LTS-to-LTS upgrades
Apps moved from Symfony 5.4 or 6.4 to 7.4 LTS, one major version per step.
The Problem
Your Symfony App Is Running Out of Supported Releases
Symfony ships a long-term support release every two years, and each one gets bug fixes for three years. Apps that skip a cycle end up two majors behind, with a much bigger jump to make.
01 · Old release
The app sits on a Symfony line nearing end of support.
We upgrade one major version at a time to Symfony 7.4 LTS.
02 · Deprecations
The test log prints deprecation notices nobody reads.
The PHPUnit Bridge lists them, and each one is fixed before the next upgrade.
03 · Stuck updates
A Composer update breaks several bundles at once.
Bundles are updated or replaced one by one, with tests after each change.
04 · Silent cron
Cron scripts fail at night without telling anyone.
Jobs move to Symfony Messenger with retries and a failure transport.
Your Symfony app has run the business for years, and it still works. But it sits on Symfony 5.4 or 6.4, and the 6.4 line stops getting bug fixes in November 2026. The test log prints a long list of deprecation notices that nobody reads. A Composer update breaks several bundles at once, so nobody runs it. Cron scripts do work that belongs in a queue, and they fail quietly. Every month you wait, the jump to the current LTS gets bigger.
We start with the deprecation log, not the version number. The PHPUnit Bridge lists every deprecated call, Rector fixes the mechanical ones, and we fix the rest by hand. Then we move one major version at a time, with tests passing at every step, and put cron jobs on Symfony Messenger. You land on a supported LTS release with a clean log, not a half-finished upgrade branch.
Deprecation log first
The PHPUnit Bridge shows every deprecated call before any version number changes.
One major at a time
Each upgrade step ends with passing tests, so problems stay small and easy to trace.
Jobs on Symfony Messenger
Background work moves from cron scripts to Messenger workers with retries and failure alerts.
Our Symfony Development Process
From Deprecation Log to Supported LTS in Five Steps
Five steps take your Symfony app from an aging release to the current LTS, or a new build onto it. You see the deprecation report, approve each upgrade step, and test on staging.
You share repository access or walk us through the app on a call. We check the Symfony and PHP versions, the bundles in composer.json, and the size of the deprecation log. You get a short report and a fixed-price proposal.
What's Included
What You Get From a Symfony Development Company
Upgrades, cleanup, and new builds for Symfony apps that need to keep running for years, with the tests and documentation that make the next upgrade easier.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs an Offshore Team vs an In-House Symfony Hire
An offshore team often has the lowest hourly rate, and an in-house hire suits years of steady roadmap work. Symfony development outsourcing to us suits upgrade work with a fixed end date.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Offshore team | In-house hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade planning | Deprecation report before quoting | Varies by vendor | Depends on the hire |
| Hourly cost | Fixed price per scope | Often the lowest rate | Salary plus benefits |
| Upgrade approach | One major version per step | Often one big jump | Depends on experience |
| Testing | Functional tests at each step | Varies by vendor | Depends on the team |
| Time-zone overlap | US, UK, and AU hours | Often limited overlap | Full overlap |
| Long-term knowledge | Upgrade notes and runbook | Stays with the vendor | Stays in your team |
| Start date | Within 1 to 2 weeks | Within a few weeks | After months of hiring |
| Code ownership | Your repository from day one | Check the contract | Yours |
DeveloperLook
Offshore team
- Upgrade planning
- DeveloperLook: Deprecation report before quotingOffshore team: Varies by vendor
- Hourly cost
- DeveloperLook: Fixed price per scopeOffshore team: Often the lowest rate
- Upgrade approach
- DeveloperLook: One major version per stepOffshore team: Often one big jump
- Testing
- DeveloperLook: Functional tests at each stepOffshore team: Varies by vendor
- Time-zone overlap
- DeveloperLook: US, UK, and AU hoursOffshore team: Often limited overlap
- Long-term knowledge
- DeveloperLook: Upgrade notes and runbookOffshore team: Stays with the vendor
- Start date
- DeveloperLook: Within 1 to 2 weeksOffshore team: Within a few weeks
- Code ownership
- DeveloperLook: Your repository from day oneOffshore team: Check the contract
Projects We've Built
Business Platforms We Have Built
Finance, consulting, and healthcare platforms from our portfolio, chosen for their long-lived business rules, not presented as Symfony builds.
