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Business Intelligence · head to head

Geckoboard vs PhpStorm

Geckoboard logo

Geckoboard

Business Intelligence

Real-time KPI dashboards

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit GeckoboardFull review
PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit PhpStormFull review

The short version

  • Geckoboard is a real-time dashboard tool.
  • Geckoboard has a free plan, then $79/mo; PhpStorm starts at $24/mo.
  • Only Geckoboard lists real-time Updates; only PhpStorm lists PHP-aware coding assistance.
  • Where Geckoboard falls short: annual billing required; monthly billing not offered.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Geckoboard and PhpStorm actually diverge.

Attributes where Geckoboard and PhpStorm differ
AttributeGeckoboardPhpStorm
Starting priceFree$24/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, TV and console, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools
Founded20102000

Identical on both: pricing model (Subscription).

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 Geckoboard

  • Real-time Updates
  • TV Mode
  • Custom Widgets
  • Data Blending
  • Sharing
  • Salesforce
  • Zendesk
  • Google Analytics

Only in PhpStorm

  • PHP-aware coding assistance
  • Integrated debugger
  • Front-end tooling
  • Database tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and remote deployment

What people use each for

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

Geckoboard

  • TV wall dashboards for office and operations displaysnot PhpStorm
  • Live KPI monitoring for sales and support teamsnot PhpStorm
  • Sharing read-only metrics widely, since viewers are unlimited on every tiernot PhpStorm
  • Alerting when a metric crosses a thresholdnot PhpStorm

PhpStorm

  • Building PHP web applications with Laravel or Symfonynot Geckoboard
  • Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot Geckoboard
  • Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot Geckoboard
  • Managing databases alongside application codenot Geckoboard

Where each one falls short

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

Geckoboard

  • Annual billing required; monthly billing not offered
  • Add-on dashboards cost $24 each
  • Additional editors cost $20 each
  • Additional screens cost $20 each

PhpStorm

  • Requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use
  • Heavier and slower to start than lightweight code editors
  • Some advanced framework-specific tooling requires additional configuration or plugins
  • Renewal pricing rises for lapsed subscriptions after the grace period

Pricing, plan by plan

Geckoboard

Free
  • Essentials$79/mo
    • 2 dashboards
    • 1 editor
    • 1 screen
  • Performance$319/mo
    • 20 dashboards
    • 3 editors
    • 5 screens
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Unlimited dashboards, editors, and screens
    • All Performance features
    • Dedicated support manager

PhpStorm

$24/month
  • Individual$24/mo
    • Personal use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/mo
    • Business use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Volume and renewal discounts

Which should you pick?

Choose Geckoboard if

  • You need real-time updates.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, TV and console, iOS, Android.
  • You also want tv mode.
Geckoboard review

Choose PhpStorm if

  • You need php-aware coding assistance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
PhpStorm review

Questions people ask

Is Geckoboard or PhpStorm better?
Neither clearly leads. Geckoboard starts at Free and PhpStorm at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Geckoboard or PhpStorm?
Geckoboard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Geckoboard and $24/month for PhpStorm.
Does Geckoboard or PhpStorm run on more platforms?
Geckoboard runs on Web, TV and console, iOS, Android. PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Geckoboard for free?
Yes. Geckoboard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PhpStorm starts at $24/month.
What is Geckoboard best used for?
Geckoboard is most often used for tv wall dashboards for office and operations displays, live kpi monitoring for sales and support teams, sharing read-only metrics widely, since viewers are unlimited on every tier, alerting when a metric crosses a threshold. Of those, tv wall dashboards for office and operations displays and live kpi monitoring for sales and support teams are not what PhpStorm is typically brought in for.
What can Geckoboard do that PhpStorm cannot?
Geckoboard covers Real-time Updates, TV Mode, Custom Widgets, Data Blending. PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Geckoboard: How much does Geckoboard cost?

Geckoboard offers Essentials at $79 per month, Performance at $319 per month, and custom-priced Enterprise plans. All plans are billed annually. A 14-day free trial is available.

Source
PhpStorm: How much does PhpStorm cost?

PhpStorm is sold via JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

Source
Geckoboard: Is there an annual billing discount for Geckoboard?

Yes, annual billing provides 20% savings compared to monthly pricing. Pricing is shown for annual billing with VAT not included.

Source
PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.

Source
Geckoboard: What are the add-on costs for additional Geckoboard resources?

Additional dashboards cost $24 each, extra editors cost $20 each, and additional screens cost $20 each. All add-ons are billed with the annual subscription.

Source
PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.

Source
Geckoboard: Does Geckoboard offer discounts for nonprofits?

Yes, Geckoboard offers 20% off any plan for nonprofit organizations.

Source
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