Code and security review
A written review of your PHP version, packages, and risky code, ranked by what to fix first.
The Problem
PHP Code That Runs Your Business but Nobody Wants to Touch
PHP code often runs a business for a decade or more. Trouble starts when the PHP version falls out of support and the developer who wrote it has moved on.
01 · Old version
The app is stuck on an unsupported PHP version.
We move it to a supported PHP 8 release, one tested step at a time.
02 · Hand-copied code
Libraries were copied in by hand, with no versions recorded.
Every dependency goes under Composer, with versions locked and checked for advisories.
03 · No tests
Every change is a guess made on the live server.
PHPUnit tests cover checkout, sign-up, and invoicing before any change goes live.
04 · Lost knowledge
The developer who built it left years ago.
You get notes on how the code is laid out, so the next developer starts fast.
Your customer portal still runs on PHP 7.4 because the last upgrade attempt broke the invoice page. The developer who built it left years ago. Libraries were copied into a folder by hand, so nobody knows which versions are inside. There are no tests, so every change is a guess made on the live server. Your host now warns that PHP 7.4 is end of life, and a security scan flags old libraries. Each month you wait, the upgrade gets bigger and harder to explain to your team.
We start with a copy of your code on staging, not the live server. Every dependency goes under Composer, tests wrap the flows that earn money, and the code moves to a supported PHP 8 release one step at a time. Only then do we build new features. Upgrades stop being a gamble, because the tests run before every deploy.
Upgrades without surprises
Code moves to a supported PHP release behind tests, on a staging copy before your live site.
Composer for every package
Every library is installed and version-locked with Composer, so updates and security checks take minutes.
The right framework per job
Plain PHP, Laravel, Symfony, or WordPress, chosen for your app's size and your team's skills.
Our PHP Development Process
From Free Code Review to Safe Launch in Five Steps
Our PHP web development services follow five steps. You see the risk list first, approve the upgrade order, and test every change on staging before it goes live.
On a free call, you show us the app and share the code or a copy. We check the PHP version, Composer dependencies, framework, and hosting. You get a written list of risks and a fixed-price proposal.
What's Included
What Is Custom PHP Web Development?
Custom PHP web development is building or reworking a site or app in PHP code written for your business. With us, it means these six deliverables, in a repository you own.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs a Freelancer vs a Full Rewrite
A freelancer can be cheaper for one small fix, and a full rewrite makes sense when code can't be saved. Comparing a PHP web development company with both shows where each one fits.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Freelancer | Full rewrite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning | Written code review first | Varies by person | Long discovery phase |
| PHP version | Moved to supported PHP 8 | Often patched in place | New stack from day one |
| Existing features | Kept and covered by tests | Kept, usually untested | Rebuilt one by one |
| Automated tests | PHPUnit on key flows | Rarely included | Part of the new build |
| Time to first fix | 1 to 2 weeks | Fastest for one small fix | Months before launch |
| Cost | From $1,200, fixed scope | Lowest hourly rate | Highest upfront cost |
| Support after launch | 30 to 60 days included | Depends on availability | Varies by contract |
| Code ownership | Your repository from day one | Ask for repository access | Yours, once paid |
DeveloperLook
Freelancer
- Planning
- DeveloperLook: Written code review firstFreelancer: Varies by person
- PHP version
- DeveloperLook: Moved to supported PHP 8Freelancer: Often patched in place
- Existing features
- DeveloperLook: Kept and covered by testsFreelancer: Kept, usually untested
- Automated tests
- DeveloperLook: PHPUnit on key flowsFreelancer: Rarely included
- Time to first fix
- DeveloperLook: 1 to 2 weeksFreelancer: Fastest for one small fix
- Cost
- DeveloperLook: From $1,200, fixed scopeFreelancer: Lowest hourly rate
- Support after launch
- DeveloperLook: 30 to 60 days includedFreelancer: Depends on availability
- Code ownership
- DeveloperLook: Your repository from day oneFreelancer: Ask for repository access
Projects We've Built
Web Apps and Dashboards We Have Built
Business web apps, booking platforms, and admin dashboards from our portfolio, shown for their features and back-office logic rather than the language they run on.
