PHP is more famous Website Development Technologies among Web Programmers. More than 50% Website or Web Application using or developed in PHP Frameworks.

The framework really helps in PHP development as compare core development, the framework provides every web developer base skeleton or foundation for build strong web application.

Every Framework has own Advantages and Disadvantages based on its feature and coding method.

Top 20 PHP Frameworks use in 2025

In this post we are trying to briefly the Best PHP Frameworks based on easy for installation and coding, most acceptable to the online community or help-desk, Code reference availability on internet,  inbuilt feature helps in development, stability, maintainability, and upgradeability in Web Development. Following are Top PHP Frameworks Every Developer Should Master.

In further article, we will cover following developer questions:

• What are the best php framework available?
• Which PHP Framework in fatest?
• Is Codeignitor good for large application in 2025?
• What are the most widely used PHP frameworks?
• What are the best PHP frameworks in India?
• Top 20 php frameworks for beginners
• Popular PHP frameworks in 2025
• Best PHP Frameworks and Trends in 2025

Lets go ahead and checkout all famous php frameworks:

1. Laravel

Laravel The PHP Framework for Web Artisans and one of the best PHP frameworks in 2025. Laravel Framework is the powerful feature like Restful routing, Composer Powered, Beautiful inbuilt templating (Blade template), Eloquent ORM, Artisan CLI and expressive syntax etc.

Initial Release: Laravel 1 on June 2011
Developer: Taylor Otwell
Current Version: 12.3.0 on 18 March 2025

2. Yii Framework

Yii Framework is fast, secure, stable, high-performance PHP framework for developing Web 2.0 applications. Yii2 provided the basis and advanced application installation based on requirement.

Yii Framework comes with Rich Feature Layered caching scheme, Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern, Database Access Objects (DAO)/ Active Record, I18N/L10N, Role-based access and authentication, Gii (automatic code generation) code generator module, AJAX-enabled widgets, Detailed documentation, Eager & Lazy Loading, Easily integrated third-party code and system etc. Yii is ideal framework for developing social media, enterprises web application, SAAS, PAAS etc.

Initial Release: Yii 1 on 03 December 2008
Developer: Qiang Xue
Latest Version: 2.0.52 on 12 February 2025

3. Zend Framework (Laminas)

No doubt about Zend Framework in this list and top 3 possible because it is flexible architecture and widely acceptable for enterprises web application development.

It’s worth noting that in 2018, the Zend Framework project underwent a major change. The project transitioned into the Laminas Project, which is now known as Laminas. Laminas is an evolution of Zend Framework and continues to offer a set of components for building PHP applications.

Initial Release: ZF Library on 03 March 2006
Developer: Zend, Linux Foundation

4. CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is one of simple, powerful PHP framework. According to PHP creator Rasmus Lerdorf “CodeIgniter is faster, lighter and the least like a framework.”

It comes with notable features such as Lightweight and Fast, MVC Architecture, Built-in Security, Easy Configuration, Libraries and Helpers with Easy Learning Curve.

Initial Release: CI 1.0 on 28 February 2006
Developer: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Codeigniter Foundation
Latest Version: 4.6.0 on 19 January 2024

5. CakePHP

Cakephp is one of oldest PHP Framework build by Polish programmer Michal Tatarynowicz inspiring by Ruby on Rails in April 2005. Scratch, Hot Scripts, and Croogo CMS made in CakePHP.

Initial Release: CakePHP 1.0 on April 2005
Developer: Larry Masters
Latest Version: 5.1.5 on 16 January 2025

It comes with notable features such as Convention over Configuration, Built-in ORM, Scaffolding and Extensive Caching.

6. Symfony

Symfony Framework is the focus to set of reusable PHP Components for Enterprises Web Projects. Drupal, phpBB, Laravel, OROCRM and PIWIK etc. using Symfony.

Initial Release: 22 October 2005
Developer: SensioLabs SAS
Latest Version: 7.2.0 on 29 November 2024

Symfony offers notable features such as Component-Based Architecture, Twig Templating Engine, Robust Security, Powerful Routing System and Testing and Debugging Tools.

7. Phalcon

Phalcon is open source, high-performance web application framework for PHP. It implemented C extension for optimum performance to the goal of handle more requests per second than other PHP Frameworks. Phalcon has all the feature which might make it No. 1 PHP Framework as Compare Laravel.

Phalcon offers features High Performance, Low Overhead with C extension, MVC Architecture, Extensive ORM and Rich Ecosystem.

Initial Release: 14 November 2012
Developer: Andres Gutierrez
Latest Version: 5.8.0 on 09 July 2024

8. FuelPHP

FuelPHP is open source HMVC PHP Framework.

Initial Release: 2.0 alpha on 01 January 2014
Developer: Andres Gutierrez
Latest Version: 1.0.9 on 28 December 2021

9. Kohana

Kohana is easy, lightweight and easy to use HMVC PHP Framework.

10. Prado

Prado name acronym from “PHP Rapid Application Development Object-oriented”. It is started by Qiang Xue inspired by Apache Tapestry. Based on Prado experience Qiang Xue developed Yii Framework. Prado first initial release was in June 2004.