Armada AG Fiduciary and Consulting Services Website
- Finance
- Business
- Website
Finto Corporate Website Design & Development
- Finance
- Dashboard
- Website
LifePulse Medical Web Design & Development
- Medical
- Booking System
- Dashboard
Carepoint Medical App Design & Development
- Medical
- Booking System
- Dashboard
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built business platforms and web apps 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 Engineering Teams Trust Us With Symfony Apps
Symfony apps tend to live for years. When you hire Symfony developers from us, these habits keep yours on supported releases and readable for whoever joins next.
Support dates on the roadmap
We put your Symfony and PHP end-of-support dates in the plan from day one. Upgrades happen on your schedule, not in a rush after a release expires.
Clean deprecation log
Every pull request runs with the PHPUnit Bridge, so new deprecations show up in review. Your log stays clean between upgrades instead of piling up.
Components over custom code
We reach for Symfony components and maintained bundles before writing our own. Less custom code means fewer surprises at the next major upgrade.
Straight answer on Laravel
If your team would move faster on Laravel, we say so, even though both share Symfony components. The right framework is the one your team can keep current.
Upgrade notes you keep
Each upgrade ends with a short note: what changed, which bundles moved, and what the next LTS will need. Your next developer starts with context, not guesswork.
Your repository, your servers
Code, Composer lock files, and deploy scripts live in your accounts from day one. If you bring Symfony in-house later, the handover is a meeting, not a project.
Overview
Where can you hire Symfony developers for a long-lived PHP app?
DeveloperLook is where you can hire Symfony developers who keep long-lived PHP apps on a supported release. We clear deprecations with the PHPUnit Bridge, upgrade one major version at a time, and build APIs with API Platform on Symfony 7.4 LTS. Prices start at $1,150, an upgrade takes 2 to 3 weeks, and you own the code.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Symfony Development Services
- Service
- Symfony Development Services (LTS upgrades, API Platform builds, Messenger workers)
- Typical timeline
- 2 to 3 weeks for one upgrade, 6 to 16 weeks for larger work
- Platforms
- Symfony 5.4, 6.4, and 7.4 LTS on PHP 8.2+ with MySQL or PostgreSQL
- Built with
- Symfony, Doctrine, API Platform, Messenger, EasyAdmin, and PHPUnit
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days, or 60 days on the Symfony Platform Build plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $1,150 USD, fixed scope after discovery
Reviewed 11 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Teams on Symfony 5.4 or 6.4
Your app runs on Symfony 6.4, its bug fixes end in November 2026, and nobody has planned the move to 7.4.
Companies outsourcing PHP upkeep
You want Symfony development outsourcing for upgrades and fixes, so your own team can stay on product work.
Product teams needing an API
You need Symfony developers for hire to add a documented REST API for a mobile app or a partner system.
Teams that lost their Symfony lead
Your senior Symfony developer left, and the remaining team avoids the bundles, cron scripts, and config only they understood.
Agencies with Symfony clients
Your agency maintains client platforms on Symfony and needs a Symfony web development company working under your brand.
Not a fit
Small app, quick launch
You need a small app launched fast and don't need long support windows. Our Laravel Development Services page fits that with less setup.
Lightweight PHP app
Your app is small and your team prefers minimal configuration. Our CodeIgniter Development Services page covers that lighter framework.
Content site on Drupal
Your site is mainly content managed in Drupal, which runs on Symfony components. Our Drupal Development Services page handles Drupal builds.
Budget under $1,150
Your budget is under $1,150, or the app is close to retirement anyway. Keeping it patched may cost less, and we'll tell you before we quote.
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 Symfony Development Services
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on your current Symfony version, test coverage, and integrations, and you get a fixed proposal after a free upgrade review.
For one small Symfony app that needs to move one major version to the current LTS. About 2 to 3 weeks.
$1,150one-time, USD
- One major upgrade, such as 6.4 to 7.4 LTS
- Deprecation log cleared with the PHPUnit Bridge
- Rector for mechanical code changes
- Composer packages updated and audited
- Smoke tests on key routes
- 30 days of post-launch support
Recommended
For mid-size apps two major versions behind that also need tests and queued jobs. About 6 to 9 weeks.
$4,100one-time, USD
- Everything in Symfony LTS Upgrade
- Two major upgrades, such as 5.4 to 7.4
- Functional tests on core business flows
- Cron scripts moved to Messenger workers
- Doctrine migrations cleaned and versioned
- Up to 5 new endpoints with API Platform
For a new Symfony platform or a large module with an API, a back office, and integrations. About 10 to 16 weeks.
