Packagist
Packagist: A free public registry for discovering and distributing PHP packages through Composer. Ranked #3 of 28 in Package Registries by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for public PHP Composer packages.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPublic PHP Composer packages
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Package ecosystemsSingle
- Founded2012 · Berlin, Germany
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free hosting for open-source PHP packages
- Composer metadata, search, feeds, and download statistics
- Repository crawling and hooks for GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea
Where it doesn't
- Supports a single package ecosystem: PHP Composer
- Public package hosting only
- No private packages or access controls
Our verdict on Packagist
Packagist is a public PHP package registry for Composer, built for developers and maintainers distributing open-source packages. Users can search packages, inspect versions and metadata, and install dependencies through Composer. Maintainers submit public repository URLs containing composer.json files, after which Packagist crawls the repositories and tracks releases. The service is available through web and API access, with Composer repository access included in its free plan.
The Free plan supports publishing open-source PHP packages and provides public package discovery, metadata, and Composer repository access. Its registry features extend beyond basic listing: package metadata APIs, download statistics, security advisory API access, RSS and Atom release feeds, automatic repository update hooks, and stable-version metadata immutability are included. Integrations with GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and Gitea support repository submission and update workflows, while Composer remains the central installation ecosystem.
Packagist fits projects that need public distribution and broad discoverability within the PHP Composer ecosystem. Its narrow focus is also its clearest boundary: it supports one package ecosystem and public packages rather than private package hosting or access controls. Teams managing proprietary dependencies should choose a service designed for private package distribution instead. For open-source PHP maintainers who want repository crawling, searchable metadata, release feeds, statistics, and security-advisory access without a hosting charge, Packagist is a focused registry choice.
Your product? Our editors can test Packagist in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Packagist pricing
All 1 Packagist plans and prices →
Packagist fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Package ecosystems | Single |
| Private packages | No |
| Package size limit | Not verified |
| Storage limit | Not verified |
| Download limit | Not verified |
| Access controls | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: Composer, GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, Gitea |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | packagist.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Packagist integrations
Packagist lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- Composer
- GitHub
- Bitbucket
- GitLab
- Gitea
Alternatives to Packagist
- NuGetA free, comprehensive package manager for public and private .NET feeds.9.4
- Maven CentralA strong public registry for Java and JVM artifacts, with structured publishing controls.9.3
- RubyGems.orgA free public registry with strong Ruby tooling and maintainer controls.8.7
See all Packagist alternatives →
Packagist vs the competition
- Packagist vs NuGet
- Packagist vs Maven Central
- Packagist vs RubyGems.org
- Packagist vs CocoaPods
- Packagist vs Conan
- Packagist vs Verdaccio
Compare Packagist with any tool side by side →
Used Packagist? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Packagist for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Packagist is listed in our Package Registries directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/packagist/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/packagist.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Last updated · How we research and update