PHP Frameworks in 2023: check out the potential uses of PHP frameworks, the popularity of PHP and more. Get to know more from Bluebird!
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I have put together a list of the most popular PHP frameworks for you. I hope this description is short, clear, and gives you enough information to be very useful to you. Also, I've checked the popularity rate of PHP frameworks at Google Trends, and the popularity index on Tiobe. I guess, you'll be a bit surprised.
At the end of the blog post, you can find more information that can help you to get PHP developers.
Let's get into it!
Popularity of PHP & PHP Frameworks
I've check 2 things about PHP:
- 1Popularity of PHP Frameworks: Using Google Trends I've managed to get clear data about this. To be accurate, the numbers on the chart represent search interest based on Google data. Yep, by far the most popular PHP framework is Laravel.
- 2The popularity of PHP among other programming languages: The TIOBE index is a trusted indicator of the popularity of programming languages. As you can see, the popularity of PHP is falling year after year.


Most Popular PHP Frameworks
PHP Framework | Main area of use | Main strength | Brief Description | Best Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Web Application Development | Elegant Syntax | Laravel is a powerful framework with expressive syntax. | Artisan CLI, ORM, Routing, Caching, Robust Ecosystem |
![]() | Web Application Development | Flexibility and Modularity | Symfony is a highly flexible PHP framework known for its modularity. | Bundles, Component-based architecture, Testing, Caching, CLI |
![]() | Web Application Development | Lightweight and Easy to Use | CodeIgniter is a lightweight framework with a small footprint. | MVC architecture, Active Record, Caching, Security, Error Handling |
![]() | Web Application Development | Extensibility and Flexibility | Zend Framework offers a high level of flexibility and extensibility. | Modularity, MVC components, Database abstraction, Caching, Authentication |
![]() | Web Application Development | Performance and Security | Yii is a high-performance PHP framework with strong security features. | MVC architecture, Gii Code Generator, Caching, RBAC, Error Handling |
![]() | Web Application Development | Rapid Application Development | CakePHP is a framework that enables rapid development of web applications. | ORM, MVC architecture, Caching, Authentication, CLI |
![]() | Microframework | Lightweight and Minimalistic | Slim is a lightweight microframework ideal for small projects. | Routing, Middleware, Dependency Injection, Templating, Error Handling |
![]() | Web Application Development | Speed and Performance | Phalcon is a high-performance framework implemented as a C-extension. | MVC architecture, ORM, Caching, Asset Management, Security |
![]() | Web Application Development | Modular and Secure | FuelPHP is a modular PHP framework that focuses on security. | ORM, HMVC architecture, Caching, Validation, Security |
![]() | Web Application Development | Lightweight and Easy to Learn | Fat-Free Framework is a lightweight PHP microframework with a small learning curve. | Routing, Caching, Template Engine, ORM, Authentication |
![]() | Web Application Development | Fast and Secure | PHPixie is a lightweight framework designed for high performance. | HMVC architecture, ORM, Caching, Security, Extensibility |
If You Need PHP Developers
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Pay only for approved engineering days, at the previously agreed daily rate, and work with our colleagues in US/EU timezone.