$8,700one-time, USD
- Everything in Symfony Modernization
- New app or module on Symfony 7.4 LTS
- Full REST API with API Platform
- EasyAdmin back office for your team
- Up to 3 integrations with outside systems
- 60 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
White-Label Symfony Development for Agencies and Studios
You keep the client relationship. We supply the Symfony engineering behind it: LTS upgrades, deprecation cleanup, and new modules under your brand. Your client's code stays in their repository, with upgrade notes your team can reuse.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the brief
Send repository access, current versions, and your client's support deadline.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We report and quote
You get a deprecation report, an upgrade path, and a fixed price.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Upgrade and hand off
We upgrade step by step on staging and release in your client's hosting.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Stay client-facing
Deprecation reports and upgrade notes go out under your brand.
Predictable delivery
Fixed scope per upgrade step, agreed after a deprecation report.
Senior Symfony engineers
Symfony, Doctrine, and API Platform work from experienced PHP developers.
Flexible capacity
One upgrade, a new module, or steady Symfony support for your clients.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
Symfony and the libraries most Symfony apps depend on, plus the tools we use to test each upgrade step and deploy it safely.
- Symfony
PHP- Composer
- Doctrine
- API Platform
MySQL
PostgreSQL- Redis
- RabbitMQ
- PHPUnit
- Rector
- GitHub Actions
- Sentry
Docker- Nginx
AWS- Ubuntu
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on Symfony costs, upgrade timelines, Laravel versus Symfony, and who uses the framework.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Hiring Symfony developers through DeveloperLook starts at $1,150 for moving one small app to the next LTS release with its deprecations cleared. A two-step modernization, such as 5.4 to 7.4, starts at $4,100. New platforms with API Platform, EasyAdmin, and integrations start at $8,700. You get a fixed quote after a free upgrade review.
A Symfony upgrade of one major version takes about 2 to 3 weeks for a small app with tests. Two steps, such as 5.4 to 6.4 to 7.4, usually take 6 to 9 weeks, because each step ends with passing tests. Apps without tests take longer, since we add them before changing versions.
Neither is better overall: Laravel gets a small team to launch faster, while Symfony suits large, long-lived apps with strict structure. Laravel itself is built on many Symfony components, such as HttpFoundation and Console. Pick Laravel for speed and conventions, and Symfony for explicit configuration and long-term support releases.
Symfony is used for long-lived PHP web applications: business platforms, APIs, ecommerce backends, and internal tools that must stay maintainable for years. Its components also run inside other PHP software, including Drupal, Laravel, and several CMS and ecommerce platforms. Teams pick it when structure and predictable releases matter more than launch speed.
The Symfony framework is an open-source PHP framework built from reusable components for routing, HTTP, forms, security, and more. It releases a new minor version every six months and a long-term support version every two years. Symfony apps usually pair it with Doctrine for the database and Twig for templates.
No, Symfony is not dead: Symfony 8.1 shipped in May 2026, and 8.2 is planned for November 2026. The 7.4 LTS release gets bug fixes until November 2028 and security fixes until November 2029. That predictable schedule is a big reason long-lived platforms keep choosing it.
Symfony's own projects page lists Drupal, Laravel, Magento, phpBB, Joomla, TYPO3, PrestaShop, Shopware, and Composer among projects built with its packages. Many companies also run private business platforms on Symfony, though few publish their stack. If you run any of those tools, you're already running Symfony code.
Yes, Drupal uses Symfony components at its core. Drupal 10 runs on Symfony 6, and Drupal 11 moved to Symfony 7, so Drupal's own upgrade cycle follows Symfony's release schedule. For Drupal site builds and upgrades, our Drupal pages are the right place; this page focuses on custom Symfony apps.
A Symfony developer builds and maintains PHP apps on the Symfony framework: controllers, Doctrine entities and migrations, security rules, and Messenger jobs. A large part of the job is upkeep: clearing deprecations, updating bundles, and moving apps between LTS releases. Senior ones also design APIs, often with API Platform.
You own all the code, the Composer lock file, and the deploy scripts from the first commit. Everything lives in your repository and on your servers, and we work through access you grant. When the support window ends, you get upgrade notes that tell your team, or the next one, what the next LTS will need.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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