or 2014 since 2012 SP2 was not affected by Security Bulletin MS14-044).
Next, and this is where most people get confused, you want to choose ‘Perform a new installation’ - even if you are not trying to install an actual instance of the SQL Server database engine.
Then, you want to select both Management Tools options, basic as well as complete. From here you should be good on your own.
Regarding the installation center window above, you should leave the "SQL Server Installation Center" window open during setup, or it will fail with an error like this (the actual folder name is some random GUID-based thing):