PhpStormvs
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code: A free editor with PHP extensions offering similar core functionality at no cost.
PhpStorm
JetBrains IDE for PHP web development
As of 29 August 2026, PhpStorm starts at $24/month. A PHP IDE from JetBrains with smart coding assistance, refactoring, debugging, and framework support. Softwr lists it under Developer Tools. PhpStorm is made by JetBrains, launched in 2000, available on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Overview
What PhpStorm does
PhpStorm is an integrated development environment from JetBrains designed for PHP developers. It provides intelligent code completion, refactoring, on-the-fly error detection, an integrated debugger with Xdebug and Zend Debugger support, and built-in tools for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony. It is distributed through the JetBrains Toolbox subscription.
What people use it 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
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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.
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of PhpStorm
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- PhpStormvsSublime Text
Sublime Text: A lightweight editor preferred by developers who want a faster, simpler tool than a full IDE.
Pricing
What PhpStorm costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
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
Capabilities
Features
PHP-aware coding assistance
Smart completion, navigation, and inspections tailored to PHP and popular frameworks.
Integrated debugger
Zero-configuration debugging with Xdebug and Zend Debugger.
Front-end tooling
Built-in support for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript.
Database tools
Query and manage databases directly within the IDE.
Version control integration
Built-in Git, GitHub, and other VCS support with visual diff tools.
Docker and remote deployment
Run and deploy PHP applications in Docker containers or remote servers.
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceIs there a free trial?
JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.
SourceWhat platforms does PhpStorm support?
PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.
SourceBehind it
Who makes PhpStorm
- Company
- JetBrains
- Based in
- Prague, Czech Republic
Keep looking
Where to go from PhpStorm
- PhpStorm alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- PhpStorm pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- PhpStorm badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Developer Tools softwareThe full category
- Best Developer Tools softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Developer Tools software for
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for PhpStorm, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on PhpStorm
PhpStorm alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
PhpStorm pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare PhpStorm
Put it head to head with anything we hold
PhpStorm badge
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