Laravel vs. other PHP Frameworks

Did you know there are over 40 PHP frameworks available today? According to W3Techs, 77.5% of all websites using server-side scripting rely on PHP. With such dominance, picking the right PHP framework is a crucial decision for developers and businesses.

If you’re here, you’re likely considering Laravel as your go-to PHP framework for your next project. But is it the ultimate choice among the popular PHP frameworks?

Let’s dive in and find out how it compares to other PHP frameworks!

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What is a PHP Framework?

A PHP framework is a comprehensive platform with core libraries and tools to streamline the web development lifecycle. With pre-coded functions, developers can create captivating web apps with ease.

The frameworks support database operations and design patterns and come with reliability testing features. They’re customizable, so web developers can use existing code or write their own, boosting flexibility and efficiency. Even seasoned developers find value in these frameworks since they encourage best practices and minimize coding errors.

But, if you don’t want to learn all the technicalities of PHP web applications, you can always outsource your project. Here’s our blog about it: Top 5 Benefits of Hiring a PHP Developer

What is Laravel?

Laravel is popular for web development in the PHP world. Created in 2011 by Taylor Otwell, it follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. It has an expressive and elegant syntax, an active community of developers, and robust features and functionality.

Read more about it in detail in our blog: What is Laravel?

The primary use case for Laravel is building dynamic web applications and delivering APIs. It can also be used for:

E-commerce Platforms: Laravel is favored for e-commerce due to its robust features and ease of use, with packages like Laravel Cashier for billing.
Content Management Systems (CMS): Developers use Laravel to create custom CMS solutions, helping clients manage website content easily.
Enterprise Applications: Laravel’s modular architecture fits large enterprise applications with complex needs.
Startups and MVPs: Its rapid development and features make Laravel ideal for MVPs and prototypes.
Authentication and Authorization Systems: Laravel includes a built-in system to simplify user authentication and authorization.
Task Scheduling and Job Queues: Laravel’s systems automate tasks and manage background processing with tools like Redis or Beanstalkd.

Laravel vs. Other Frameworks

Even with its popularity, Laravel may not be a fit for your web development projects.

Other PHP frameworks can serve better in other contexts. To help you choose, let’s compare Laravel with some of the popular PHP frameworks:

1. Symfony

Symfony, developed by Sensio Labs, is an extensive PHP MVC framework. With an event-driven architecture, it allows developers to extend functionality through events and listeners.

As the only framework that truly embraces PHP’s legacy, Symfony is perfect for scalable websites and apps. It’s a favorite among developers and one of the best PHP frameworks out there.

Laravel and Symfony are almost alike, but consider some of their factors:

Architecture: Laravel and Symfony are MVC frameworks, but Symfony offers a modular, component-based structure for more flexible application assembly.
Learning Curve: Symfony has a steeper learning curve due to its detailed documentation, while Laravel is known for its beginner-friendly approach.
Performance: Laravel offers strong performance for most apps, while Symfony excels in scenarios needing fine-tuning, offering reusable components and a methodology for advanced web applications.

In Laravel vs Symfony: Symfony is ideal for large-scale applications requiring scalability and customization, while Laravel is great for quickly developing apps, especially for startups or projects with tight deadlines.

2. CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is an open-source PHP web application framework known for building dynamic websites. It’s lightweight and easy to use, with minimal setup required, making it the most accessible PHP framework out there.

With its simple, intuitive interface, CodeIgniter allows developers to get up and running quickly. It features multiple caching options for faster deployment and offers a comprehensive library of “helper” functions to make development even smoother.

Laravel and CodeIgniter differ in these factors:

Scalability: Laravel is the best PHP framework for scalability compared to CodeIgniter, especially for complex applications, due to its robust architecture and support for modern practices.
Database Support: Both frameworks support many databases, but Laravel’s Eloquent ORM offers a more advanced and intuitive database interaction than CodeIgniter’s ActiveRecord.
Ease of Use: CodeIgniter is simple and easy to use, making it ideal for small projects or developers new to PHP frameworks.

In Laravel vs CodeIgniter: If you’re working on a small to medium project and want something quick and easy to implement, CodeIgniter is a great pick. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with a larger application that needs to be scalable and maintainable, with features like ORM and CLI, go with Laravel.

3. Yii Framework

Yii, one of the oldest PHP frameworks, was created in 2008. Named “Yes It Is,” Yii offers a minimalistic approach to niche website development, following the MVC design paradigm and the DRY principle.