Logify Project Risk and Control Management Web App
- Logistics & Transportation
- Construction
- Dashboard
Xinomin Fashion Ecommerce Website and Admin Dashboard
- Fashion
- E-commerce
- Dashboard
HoliNest Travel Booking Website and Dashboard
- Travel
- Vacation Rental
- Booking System
Nicefin Restaurant Website and Dashboard
- Food & Beverage
- Dashboard
- Booking System
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built web apps and software for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Business Owners Trust Us With Their PHP Code
Old PHP code holds years of business rules nobody wrote down. These habits keep those rules intact while the code gets safer and easier to change.
Staging before live
Every upgrade and feature runs on a staging copy of your app first. Your customers keep using the live site while we find and fix what breaks.
Business rules written down
When we find a rule hidden in old code, like a discount or a tax case, we document it. Your next developer won't have to rediscover it.
Advisories checked each release
We run Composer's audit against known security advisories before each release. Outdated libraries are a common way into old PHP apps, so we check them every time.
Keep, refactor, or rebuild
We tell you which parts of your PHP code are worth keeping and which cost more to fix than to rebuild. You decide with real numbers, not a sales pitch.
Small, reviewable changes
Upgrades land in small commits with clear notes, each one tested. If something misbehaves, we roll back one step instead of the whole release.
Your code, your accounts
Code lives in your GitHub or GitLab, and hosting stays in your name. Switching teams later doesn't mean starting over.
Overview
What do PHP development services include?
DeveloperLook provides PHP development services for businesses whose sites, portals, or internal tools run on PHP. We review the code, upgrade it to a supported PHP 8 release, add Composer and PHPUnit tests, and build new features or APIs. Prices start at $1,200, upgrades take 1 to 2 weeks, larger builds 4 to 14 weeks, and the code stays in your repository.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · PHP Development Services
- Service
- PHP Development Services (upgrades, custom features, APIs, tests)
- Typical timeline
- 1 to 2 weeks for an upgrade, 4 to 14 weeks for features or a new app
- Platforms
- Plain PHP, Laravel, Symfony, and WordPress codebases
- Built with
- PHP 8, Composer, PHPUnit, MySQL or PostgreSQL, and Docker
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days, or 60 days on the Custom PHP Application plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $1,200 USD, fixed scope after a free code review
Reviewed 8 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Businesses on an unsupported PHP version
Your host or a security scan warns that your PHP version is end of life, and the last upgrade attempt broke a key page.
Owners whose PHP developer moved on
You need to hire PHP developers who can read code written years ago, fix what's broken, and keep it running safely.
Teams adding features to a PHP app
Your PHP portal or booking system works, but you need a new module, an API for your mobile app, or admin reports.
Companies outsourcing PHP work
You're weighing PHP development outsourcing because hiring in-house takes months, and you want a fixed scope with code in your own repository.
Product teams on Laravel or Symfony
Your app runs on Laravel or Symfony a few major versions behind, and every package update now fails on install.
Not a fit
Laravel-only work
Your app is built on Laravel and the work is all framework features. Our Laravel Development Services page covers Laravel upgrades and builds in detail.
WordPress changes only
You need a WordPress theme or plugin change, not custom PHP code. Our WordPress Development Services page is the better fit for that work.
Budget under $1,200
Your budget is under $1,200, or a plugin or hosted builder could do the job. If a plugin already covers your case, we'll tell you before we quote.
New SaaS from scratch
You're starting a SaaS product with no code yet and need product planning as much as PHP. Our SaaS Development Services page covers that path.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for PHP Development Services
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on your PHP version, codebase size, and the features you need, and you get a fixed proposal after a free code review.
For a small PHP site or app stuck on an unsupported version. About 1 to 2 weeks.
$1,200one-time, USD
- Code and dependency review
- Upgrade of one small app to supported PHP 8
- Composer setup for every library
- Smoke tests on your key pages
- One-command test and deploy script
- 30 days of fixes after handover
Recommended
For a working PHP app that needs new features on a safer codebase. About 4 to 8 weeks.
$3,800one-time, USD
- Everything in PHP Upgrade Sprint
- One new feature module or customer portal
- PHPUnit tests on key flows
- REST API endpoints for one integration
- Admin screens for your team
- 30 days of post-launch support
For a new PHP web app, or a full rebuild of one that can't be saved. About 8 to 14 weeks.