11. Slim

Slim is lightweight micro PHP framework help for quick write simple application and APIs.

12. Flight

Another fast, extensive micro PHP framework, simple and easy to use PHP Framework for build Restful PHP Web Applications. Running Flight requires minimum PHP 5.3 or greater version.

13. Webasyst

Webasyst is help for teamwork, collaborate, building website and stores.

14. PHPixie

New lightweight PHP Framework and a fork of Kohana Framework.

15. Aura

Aura PHP Framework provides lightweight, well-tested, decoupled libraries and standards-compliant.

16. Medoo

Medoo is one of the lightest database frameworks.

17. Yaf

Yet Another Framework is first MVC Framework which written in C and builds as PHP Extension.

18. Silex

A Concise, Extensible, Testable Micro PHP Framework based on the Symfony2 Components.

19. Agavi

Agavi is simple, scalable, powerful PHP MVC Framework.

20. Nette

Nette Framework is developed by David Grudl, an open source PHP Framework.

There is another PHP Framework eg. Guzzle  PHP, LIMONADE, Ubiquity, Pop PHP etc.

Highlights of Codeigniter MVC Framework:

1. Simple and bother free relocation from server facilitating to server facilitating.
2. Easy to learn, embrace and convey
3. Taking care of development and tweaking.
4. Offers adaptability and simple administration With MVC based structure.
5. Dynamic Record Implementation is essentially magnificent and simple to recollect.
6. Gives less demanding design and customization of setup documents.
7. Encourages simple working with an assortment of designers.
8. Great gathering of had libraries.
9. Great documentation of the client control, which makes it simple for any coder to utilize the entire system.
10. Empowers to consolidate its own particular existing contents and in addition create center libraries for the framework.
11. Lightweight and broad.

We will evaluate here why the PHP is better than other PHP Frameworks here by considering our own web application development knowledge and what the other developers say why to use Codeigniter? But first, we will try to know what is CodeIgniter MVC Framework and what it is?

Codeignitor developed by BCIT Recreation Services from British Columbia Institute of Technology in February 28, 2006. Codeigniter is open source development framework which follows the MVC framework pattern. Its goal is to give you the easy and proper way to develop the project much faster than you could do.

Latest Codeignitor Framework version 3.1.10 has 3.47 MB complete file size.

What is MVC (Model View Controller)?

Model-View-Controller (MVC) is a great outline design often utilized by applications that need the capacity to keep up numerous perspectives on similar information. The MVC design relies on a spotless partition of items into one of three classifications.

The MVC is a fantastic layout which is frequently used by applications

Model (M) -Data Handler:

It represents your data structure, usually interacting with the Database or like insertion, deletion all that part comes in this file.

The model question thinks about every one of the information that should be shown.

It is display who knows about every one of the tasks that can be connected to change that question.

It just speaks to the information of an application. The model speaks to big business information and the business decides that oversee access to and updates of this information.

View (V) – User Interface:

It is used to represent your web project i.e to show the UI part normally it contains the HTML and CSS code.

The view speaks to the introduction of the application. The view question alludes to the model. It utilizes the inquiry techniques for the model to acquire the substance and renders it.

The view isn’t subject to the application rationale. It stays same if there is any alteration in the business rationale.

Controller (C) – Decision Maker:

In MVC to the controller, you can say the brain of it because it takes the requests to bind everything together.

Whenever the client sends a demand for something then it generally experiences the controller. The controller is in charge of catching the solicitations from view and passes it to the model for the suitable activity.

After the move has been made on the information, the controller is in charge of guiding the fitting perspective to the client.

Reasons why CodeIgniter MVC Framework is better than other PHP Frameworks:

1. Execution Time:

The first and the most important point which attracts every developer towards the PHP is its execution time.
Php gives the response too fast that till now no technology is in this world which can give the execution so fast.

2. File Organization:

When you first install the CodeIgniter framework at that time only it contains the many files application which contains the sub-folders as controller, config, model, view etc.

This is the main folder which we have to deal to implement the project.

3. Configuration:

Codeigniter MVC Framework has a very simple configuration, you just have to first install the framework as per your system configuration then at the time of programming open the config.php load the library, database, arrays all in that and save that’s it then. You don’t have to write the database name every time to use it. “Write once use everywhere”.

4. Security:

In PHP you will find many inbuilt functions to use in our project for the input and output filtering. Many Function available to for the encryption and decryption which helps the developer to send any data in the secret installation.

5. Less Code and faster development:

The PHP is called as the rapid development framework. You will write less code, which means less time spent typing.

You will not have to chase down 3rd party libraries all the time for every new project because most of them will come with the default framework install.

6. Community Support:

As we all know that PHP is worlds largest using language so everyone come with their problem and solutions so in those problems and solutions you get your problem solved in very less time and with full support and all.

Because so many people using it that after completing the project they just put the source code on the internet from their you can get your result.

7. Easy Error Handling:

Error handling was never before so easy but in CodeIgniter, you have to only write one line code to enable all the errors in front of you so that you can get what is the problem in the development code.

