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Developer Tools · head to head

PhpStorm vs ProfitWell

PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit PhpStormFull review
ProfitWell logo

ProfitWell

Business Intelligence

Revenue analytics by Paddle

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ProfitWellFull review

The short version

  • ProfitWell is free; PhpStorm starts at $24/mo.
  • Only PhpStorm lists PHP-aware coding assistance; only ProfitWell lists free Metrics.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Where ProfitWell falls short: ProfitWell is now part of Paddle and its pricing page redirects to paddle.com, so it is no longer sold or priced independently.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PhpStorm and ProfitWell actually diverge.

Attributes where PhpStorm and ProfitWell differ
AttributePhpStormProfitWell
Starting price$24/monthFree
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, API
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence
Founded20002012

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 PhpStorm

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

Only in ProfitWell

  • Free Metrics
  • Churn Reduction
  • Price Optimization
  • Revenue Recognition
  • Benchmarking
  • Stripe
  • Chargebee
  • Recurly

What people use each for

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

PhpStorm

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

ProfitWell

  • Subscription revenue metrics and churn reportingnot PhpStorm
  • Recovering failed payments and reducing involuntary churnnot PhpStorm

Where each one falls short

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

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

ProfitWell

  • ProfitWell is now part of Paddle and its pricing page redirects to paddle.com, so it is no longer sold or priced independently
  • Reaching any figure requires going through Paddle's own pricing rather than a ProfitWell rate card

Pricing, plan by plan

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

ProfitWell

Free
  • Free MetricsFree
    • Revenue Metrics
    • Dashboards
    • Basic Reports
  • RetainFree
    • Churn Reduction
    • Payment Recovery
    • Custom Pricing

Which should you pick?

Choose PhpStorm if

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

Choose ProfitWell if

  • You need free metrics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want churn reduction.
ProfitWell review

Questions people ask

Is PhpStorm or ProfitWell better?
Neither clearly leads. PhpStorm starts at $24/month and ProfitWell at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PhpStorm or ProfitWell?
ProfitWell has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24/month for PhpStorm and Free for ProfitWell.
Does PhpStorm or ProfitWell run on more platforms?
PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. ProfitWell runs on Web, API.
Can I use ProfitWell for free?
Yes. ProfitWell has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PhpStorm starts at $24/month.
What is PhpStorm best used for?
PhpStorm is most often used for building php web applications with laravel or symfony, debugging php code with xdebug, working across php, html, css, and javascript in one project, managing databases alongside application code. Of those, building php web applications with laravel or symfony and debugging php code with xdebug are not what ProfitWell is typically brought in for.
What can PhpStorm do that ProfitWell cannot?
PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools. ProfitWell covers Free Metrics, Churn Reduction, Price Optimization, Revenue Recognition.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
ProfitWell: Is ProfitWell still available as a standalone product?

ProfitWell has been integrated into Paddle. The ProfitWell Metrics analytics tool is now part of Paddle's suite and is available at no cost.

Source
PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

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

Source
ProfitWell: What is Paddle's standard pricing model?

Paddle charges 5% plus 50 cents per checkout transaction on its standard pay-as-you-go plan. Custom pricing is available for products under $10 or for customers requiring invoicing.

Source
PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

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

Source
ProfitWell: What is included in Paddle's all-inclusive pricing?

Paddle's standard plan includes tax and compliance, unified billing, churn prevention tools, fraud protection, and 24/7 customer support. No separate monthly or hidden fees apply.

Source
ProfitWell: What is the minimum spend required for Paddle's enterprise plan?

Paddle offers custom enterprise pricing with negotiated rates for scaling and established businesses. Customers receive tailored pricing aligned with their business model and access to premium support and advisory services.

Source
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