Developer Tools · head to head
ESLint vs PHP
PHP
Web Development
A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ESLint slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome; PHP distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ESLint and PHP actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ESLint
- Statically analysing JavaScript and JSX to find problems before runtimenot PHP
- Automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewritesnot PHP
- Enforcing a consistent code style across a teamnot PHP
- Running as a CI step to block non-conforming codenot PHP
- Writing custom rules for project-specific conventionsnot PHP
PHP
- Server-side web developmentnot ESLint
- Content management systemsnot ESLint
- API backendsnot ESLint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
ESLint
- Slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome
- Complexity in configuration from scratch, particularly for TypeScript support
- Limited built-in TypeScript support, requiring separate parsers and coordination with new TypeScript features
PHP
- Distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- PHP 8.2 lost active support on 31 Dec 2024 and enters full end of life on 31 Dec 2026, with only security fixes since, per php.net/supported-versions.php (Aug 2026)
Pricing, plan by plan
ESLint
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the ESLint review.
PHP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PHP review.
Which should you pick?
Choose ESLint if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment.
Questions people ask
- Is ESLint or PHP better?
- Neither clearly leads. ESLint starts at Free and PHP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ESLint or PHP?
- ESLint starts at Free and PHP at Free.
- Does ESLint or PHP run on more platforms?
- ESLint runs on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment. PHP runs on Web.
- Can I use ESLint for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is ESLint best used for?
- ESLint is most often used for statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime, automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites, enforcing a consistent code style across a team, running as a ci step to block non-conforming code. Of those, statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime and automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites are not what PHP is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ESLint: Does ESLint automatically fix code issues?
Many problems ESLint finds can be automatically fixed via the --fix flag. ESLint fixes are syntax-aware so you won't experience errors introduced by traditional find-and-replace algorithms.
SourcePHP: Is PHP free to use?
Yes, PHP is completely free and open-source software under the PHP Foundation governance. There are no licensing fees or paid tiers.
SourceESLint: How much does ESLint cost?
ESLint is completely free and open-source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. The project accepts voluntary donations from sponsors.
SourcePHP: Does the PHP Foundation offer paid support?
The PHP Foundation accepts voluntary donations to support long-term development, but donations are optional and not required to use PHP.
SourceESLint: Can I write custom ESLint rules?
Yes. You can develop custom rules that work alongside built-in functionality through ESLint's plugin system, allowing complete customization for your project needs.
SourceRelated pages
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- PHP vs Turborepo
- PHP vs Prettier
- PHP vs Deno
- PHP vs Fig
- PHP vs Vite
- PHP vs Harness
- PHP vs Ansible
- PHP vs Buildkite
- PHP vs Argo CD
- PHP vs GitLab CI/CD
- PHP vs HCP Terraform
- PHP vs Helm
- PHP vs Earthly
- PHP vs Eclipse IDE
- PHP vs Moonrepo
- PHP vs Nx Cloud
- PHP vs Pants Build
- PHP vs Django
- PHP vs MySQL
- PHP vs Next.js
- PHP vs Flask
- PHP vs Sass
- PHP vs Remix
- PHP vs npm
- PHP vs SolidStart
- PHP vs Wix Studio
- PHP vs Apache HTTP Server
- PHP vs Bolt.new
- PHP vs .NET
- PHP vs TanStack Start
- PHP vs Alpine.js
- PHP vs Astro
- PHP vs Carrd