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Developer Tools · head to head

PhpStorm vs Recraft

PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

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

Recraft

Design

AI image and vector generation for design teams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit RecraftFull review

The short version

  • Recraft is free; PhpStorm starts at $24/mo.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Where Recraft falls short: free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PhpStorm and Recraft actually diverge.

Attributes where PhpStorm and Recraft differ
AttributePhpStormRecraft
Starting price$24/monthFree
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Not yet recorded: founded for Recraft.

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 Recraft

Nothing recorded that PhpStorm does not also cover.

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 Recraft
  • Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot Recraft
  • Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot Recraft
  • Managing databases alongside application codenot Recraft

Recraft

  • AI-powered image generation and design creationnot PhpStorm
  • Commercial-licensed asset creation for businessesnot 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

Recraft

  • Free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan
  • Subscription credits reset every month and do not carry over, unlike separately purchased top-up credits which never expire
  • Refunds are only considered within 30 days and only if fewer than 30 credits have been used
  • Annual billing is required to get the 20% discount over paying monthly

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

Recraft

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Recraft review.

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 Recraft if

  • You want to start without paying.
Recraft review

Questions people ask

Is PhpStorm or Recraft better?
Neither clearly leads. PhpStorm starts at $24/month and Recraft at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PhpStorm or Recraft?
Recraft has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24/month for PhpStorm and Free for Recraft.
Does PhpStorm or Recraft run on more platforms?
PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Recraft runs on Web.
Can I use Recraft for free?
Yes. Recraft 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 Recraft is typically brought in for.
What can PhpStorm do that Recraft cannot?
PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.

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
Recraft: Is Recraft free?

Recraft offers a free plan where images generated are publicly visible in the community gallery and not licensed for commercial use. Paid plans (Basic, Pro, Teams) unlock full ownership and commercial rights but specific prices are not published.

Source
PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

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

Source
Recraft: How does Recraft's credit system work?

Recraft charges based on monthly credit allocation included with each plan. Additional top-up credits can be purchased separately and never expire, used automatically after monthly credits run out.

Source
PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

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

Source
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