Web Development · head to head
Laravel vs PHP
PHP
Web Development
A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Laravel performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks; 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 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Laravel and PHP actually diverge.
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 Laravel
- Eloquent ORM
- Artisan CLI
- Blade templating
- Middleware
- Authentication
- Caching
- Queue system
- Event broadcasting
Only in PHP
Nothing recorded that Laravel does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Laravel
- Web application developmentnot PHP
- API developmentnot PHP
- E-commerce platformsnot PHP
- Content managementnot PHP
- Enterprise applicationsnot PHP
PHP
- Server-side web developmentnot Laravel
- Content management systemsnot Laravel
- API backendsnot Laravel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
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
PHP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PHP review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Laravel if
- You need eloquent orm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, CLI.
- You also want artisan cli.
Questions people ask
- Is Laravel or PHP better?
- Neither clearly leads. Laravel 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, Laravel or PHP?
- Laravel starts at Free and PHP at Free.
- Does Laravel or PHP run on more platforms?
- Laravel runs on Web, CLI. PHP runs on Web.
- Can I use Laravel for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Laravel best used for?
- Laravel is most often used for web application development, api development, e-commerce platforms, content management. Of those, web application development and api development are not what PHP is typically brought in for.
- What can Laravel do that PHP cannot?
- Laravel covers Eloquent ORM, Artisan CLI, Blade templating, Middleware.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
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.
SourceLaravel: 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.
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.
SourceLaravel: 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.
SourceLaravel: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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