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.

This framework was made by some group of the developer so it must be having some features also which will overcome other frameworks available so let’s come and learn about the advantage of using Kohana Framework.

Kohana PHP Framework Advantages

1. File System:

The most important feature of this framework is its cascading style HMVC (Hierarchical Model View Controller) which makes this framework easy to access and for its features.

Because of this hierarchy way we can access or use any properties, class methods, functions or even file we can at the higher level.

2. Quick and easy development process:

The cascading style provides the easy and very effective way to access to the files because on the single screen you will be able to see all files like application, system, modules, and config all files instead of going back again and again so it helps in the fast development of the project.

3. Autoloading to classes:

In Kohana PHP Framework there is no any configuration that if you want to use the class then you have to create the class whenever it will be necessary for the project it will automatically call the class or means it will load the class. There are no namespace conflicts.

4. Scalability:

Since Kohana follows the HMVC structure so it gives the seamless scalability to project so. If you want to make any big project of MVC based you might be considering the scalability as an important design concern.

You split your project into modules so it will also handle the dependencies, so its easier to go with Kohana. Since it is a simple and easy framework which includes all the latest web development features.

5. Exten(ding|tion):

Kohana’s cascading file system makes it very easy to extend existing, you can override everything on application or module level. Without making a load or include function or extending it.

6. Routing:

Kohana has an excellent routing feature with which we can manage a different kind of URL, For a URI, it only searches for the first matching route and remaining it ignores. Routes can be defined in “bootstrap.php” which lies in the application or in the module folder.

7. Exception handling:

Kohana is made with the exception handling feature which enables it for the debugging easier. Inbuilt support for the profiling the code enables it to write the code ineffective way and debugging it.

8. Easy Configuration:

Kohana PHP Framework provides easy configuration options. Like other frameworks, we can also override configurations from a higher level. Config files are placed in config directory and it will return an array of key-value pairs as in result.

9. Uses OOP concept (Strict PHP 5 OOP):

As we all know that using the oops concept of coding has great benefits so Kohana also provides you using the OOPS concept in developing the project. It offers many benefits such as visibility protection, automatic class loading, overloading, interfaces, abstracts.

10. Kohana MongoDB Library:

Kohana PHP Framework has Mango Active Record like Library.

Kohana PHP Framework Disadvantages

1. Kohana documentation and Forum Community is very limited, so, getting the solutions, example source code on the internet is little harder compare other frameworks.
2. Lack of Active Development: One of the significant disadvantages of Kohana is that it’s no longer actively maintained or developed. The last stable release (v3.3.6) was in January 2016. This lack of active development means that it may not be the best choice for projects requiring ongoing support, updates, and compatibility with the latest PHP versions.
3. Limited Community Support: With the decline in active development, the community around Kohana has also diminished. This can make it difficult to find resources, tutorials, and third-party packages to extend the framework’s functionality. Developers may face challenges in resolving issues or finding solutions to problems due to the limited community support.
4. Outdated Architecture: Kohana’s architecture, though once considered modern and efficient, may now be outdated compared to newer PHP frameworks. It may lack some features and conventions found in more modern frameworks like Laravel or Symfony. This could impact developer productivity and the ability to leverage modern development practices and tools.
5. Compatibility Issues: As PHP evolves and introduces new features, Kohana may face compatibility issues with newer PHP versions. While efforts may be made to maintain compatibility, the lack of active development could result in delays in addressing compatibility issues, leaving projects vulnerable to security risks or performance issues.
6. Uncertain Future: Given the lack of active development and community support, the future of Kohana is uncertain. There’s a risk that it may become obsolete or incompatible with future PHP releases, making it a risky choice for long-term projects or those requiring ongoing maintenance and support.

Conclusion

Kohana PHP Framework is an excellent MVC framework because it has great nice frameworks incorporated into it. It is more scalable more, light, and configuration is much simpler than the other MVC frameworks.

It requires lesser configuration, it has higher security so as per my knowledge using Kohana PHP Framework is a great choice for your web development.