Web Development · head to head
PHP vs Laravel
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: 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; Laravel performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PHP and Laravel 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 PHP
Nothing recorded that Laravel does not also cover.
Only in Laravel
- Eloquent ORM
- Artisan CLI
- Blade templating
- Middleware
- Authentication
- Caching
- Queue system
- Event broadcasting
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PHP
No use cases recorded yet. See the PHP review.
Laravel
- Web application developmentnot PHP
- API developmentnot PHP
- E-commerce platformsnot PHP
- Content managementnot PHP
- Enterprise applicationsnot PHP
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
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
PHP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PHP review.
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 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 PHP or Laravel better?
- Neither clearly leads. PHP 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, PHP or Laravel?
- PHP starts at Free and Laravel at Free.
- Does PHP or Laravel run on more platforms?
- PHP runs on Web. Laravel runs on Web, CLI.
- Can I use PHP for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can PHP do that Laravel 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.
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.
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.
Source