Yii is an Object-Oriented PHP framework that supports XHTML compliance and includes tools for optimizing website performance. It’s ideal for projects requiring an understanding of inheritance and polymorphism. It also integrates seamlessly with jQuery and AJAX, adding to its versatility.

Between Laravel and Yii, here are the factors to consider:

Performance: Yii is often faster than Laravel due to its lightweight nature and efficient caching.
Security Features: Yii focuses on security with built-in features like XSS and SQL injection prevention, as well as authentication mechanisms.
Extension Libraries: Yii offers a vast collection of PHP libraries (extensions) easily integrated into applications, enhancing productivity.
Developer Productivity: Laravel provides a streamlined experience with its expressive syntax and tools like Artisan CLI, boosting productivity.

In Laravel vs Yii framework: Yii has an active community and comprehensive documentation for projects prioritizing performance and security, like high-traffic sites or apps with sensitive data. Laravel suits projects needing quick development, easy syntax, and a rich package ecosystem.

4. CakePHP

CakePHP is a powerful, open-source web framework built with PHP. Inspired by Ruby on Rails, it follows the MVC design pattern and is popular for its rapid application development (RAD) capabilities. This framework is a favorite among developers for creating apps quickly and efficiently.

Even if you’re not a developer, CakePHP is designed to be user-friendly, with many extensions that automate tasks and save time. It’s perfect for both beginners and experienced developers looking to streamline their projects.

When deciding between Laravel and CakePHP, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Performance: CakePHP uses caching, and Laravel uses queue management and database optimization to enhance performance, both supporting horizontal scaling.
Scalability: CakePHP is ideal for small-scale projects, while Laravel suits complex, large-scale apps with features like widgets and multi-language support.
Accessibility: Both frameworks have extensive resources. CakePHP is easier to learn, while Laravel requires experimentation and community support for troubleshooting during the development process.
Security: Both offer strong security, with CakePHP preventing SQL injections and CSRF attacks and Laravel including authentication, CSRF, and SQL injection protections.

In Laravel vs CakePHP: Laravel is better suited for developing complex applications rapidly, while CakePHP works well for simple apps or projects with tight deadlines. Whichever framework you choose, both offer secure and efficient solutions for web development in PHP.

5. Zend Framework

Zend is a flexible, object-oriented framework that offers web developers the ability to customize and manage every feature effortlessly. It’s perfect for creating attractive, user-centric websites.

Now known as ‘The Laminas Project,’ Zend has evolved into an open-source, enterprise-ready PHP framework with independent packages and modules. Plus, debugging tools are available on the Zend Server, perfectly compatible with Zend web applications.

In Laravel and Zend, here’s what you should know:

Maturity: Both frameworks are mature in the market, with extensive documentation and community support.
Development Philosophy: Laravel follows a convention over the configuration principle, while Zend offers more flexibility for developers to customize their application structure.
Ease of Use: While both require technical knowledge, Laravel is easier to learn and implement than Zend.

In Laravel vs Zend framework: Laravel is well-suited for medium to large-scale projects, while Zend’s robust features are ideal for enterprise-level applications. Both offer powerful solutions for web development in PHP and have a loyal following among developers.

Should You Outsource PHP Development?

PHP web application development is a popular choice for businesses. But, not every company has in-house expertise or resources to handle the complicated process of developing a complex website or application.

So, should you just outsource a PHP development team? Here are some signs that your business can benefit from outsourcing PHP development:

You want to save money: Outsourcing can be more cost-effective than hiring and training new developers or maintaining an in-house team. Plus, many outsourcing companies offer competitive pricing for their services.
You have a deadline: With a dedicated team of experts working on your project, you can expect faster delivery times and launch your website or application sooner.
You don’t have access to the latest technologies: Outsourcing companies stay updated with the latest technologies and tools and can integrate them into your project for a more modern and efficient solution.
You need constant maintenance and support: Outsourcing companies often provide ongoing maintenance and support services, freeing up your team to focus on other tasks.

Get Web Development Services from Startechup!

Whether you want to use Laravel or other PHP frameworks for your web development project, Startechup is an offshore web development company you can trust.

Our team of experienced developers has expertise in developing web applications using various PHP frameworks.

We offer end-to-end services, from planning and development to testing and deployment, ensuring your business gets a fully functional and high-performance web application.