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Django vs Laravel

Django logo

Django

Web Development

The web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Laravel logo

Laravel

Web Development

The PHP framework for web artisans

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Django does not fully support asynchronous database access; Laravel performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks
  • They diverge on capability: Django covers Model-View-Template (MVT), Laravel covers Eloquent ORM.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Django and Laravel actually diverge.

Attributes where Django and Laravel differ
AttributeDjangoLaravel
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWeb, CLI
Founded20052011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Django

  • Model-View-Template (MVT)
  • Object-relational mapping
  • Automatic admin interface
  • URL routing
  • Template engine
  • Form handling
  • Authentication system
  • Internationalization

Only in Laravel

  • Eloquent ORM
  • Artisan CLI
  • Blade templating
  • Middleware
  • Authentication
  • Caching
  • Queue system
  • Event broadcasting

Both cover

  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Redis
  • CSRF protection

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Django

  • Web application development
  • Content management systemsnot Laravel
  • E-commerce platforms
  • API development
  • News websitesnot Laravel
  • Social networksnot Laravel

Laravel

  • Web application development
  • API development
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Content managementnot Django
  • Enterprise applicationsnot Django

Both are used for web application development, e-commerce platforms, api development, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Django

  • Does not fully support asynchronous database access
  • Monolithic design can feel restrictive for small-scale or lightweight applications
  • Batteries-included approach adds overhead if features are not needed
  • Slower framework evolution due to backward compatibility requirements

Laravel

  • Performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks
  • Dependency management is complex with many interdependent packages requiring careful version coordination

Pricing, plan by plan

Django

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full web framework
    • Admin interface
    • ORM system

Laravel

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full framework
    • Artisan CLI
    • Eloquent ORM
  • Laravel Forge$12/month
    • Server management
    • Deployment automation
    • SSL certificates
  • Laravel Vapor$39/month
    • Serverless deployment
    • Auto-scaling
    • AWS integration

Which should you pick?

Choose Django if

  • You need model-view-template (mvt).
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want object-relational mapping.
Django review

Choose Laravel if

  • You need eloquent orm.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, CLI.
  • You also want artisan cli.
Laravel review

Questions people ask

Is Django or Laravel better?
Neither clearly leads. Django starts at Free and Laravel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Django or Laravel?
Django starts at Free and Laravel at Free.
Does Django or Laravel run on more platforms?
Django runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Laravel runs on Web, CLI.
Can I use Django for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Django best used for?
Django is most often used for web application development, content management systems, e-commerce platforms, api development. Of those, content management systems and news websites are not what Laravel is typically brought in for.
What can Django do that Laravel cannot?
Django covers Model-View-Template (MVT), Object-relational mapping, Automatic admin interface, URL routing. Laravel covers Eloquent ORM, Artisan CLI, Blade templating, Middleware. Both handle PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, CSRF protection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Django: What databases does Django support?

Django natively supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite3, and Oracle databases through its ORM, allowing developers to switch databases without rewriting code.

Source
Laravel: Is Laravel free and open source?

Yes, Laravel is completely free and open source under the MIT License. You can use, modify, and distribute it without restrictions.

Source
Django: How does Django handle database schema changes?

Django includes a built-in migration system. Developers use makemigrations to create migration files and migrate to apply changes to the database schema.

Source
Laravel: What are the key features Laravel provides?

Laravel includes an ORM (Eloquent), database migrations, authentication, authorization, caching, queues, email, testing, and deployment tools. It supports multiple databases and provides starter kits for full-stack and API development.

Source
Django: Does Django support asynchronous programming?

Django added basic async/await support, but full asynchronous database access remains limited. The framework does not fully support asynchronous programming, which can be a limitation for real-time applications.

Source
Laravel: Can I deploy Laravel on any server?

Yes, Laravel can be deployed on any PHP server. You can use shared hosting, VPS, or managed platforms like Laravel Cloud, which starts at $5/month with auto-scaling and git-like branching.

Source
Django: Is Django free and open source?

Yes, Django is free and open-source software maintained by the Django Software Foundation, founded in June 2008.

Source
Laravel: Does Laravel have testing and local development tools?

Yes, Laravel includes Dusk for browser testing, PHPUnit for unit tests, and Herd (free for basic use) for local development environments with built-in PHP, Composer, and Nginx support.

Source
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