PHP vs. Modern Web Technologies: Why It Remains the Top Choice for SaaS Product Development

A Look at Its Strengths in Modern Web Development

In 2025, web development will continue to evolve with new languages and frameworks emerging. However, PHP remains a dominant force despite the rise of JavaScript frameworks like Node.js, React, and Next.js, as well as Python and Ruby on Rails. Many developers question whether PHP is still relevant, but the reality is that PHP has adapted and continues to be a powerful choice for web development, especially when it comes to custom PHP development and custom PHP web development. Businesses looking for scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions still heavily rely on custom PHP web development services to build robust and dynamic websites.

This blog explores why PHP remains a strong competitor and how it compares to other technologies in terms of performance, scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

PHP in 2025: More Relevant Than Ever

PHP has been around for over 25 years and still powers nearly 77% of websites worldwide. While some believe PHP is outdated, the truth is that:

• PHP 8.x has significantly improved performance, security, and scalability.
• It remains the backbone of major CMS platforms like WordPress, Magento, Drupal, and Joomla.
• Leading companies such as Facebook, Wikipedia, and Slack continue to rely on PHP for backend development.

To better understand PHP’s position, let’s compare it to other popular web development technologies.

Comparison: PHP vs. Other Web Development Technologies

Key Takeaways from the Comparison

• PHP 8+ outperforms many competitors in performance and scalability.
• Hosting PHP applications is cheaper and more accessible than hosting Node.js or Python applications.
• Laravel, PHP’s most popular framework, is now as powerful as Node.js for building modern web applications.

Why PHP is Still Be the Boss in 2025

Performance and Efficiency

With the introduction of JIT (Just-In-Time) Compilation in PHP 8, PHP is now almost as fast as Node.js and Python. Combined with OPcache, PHP applications run efficiently with minimal overhead.

Dominance in CMS and E-Commerce Development

• WordPress powers 43% of all websites and is built on PHP.
• Magento and WooCommerce, two of the largest eCommerce platforms, run on PHP.
• Other CMS and eCommerce platforms like Drupal, Joomla, and PrestaShop rely heavily on PHP.

PHP continues to lead because businesses need content-driven websites, and PHP-based CMS platforms offer unmatched flexibility and ease of use.

Strong Frameworks for Web Development

PHP frameworks provide powerful tools for building secure and scalable applications.

• Laravel is modern, secure, and feature-rich, supporting REST APIs, authentication, and caching.
• Symfony is a high-performance framework for enterprise applications.
• CodeIgniter is lightweight and suitable for small projects.

Enhanced Security Features

PHP 8+ has significantly improved security, addressing past vulnerabilities. With built-in security functions like CSRF protection, secure encryption, and input validation, PHP is now one of the safest backend technologies.

Major Companies Still Using PHP in 2025

Many global tech companies continue to rely on PHP for their backend infrastructure.

• Facebook initially built its platform on PHP and still uses a PHP variant (HHVM).
• Wikipedia runs entirely on PHP, handling millions of users daily.
• Slack uses PHP for backend processes and real-time communication.
• Etsy, a high-traffic eCommerce platform, is powered by PHP.

PHP is not just surviving—it remains a strong choice for startups and enterprises alike.

Should You Choose PHP in 2025?

• If you want a fast, scalable, and cost-effective web development solution, PHP is still one of the best choices.
• If you need to build a CMS, eCommerce store, API, or full-stack web application, PHP frameworks offer an efficient development experience.
• PHP 8+ has resolved many of the concerns about security, speed, and maintainability, making it a reliable option for developers and businesses.

PHP continues to evolve and adapt to modern development needs, ensuring its place as one of the most important web technologies in 2025.