8. Step by Step Testing With Development Phase:

You can test the performance and the functionality of the project during the starting phase of the project through that you can see each and every phase of the project and you can test it.

9. Easy Template Solution:

Now in a world, most of the projects are going based on the templates only. The template gives the complete idea of the design of project even at starting phase of the development you just have to give the content in that.

10. Codeigniter Cache Class:

I think most of the clients love to make the cache class in their project because cache what do if you clicked on any button in the project then next time it gives the result from the cache instead of executing the completing the complete code again after clicking.

11. Remote code execution (RCE):

In every CI Framework files have <?php if ( ! defined(‘BASEPATH’)) exit(‘No direct script access allowed’); in top of header. This code ensures that the PHP file is not accessible directly by manipulating or running a script.

Drawbacks of using CodeIgniter MVC Framework:

1. No built-in ORM: This is big disadvantages of CodeIgniter that there is no inbuild ORM System where another framework like Yii (ActiveRecord), Laravel(Eloquent).
2. CodeIgniter is the PHP4 legacy code: This was applicable in the older version. Current CI version is fully supported with PHP 7.x.
3. Irregular releases
4. CodeIgniter is not fully Object Oriented based system.
5. Not fit for enterprises or big data application where security and performance matters.

It created the “virtual object database” that can be used within the programming languages. There are many ORM’s available in the market in each technology in which some famous ORM are ActiveJPA, ActiveRecord (AR in Yii Framework) Ebean, Database objects, CakePHP, Propel and the best one Doctrine. But why Doctrine ORM is so famous and best, what is the reason behind this we will look on this below but we will learn first what is Doctrine? Doctrine is a set of PHP libraries which primarily focus on providing persistence services and related functionality.

Doctrine 2.x (Data mapping using Entity Manager):

$student = new Student();
$student->fname = "rajeev";
$student->lname = "sharma";
$entityManager->persist($student);
$entityManager->flush();
echo "The student with id $student->id has been saved.";

Doctrine 1.x (Active Record pattern):

$student = new Student();
$student->name = "rajeev";
$student->password = "Sharma";
$student->save();
echo "The student with id $student->id has been saved.";

1. Logical domain keeps separate from the presentational logic:

The main is the software industry is how you co-relate your logical and how that logical part full-fill the presentation part for the user.

In many ORM if you will use then you will find that there are strict rule of that, that you have to use particular way only for the particular presentation but in Doctrine both the things are kept separated you can make your full logical first and then you decide what the view or in presentation you want or vice-versa.

2. Easily enforcement of Business rules:

Each application has some business logic that on which terms and conditions application should be work according to the requirements.

So, same there is also with the Doctrine the business rules consist of rules and processes around how the application should work. Knowing when and where to put the business rules little bit a tricky.

This business logic should be kept in the controller. Normally you will see the logic like this in the controller:

public function ezeelive()
{
$ezee = User::find(Input::get('userid');
$ezee2 = ezee2::find(Input::get('ezee2id');

if($ezee2->users->contains($ezee)
{
$ezee2->posts()->save(Post::create(Input::all()));
}
return $ezee2;
}

You can enforce the business logic like this

public function addPost(Post $abc)
{
if($this->isMemberOf($abc->user))
{
$this->xyz[] = $abc;
}
}

This is a easiest way to use the business logic in ORM which the only Doctrine have none other.

3. Doctrine behavior support:

All behaviors supported in Doctrine ORM are well supported by the ORM designers. You have to just write the definition once in a code and everywhere you can refer to the same again and again.

You can also configure the behavior of these function by going into the config file and do changes as per your convenience.

By using ORM design you can create the behaviors in a minute. You have to select the options according to the value and that will be assigned to your definition behavior it’s so easy in the Doctrine that easily defined behaviors get assigned to the project.

4. Inheritance:

Inheritance is again the great feature implemented in this ORM. With ORM design you will not get any problem in implementing the inheritance. ORM designers wizard gives easy and great way to do so.

5. MVC framework:

You can use Doctrine ORM with any MVC framework for the project use. In ORM designers there is an explicit support for the 2 most used MVC frameworks that are Symfony and Zend framework.

Use of any other MVC framework is also very east in the Doctrine you have to just choose the option “without MVC” at the start of your project.

The feature of Doctrine ORM 2.5 :

1. Doctrine 2.5 require minimum PHP 5.4 and dropping support for PHP 5.3
2. PostLoad events now triggered after associations are loaded
3. Embeddable Objects supports creating multiple PHP objects from one database table.
4. Second-Level-Cache: objects cache in Memcache, Redis, Riak, MongoDB etc.
5. Support for ManyToMany associations
6. Add new contains() expression criteria : For like SQL condition
7. Allow configuring Index flags

In the Last Word:

After looking at these major advancements and features in the Doctrine ORM we can say that Doctrine is the best ORM system available till now with the MVC framework that can be implemented with any technology.

By taking these reasons in the mind we will suggest you use Doctrine ORM only for the exchange of data between the incompatible system and language.