PHP CS Fixer
PHP CS Fixer: A configurable, open-source PHP formatter for local development and CI. Ranked #10 of 34 in Code Formatting Tools by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for PHP standards enforcement.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPHP standards enforcement
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Supported languagesPHP
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Built-in PER-CS, Symfony, and PHP CS Fixer rule sets
- Modernization rules for PHP and PHPUnit codebases
- Parallel processing, dry runs, CI integrations, and structured output
Where it doesn't
- Supports PHP rather than multiple programming languages
- Deployment is self-hosted
- Support is provided through community channels and documentation
Our verdict on PHP CS Fixer
PHP CS Fixer is an open-source command-line tool for PHP developers and teams that need consistent coding standards. It automatically detects and fixes coding-standard issues, with built-in PER-CS, Symfony, and PHP CS Fixer rule sets. Teams can define project-specific behavior through custom rules and fixer configuration, while PHP and PHPUnit modernization rules support codebase updates. Its fit is strongest for solo developers and small to mid-market teams working primarily in PHP.
The published project options focus on open-source use with a free plan. Installation is available through Composer, Docker, PHIVE, Homebrew, or a downloadable PHAR binary, giving teams several ways to add the tool to local workflows. Check and dry-run modes allow teams to inspect changes without modifying files, while Finder configuration supports selected paths and file exclusions. Parallel processing is available for workflows that need to handle larger sets of files efficiently.
PHP CS Fixer also fits established editor and CI environments, with integrations for PhpStorm, NetBeans, Sublime Text, Vim, VS Code, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Docker. Output formats include JSON, XML, JUnit, and GitLab, which can help connect formatter results with automated workflows. It is a strong choice when PHP standards enforcement, modernization, configurable rules, and CI output matter more than a broad multi-language formatter. Teams seeking a hosted deployment model or support beyond community channels and documentation should consider alternatives.
PHP CS Fixer pricing
PHP CS Fixer fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Supported languages | PHP |
| Supported platforms | Not verified |
| Editor integration | Yes |
| Ignore files | Yes |
| Changed-lines formatting | Yes |
| Library API | Yes |
| License model | Open_source |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: PhpStorm, NetBeans, Sublime Text, Vim, VS Code, GitHub Actions … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | cs.symfony.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
PHP CS Fixer integrations
PHP CS Fixer lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- PhpStorm
- NetBeans
- Sublime Text
- Vim
- VS Code
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab CI
- Docker
Alternatives to PHP CS Fixer
- dprintA broad, editor-friendly formatter for multilingual repositories and changed-file workflows.9.0
- PrettierA broad, open-source formatter for web-language teams across editors and workflows.8.2
- SpotlessA build-focused formatter for JVM projects that need broad language coverage and automation.7.7
See all PHP CS Fixer alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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