This tool helps you decide whether PHP or Python is better for your next project based on your specific priorities. Select the criteria that matter most to you, and we'll provide a recommendation.
Check the criteria that are most important for your project or career goals:
This language is best for you if:
PHP offers strong support for content management systems and is ideal for developers who need to maintain legacy codebases or work on cost-sensitive projects.
This language is best for you if:
Python excels in modern development scenarios with its strong data science capabilities, clean syntax, and thriving ecosystem for building APIs and complex applications.
Ever stared at a job posting that says “backend developer (PHP or Python)” and wondered which skill will actually move your career forward? The answer isn’t a simple "PHP wins" or "Python wins"; it’s about matching the language’s strengths to the problems you want to solve.
Backend development is the engine room of any web app-handling data storage, business rules, and communication with front‑end interfaces. The language you pick shapes how quickly you can prototype, how easy it is to find help, and even how much your hosting costs.
When it comes to backend development, PHP is a server‑side scripting language that’s been powering web applications since the mid‑1990s. It started as a simple way to embed code in HTML and has grown into a full‑featured language with modern features like type declarations, arrow functions, and a robust ecosystem of frameworks.
On the other side, Python is a high‑level, interpreted language famous for its readable syntax and versatility across web, data science, automation, and more. While it began as a general‑purpose language, frameworks like Django and Flask have turned it into a serious backend contender.
Both languages are open‑source, cross‑platform, and have millions of developers worldwide. The real difference lies in their ecosystems, performance profiles, and typical use cases.
If you think of a language as a toolbox, frameworks are the power tools that speed up development. Here are the most popular choices for each language:
Choosing a framework often dictates which language feels more comfortable. Laravel’s expressive syntax makes PHP feel modern, while Django’s "convention over configuration" style gives Python a very clean development experience.
Both languages run on interpreted runtimes, but they differ in raw speed and how they handle concurrency.
If your app is I/O‑heavy-think real‑time chat or streaming APIs-Python’s async capabilities can outperform traditional PHP setups. For CPU‑intensive operations, both languages usually offload work to background workers (e.g., Laravel Queues, Celery) written in faster languages like C or Go.
According to the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Python ranks #2 in most‑wanted languages, while PHP holds steady in the top‑10 for legacy and CMS work. In the UK, Python jobs grew 18 % year‑over‑year, driven by fintech, AI, and cloud startups. PHP roles grew modestly, mostly tied to WordPress agencies and e‑commerce platforms.
Freelancers also see a split: clients needing WordPress sites pay well for PHP expertise; SaaS founders often look for Python developers to build APIs and data pipelines.
Modern development pipelines blur the lines between languages, but each has its native conveniences.
In practice, the choice of language rarely blocks you from adopting modern DevOps practices.
Both PHP and Python boast massive communities, but the tone and focus differ.
When you’re learning, having up‑to‑date tutorials matters. Python’s documentation is often cited as a gold standard, while PHP’s docs have improved dramatically in recent years.
If you’re a solo developer or small agency, hosting costs can tip the scales.
However, serverless options (AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions) now support both runtimes, letting you pay per request and keep costs low.
| Aspect | PHP | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax simplicity | Improved in PHP 8, but still a mix of old and new patterns | Very clean, whitespace‑driven, great for beginners |
| Learning curve | Moderate; easier if you already know HTML | Gentle; many resources for non‑programmers |
| Ecosystem for web | Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Drupal | Django, Flask, FastAPI, Pyramid |
| Performance (raw) | PHP 8 JIT makes it competitive | CPython slower; async frameworks help latency |
| Job market (2025, UK) | Steady demand in agencies, CMS work | Strong growth in fintech, AI, SaaS |
| Typical use cases | Content sites, e‑commerce, legacy apps | APIs, data pipelines, scientific apps |
| Hosting cost | Cheap shared hosting available | Usually needs VPS or managed PaaS |
Whatever you pick, you’ll likely run into the other language at some point. Here are quick hacks to keep your skill set flexible:
If you’re aiming to land a job building WordPress sites, maintain legacy LAMP applications, or need the cheapest possible hosting, start with PHP. Laravel will give you modern tooling while keeping you compatible with the huge PHP job pool.
If you want to work on data‑driven APIs, machine‑learning pipelines, or join fast‑growing startups that favor clean code and rapid prototyping, go with Python. Django or FastAPI will let you ship a production‑grade service in weeks.
Many developers eventually learn both-nothing prevents you from adding Python to your resume after you’ve mastered PHP, or vice‑versa. The key is to pick one, build real projects, and then expand.
Absolutely. PHP powers over 78 % of the web, mainly through WordPress and Magento. Its ecosystem continues to modernize with features like JIT, typed properties, and a vibrant package manager (Composer). If you work with CMSs or legacy LAMP stacks, PHP is still a solid choice.
Yes. Most VPS or cloud providers (DigitalOcean, AWS, Linode) let you install both runtimes side‑by‑side. Managed platforms like Render or Fly.io also support multiple buildpacks, so you can deploy a Laravel app and a FastAPI service on the same account.
Both have strong communities, but Python’s official documentation and resources like Real Python are often praised for clarity. PHP’s community excels in practical, deployment‑focused advice, especially for shared‑hosting scenarios.
2025 salary surveys show Python developers averaging £55k‑£70k, reflecting demand in fintech and AI. PHP developers typically earn £45k‑£60k, with higher rates in specialist WordPress or e‑commerce roles.
Not at all. The concepts-variables, control flow, OOP-are the same. The biggest adjustment is Python’s whitespace‑based syntax. A short “learn the syntax” sprint and a few practice projects usually smooth the transition.
Written by Caden Whitmore
View all posts by: Caden Whitmore