The Best PHP IDEs in 2026
These PHP IDEs were researched from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. They were ranked on their core PHP development job, value for money, and verified features for creating, debugging, testing, and managing PHP applications and projects.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
PhpStorm#1 of 239.4/10A comprehensive paid IDE for PHP teams working across code, testing, databases, and containers.
30-day trial
-
Runner-up
Eclipse PHP Development Tools#2 of 239.1/10A free, multi-platform PHP IDE with debugging, refactoring, testing, and remote workflows.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
OpenIDE#4 of 238.6/10A broad, free PHP IDE for teams that want modern tooling across desktop platforms.
Free plan · pricing on request
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 23 tools, best first
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Best forProfessional PHP teams needing a complete IDE
A comprehensive paid IDE for PHP teams working across code, testing, databases, and containers.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit JetBrains -
Best forFree PHP developers needing core IDE workflows
A free, multi-platform PHP IDE with debugging, refactoring, testing, and remote workflows.
- PHP refactoring
- Unit testing tools
- Xdebug debugging
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Eclipse PDT -
Best forPHP developers needing databases and deployment tools
A broad PHP desktop IDE for developers who need databases and deployment in one workspace.
- PHP refactoring
- Unit testing tools
- Database tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit NuSphere -
Best forPHP teams wanting a free, modern full IDE
A broad, free PHP IDE for teams that want modern tooling across desktop platforms.
- Docker support
- PHP refactoring
- Unit testing tools
Free plan · pricing on request Our OpenIDE verdict → Visit OpenIDEFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →8.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenIDE -
Best forWindows PHP developers wanting affordable debugging
A low-cost Windows PHP IDE with Xdebug, Git and remote development features.
- Remote development
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit phpDesigner -
Best forWindows PHP developers wanting databases and AI
A capable one-time-purchase PHP IDE for Windows developers who need databases and AI.
- Xdebug debugging
- Database tools
- Remote development
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Rapid PHP -
Best forWindows web developers wanting AI and database tools
A capable paid Windows IDE for web developers who want coding, publishing and database tools together.
- Database tools
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit WeBuilder -
Best forFree multi-platform developers wanting a broad IDE
A broad, free IDE for PHP developers who also need Java, web, and build tooling.
7.8/10★★★★☆Try Apache NetBeans -
Best forFree developers needing PHP debugging and builds
A free cross-platform IDE with PHP support, debugging, builds and project tools.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit CodeLite -
Best forFree developers who want an extensible editor
A free, extensible editor for developers who want broad project tooling.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forRemote PHP editing across many device types
A flexible remote PHP editor with broad platform coverage and a general-purpose focus.
- Remote development
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit ICEcoder -
Best forWindows users wanting a low-cost PHP editor
A focused Windows PHP IDE with a €35 one-time price and practical debugging tools.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFree users needing lightweight remote editing
A free, cross-platform PHP editor for lightweight remote file work.
- Remote development
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Bluefish -
Best forFree editors wanting LSP, DAP, and Git
A free, open-source editor with LSP, DAP, Git, terminals, and plugins.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Kate -
Best forLightweight free PHP code editing
A free, open-source editor for PHP work when a lightweight tool is enough.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Geany -
Best forMac users wanting a polished PHP-capable editor
A polished Mac editor with broad development tools, but no verified PHP-specific tooling.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Panic -
Best forWindows users needing legacy PHP and Git tooling
A Windows-only PHP IDE with strong version control and debugging, but no database tooling.
- Xdebug debugging
- Remote development
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit UEStudio -
Best forCross-platform developers prioritizing AI collaboration
A cross-platform, AI-focused editor with strong core tooling and flexible integrations.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Zed -
Best forTeams building database-backed PHP applications
A database-focused PHP environment with visual builders, collaboration, and deployment tools.
- Database tools
- Remote development
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Scriptcase -
Best forUsers wanting a self-hosted browser PHP editor
A free, open-source PHP editor for shared browser-based environments.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit PHP Studio -
Best forTeams wanting a browser-based PHP workspace
A browser Linux workspace for web development, with PHP support and Basic-plan publishing.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit PaizaCloud -
Best forJVM developers who occasionally edit PHP
A broad JVM IDE that suits Java-focused teams more than PHP-first development.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit JetBrains -
Best forC++ developers needing basic PHP support
A capable C++ environment, but a limited fit for PHP-focused development.
- Remote development
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit SlickEdit
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhpStorm | No | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Eclipse PHP Development Tools | Yes | Free | 9.1 |
| 3 | NuSphere PhpED | No | $99/user one-time | 8.8 |
| 4 | OpenIDE | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 5 | phpDesigner | No | €29/device one-time | 8.3 |
| 6 | Rapid PHP Editor | No | $36.40/seat one-time | 8.1 |
| 7 | WeBuilder | No | $69.95 one-time | 7.9 |
| 8 | Apache NetBeans | Yes | Free | 7.8 |
| 9 | CodeLite | Yes | Free | 7.6 |
| 10 | Visual Studio Code | Yes | Free | 7.4 |
| 11 | ICEcoder | Yes | Free | 7.2 |
| 12 | PHP Expert Editor | No | €35 one-time | 7.0 |
| 13 | Bluefish | Yes | Free | 6.9 |
| 14 | Kate | Yes | Free | 6.8 |
| 15 | Geany | Yes | Free | 6.7 |
| 16 | Nova | No | 6.6 | |
| 17 | UEStudio | No | $119.95/yr | 6.5 |
| 18 | Zed | Yes | $10/mo | 6.4 |
| 19 | Scriptcase | No | $499/seat one-time | 6.3 |
| 20 | PHP Studio | Yes | Free | 6.2 |
| 21 | PaizaCloud Cloud IDE | No | $9.80/mo | 6.1 |
| 22 | IntelliJ IDEA | Yes | 6.0 | |
| 23 | SlickEdit | No | $125 one-time | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- PhpStorm vs Eclipse PHP Development Tools
- PhpStorm vs NuSphere PhpED
- PhpStorm vs OpenIDE
- PhpStorm vs phpDesigner
- PhpStorm vs Rapid PHP Editor
- PhpStorm vs WeBuilder
- PhpStorm vs Apache NetBeans
- Eclipse PHP Development Tools vs NuSphere PhpED
- Eclipse PHP Development Tools vs OpenIDE
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How we rank PHP IDEs
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update