PHP vs Laravel

Choosing between PHP and Laravel depends on your project requirements, team expertise, and target platform. PHP is ideal for web applications, REST APIs, form processors, and database-driven backends, while Laravel excels at full-stack web apps, CRUD systems, admin panels, RESTful APIs, and e-commerce backends. Both are fully supported in LoomCode AI with live preview and one-click deployment.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	PHP	Laravel
Category	Backend	Backend
Primary Libraries	PHP 8.2, Composer, MySQL, PDO	Laravel 11, Eloquent ORM, Blade, Artisan
Learning Curve	beginner	intermediate
Ideal For	web applications, REST APIs, form processors, and database-driven backends	full-stack web apps, CRUD systems, admin panels, RESTful APIs, and e-commerce backends
Ecosystem	PHP powers over 75% of websites on the internet, including WordPress, Wikipedia, and Facebook.	Laravel is the most popular PHP framework, known for its elegant syntax and developer-friendly tooling.
Best App Types	APIs, CRUD apps, admin panels	APIs, CRUD apps, admin panels
Styling	Built-in / Blade	Built-in / Blade
Database Support	Built-in (MySQL, SQLite)	Built-in (MySQL, SQLite)
Live Preview
AI Code Generation
Deploy & Share

PHP

beginner

PHP 8.2+ with Composer and MySQL support

Ideal for: web applications, REST APIs, form processors, and database-driven backends

Explore PHP template

Laravel

intermediate

Laravel 11+ with Eloquent, Blade, and Artisan

Ideal for: full-stack web apps, CRUD systems, admin panels, RESTful APIs, and e-commerce backends

Explore Laravel template

Same Prompt, Different Output

Here is what happens when you give the same prompt to PHP and Laravel in LoomCode AI:

Prompt

Build a contact form with name, email, message, and subject fields that validates input and stores submissions

PHP Output

PHP generates a single PHP file handling both form display and POST processing. Validation uses filter_var and manual checks. Data is stored with PDO prepared statements.

Laravel Output

Laravel generates a Blade template, FormRequest validation class, Controller, and Eloquent model with migration. Validation rules are declarative and automatically generate error messages. Same form, different code structure reflecting Laravel's conventions.

When to Choose PHP

PHP powers over 75% of websites on the internet, including WordPress, Wikipedia, and Facebook. Its low hosting costs, vast documentation, and simple deployment model make it a practical choice for web applications and APIs.

Runs on virtually any web hosting provider with zero configuration
Built-in MySQL and PDO database support for data-driven applications
Mature Composer ecosystem with thousands of production-ready packages
Simple deployment — upload files and they run, no build step needed
PHP 8.2+ includes modern features like enums, fibers, and readonly properties

Build with PHP

When to Choose Laravel

Laravel is the most popular PHP framework, known for its elegant syntax and developer-friendly tooling. With built-in support for queues, events, broadcasting, and testing, it provides everything needed for enterprise-grade applications.

Eloquent ORM provides elegant, expressive database queries and relationships
Blade templating engine with component support for reusable UI patterns
Built-in authentication, authorization, and CSRF protection out of the box
Artisan CLI rapidly scaffolds controllers, models, migrations, and tests
Robust middleware and routing system for clean, maintainable code architecture

Build with Laravel

The Verdict

If you need web applications, REST APIs, form processors, and database-driven backends, PHP is the stronger choice with its runs on virtually any web hosting provider with zero configuration. If your project requires full-stack web apps, CRUD systems, admin panels, RESTful APIs, and e-commerce backends, Laravel's eloquent orm provides elegant, expressive database queries and relationships gives it the edge. With LoomCode AI, you can try both in seconds — describe your app idea and compare the generated code side by side.

Try Both Frameworks

Popular Apps to Build with Both

Todo App

A task management app with add, edit, delete, and status tracking

With PHP →With Laravel →

Note Taking App

A notes app with rich text editing, categories, and search

With PHP →With Laravel →

Habit Tracker

A daily habit tracking app with streaks and progress visualization

With PHP →With Laravel →

Bookmark Manager

A bookmark organizer with folders, tags, and search

With PHP →With Laravel →

Invoice Generator

An invoice creation tool with line items, calculations, and PDF-style output

With PHP →With Laravel →

Inventory Management

A stock management system with products, quantities, and alerts

With PHP →With Laravel →

Which Should You Choose?

Choose PHP if:

✓Runs on virtually any web hosting provider with zero configuration
✓Built-in MySQL and PDO database support for data-driven applications
✓Mature Composer ecosystem with thousands of production-ready packages

Choose Laravel if:

✓Eloquent ORM provides elegant, expressive database queries and relationships
✓Blade templating engine with component support for reusable UI patterns
✓Built-in authentication, authorization, and CSRF protection out of the box

Try both in LoomCode AI — describe your app once and generate it in PHP and Laravel to compare the results side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use PHP or Laravel for my project?

The right choice depends on your project requirements. PHP is ideal for web applications, REST APIs, form processors, and database-driven backends. Laravel excels at full-stack web apps, CRUD systems, admin panels, RESTful APIs, and e-commerce backends. If you're building in the same domain, consider team expertise and learning curve — PHP has a beginner learning curve while Laravel is intermediate. With LoomCode AI, you can generate working code in both frameworks and compare the output side by side.

Can I switch between PHP and Laravel in LoomCode AI?

Yes. LoomCode AI supports both PHP and Laravel in the same session. You can describe your app idea once and generate it in each framework, then compare the results. Switch frameworks at any time — no need to start over. Both support live preview and one-click deployment.

Which framework generates better code with AI?

Both PHP and Laravel produce high-quality AI-generated code in LoomCode AI. PHP tends to leverage its runs on virtually any web hosting provider with zero configuration, while Laravel benefits from eloquent orm provides elegant, expressive database queries and relationships. The best output depends on your prompt — be specific about your requirements. Try the same prompt in both frameworks to see which fits your use case better.

Is PHP or Laravel easier to learn?

PHP has a beginner learning curve, and Laravel has a intermediate learning curve. PHP is generally considered more approachable. Using LoomCode AI to generate working examples in either framework can accelerate your learning — you'll see real, runnable code that you can modify and experiment with.

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