$8,200one-time, USD
- Everything in PHP Feature Build
- New app in Laravel, Symfony, or plain PHP
- User roles and permissions
- Up to 3 integrations such as payments or CRM
- Queued background jobs and email
- 60 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
PHP Development Outsourcing for Agencies and Studios
You own the client relationship. We supply the PHP engineering behind it: upgrades, custom features, and APIs delivered under your brand, with code in your client's repository. You can also hire dedicated PHP developer capacity for a set period.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the brief
Send the codebase or a copy, the PHP version, and your client's deadline.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We review and quote
You get a written risk list and a fixed price you can resell.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Build and hand off
We upgrade, build, and test, then deploy under your client's accounts.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Stay client-facing
Your client hears from you, while we stay behind your brand.
Predictable delivery
A fixed scope and staging links your client can review every week.
Senior PHP engineers
PHP 8, Composer, PHPUnit, Laravel, and Symfony work from experienced developers.
Flexible capacity
Send one upgrade, a full build, or a few months of PHP work.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
PHP 8 and the framework we pick per project, the databases behind it, and the test and deploy tools that keep upgrades safe.
PHP
Laravel- Symfony
- Composer
WordPress
MySQL
PostgreSQL- MariaDB
- Redis
- PHPUnit
- GitHub Actions
Docker- Sentry
AWS- DigitalOcean
- Nginx
Cloudflare
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on PHP costs, what PHP is good for, hiring PHP developers, and choosing a framework.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
PHP development services at DeveloperLook start at $1,200 for an upgrade sprint that moves one small app to a supported PHP 8 release. Adding a feature module, PHPUnit tests, and an API starts at $3,800. A new custom PHP application with roles, integrations, and background jobs starts at $8,200. You get a fixed quote after a free code review.
PHP is used to build the server side of websites and web apps: pages built from a database, logins, forms, carts, and APIs. WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Laravel apps all run on it. When a visitor loads a page, PHP runs on the server, reads the database, and sends back finished HTML.
PHP can run the systems your business depends on every day. Think customer portals, booking and quote tools, order dashboards, invoicing, and APIs that link your site to a CRM or accounting software. PHP hosting is cheap and easy to find, so those tools stay affordable to run. The real risk is code left on an unsupported version.
Hire PHP developers by checking real code and tests, not only a CV. Ask how they manage packages with Composer and how they'd move an old app to PHP 8. A PHP development company should also give you a fixed scope and keep the code in your repository. Freelancers suit small fixes, while a team covers upgrades, testing, and support.
A PHP developer writes and maintains the server-side code of a website or web app. Day to day, that means building features, writing database queries, connecting APIs, fixing bugs, and upgrading PHP and its packages. Good PHP developers also write tests, so a change to one page doesn't break checkout or sign-up on another.
Yes, PHP is still widely used for web development. WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Laravel all run on it, and a new PHP version ships every year. PHP 8 brought a JIT compiler, union types, enums, and readonly properties, so modern PHP looks very different from the PHP many developers remember.
Yes, PHP is good for most web development, especially content-heavy sites, portals, and business apps backed by a database. Hosting is cheap, frameworks like Laravel and Symfony are mature, and Composer gives it a solid package system. It's a weaker fit for apps holding thousands of live connections open, where Node.js is often simpler.
Use PHP when you want proven frameworks, affordable hosting, and plenty of developers who can maintain the code later. According to php.net, each PHP release gets 2 years of active support and 2 more years of security fixes, so upgrades can be planned well ahead. It also fits naturally if your site already runs on WordPress or Laravel.
Laravel is the best fit for most new PHP web apps, with built-in authentication, queues, and testing tools. Symfony suits large, long-lived systems that need strict structure and reusable components. Plain PHP works for small tools, and WordPress wins when content editing matters most. We pick per project and explain the choice in your proposal.
Use PHP if your site runs on WordPress, Laravel, or another PHP system, or if low-cost hosting matters most. Use Python when the web app sits next to data analysis, machine learning, or heavy automation, where its libraries are stronger. Both handle typical business apps well. If your team already knows one language, that usually decides it.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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